Interesting Things That DNA Testing Can Do
Six years ago, a biologist named James Watson and a physicist named Francis Crick discovered DNA. See how DNA testing is benefiting people till this day.
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Six years ago, a biologist named James Watson and a physicist named Francis Crick discovered DNA. However, most sources suggest that people had been conducting research on DNA since the 1860s. Today, people can use DNA testing to find out all sorts of neat things. Below are some of the things that we can do with DNA testing:
Map Out Your Family Tree
All you have to do is pay $99 for a DNA test, and you will be able to find thousands of your relatives. There also websites like ancestry.com that help you find your relatives by comparing your DNA to the DNA of the people that they already have on record. Additionally, it is possible to find people from past generations by tracing DNA.
Solve Old Mysteries
Richard III was one of England’s most famous kings. When he died, no one knew where he was buried. However, the mystery was solved when his remains were found in a Leicester parking lot. Scientists found out the remains were indeed Richard III’s when they examined DNA from the bones and matched it to Michael Ibsen. Michael Ibsen was a descendent of Richard III’s sister.
That was not the first time that DNA had been used to identify the remains of a person. People believed for many years that Czar Nicholas III’s children had escaped during the Russian Revolution. However, a DNA analysis of bone fragments showed that the children had been killed along with the rest of the family.
Distinguish Your Mutt
Have you ever wondered why your dog enjoys digging holes in the yard? Are you also trying to find ways that you can keep your dog happy and healthy? Your dog cannot give you the answer to those questions, but his DNA can. There is a website called wisdompanel.com that gives information about dogs’ genetic background. This website will test your dog’s DNA against the DNA of over 190 dog breeds.
Make Predictions About The Future
Scientists can take saliva from the father and blood from the mother to determine whether the unborn child has a chromosomal abnormality that could lead to a genetic disorder. For example, a DNA test could reveal whether a child will develop Down’s syndrome, which is also known as trisomy 21.
Researchers are currently trying to develop tests that will determine whether a child will have autism and other intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, genetic testing can determine whether you are at an increased risk for developing certain illnesses, such as colon cancer or breast cancer.
Lose Weight
Studies have shown that our ability to gain or lose weight is partially determined by our genes. They have also found that there are certain gene variants that may put some people at a greater risk for becoming obese.
Mike is currently blogging for Home DNA, a company that provides prenatal paternity testing and other forms of DNA testing. When he is not blogging, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
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