All of us—that is every human being-- has 23 pairs of chromosomes. Those chromosomes tell us how we will develop, whether we’ll be left or right handed, whether we’ll become bald or have attached earlobes, whether we’ll get cancer, they’ll even tell us where we came from, who are ancestors were, where they lived—it’s all in the genes. Now with 23andMe you can get a whole write up of how your genes function—your potential for developing various conditions along with traits such as athletic ability, how your grandmother’s intolerance for lactose was passed through your mother, how your ancestors came from South Africa. All of this you can find out by sending out a drop of saliva and $1000 bucks to 23andMe. Oprah did it, and now you can too. Results usually come within 4-6 weeks. The site also has some nifty facts about genes , variations, the royal disease, and you’ll find out if Warren and Jimmy Buffet are related. Pretty cool stuff, even if you don’t have a grand to put down check out the site’s repository of factoids.
“Welcome to 23andMe, a web-based service that helps you read and understand your DNA. After providing a saliva sample using an at-home kit, you can use our interactive tools to shed new light on your distant ancestors, your close family and most of all, yourself.”
The human genome is a fascinating subject. How we evolved and will evolve are two of life’s great wonders. With 23andMe, anyone with enough money, can find out all about their roots. They’ll find out where their ancestors came from, what conditions they may develop, and how their genes affect their way of life.
How accurate is this? As only a select few will have enough cash to get a DNA test, unless they’re wanted for some crime, this service won’t be something mainstream. Will enough people go for it?
Visit website:
http://www.23andme.com
