Is coffee the first thing you can think of when you open your eyes in the morning? If you cannot get through your day without that cup of joe, you can thank your genes for it, as they may drive your high caffeine consumption.
Our bodies signal the brain when we are tired or when it’s time for sleeping through a molecule called adenosine. When adenosine sits in its docking station (called the receptor), it signals the brain to shut off activities that promote wakefulness.
The molecular structure of caffeine is remarkably similar to adenosine. When we drink coffee, the caffeine molecule binds to the docking station that actually belongs to adenosine. So, the brain doesn’t get the signal to shut off the activities, and we continue feeling energetic.
For many people, the extra shot of caffeine can help power through a drowsy day. But for some struggling with sleep deprivation, even a small amount of caffeine can keep them tossing and turning at night.
Why does caffeine affect people in such different ways?
It is partly due to the genes that deal with how caffeine is processed inside the body.
Two of them which handle most of the work are CYP1A2 and AHR. The former produces an enzyme that metabolizes ~95% of the caffeine consumed, and the latter controls how much of this enzyme is produced.
Depending on the types of these genes you carry (also called genetic variations), you can broadly be classified as a fast, normal, or slow metabolizer of caffeine. Fast metabolizers will likely consume more caffeine without experiencing negative side effects like jitters and sleeplessness. Slow metabolizers are likely to consume less coffee.
Your caffeine metabolizer status affects not only how much caffeine you consume but also your risk for other health conditions.
Curious about your caffeine metabolizer status? Here’s how you can learn about it in 3 simple steps:
DNA testing or genetic testing is a way of understanding how a person’s genes shape their life.
Personal genetic testing helps understand your ancestral history, the risk for certain health conditions, and physical and mental traits.
Such tests require you to send home collected DNA samples to the lab for analysis.
A DNA swab test collects DNA samples from the inner cheeks. Your results may only be accurate if the DNA sample is collected and sent correctly.
There are two basic kinds of DNA tests - home DNA testing and legal DNA testing.
Legal DNA testing is for lawful purposes, and the samples are collected in front of a person in charge.
For home DNA testing, the samples can be collected at home and sent to the lab.
The following steps are a part of the home DNA testing process.
Step 1: Order the test of your choice online from one of the personal genomics companies.
Step 2: The company will send you the DNA collection kit through the mail, and you will also get a prepaid mail package included.
Step 3: The lab will include all details on how to collect the swab with the kit.
Step 4: Follow the instructions and collect the swab. You may be asked to register the kit online before mailing it.
Step 5: Put the collected kit into the prepaid mail package and send it back.
Step 6: It may take 4-8 weeks to receive your reports based on the sample sent.
Step 7: If the sample is insufficient or contaminated in any way, the team will get back to you, and you may have to redo the whole process again.
A DNA test can help solve legal paternity issues.
In recent times, home genetic DNA tests have become common. These can determine how a person’s DNA affects their health, wellness, and physical traits.
Many people use these tests to find their ancestral history too.
Home DNA tests usually require the individual to sign a consent form that they must mail back to the testing company. These tests cannot be used as proof for legal purposes.
Most paternity DNA tests need to be done in the presence of a person in charge, and these come with detailed paperwork trails. Such test results are acceptable in court proceedings for legal purposes.
Here are ways you can prepare for a DNA swab test.
While eating does not change the DNA, it may contaminate the sample and make it difficult for the analysts to use it. Hence, you should not eat for at least 30 minutes before taking a swab sample.
You can also brush and rinse the mouth to maintain better sample integrity.
While coffee cannot change the DNA, it can mask it and make it difficult to use the same. So it is recommended that you don’t drink coffee for at least 30 minutes before taking a swab sample.
You don’t have to fast before taking a swab test. Not drinking or eating anything 30 minutes before taking the test will be sufficient.
As long as the swab is handled right and stored in the envelopes/tubes, it can be valid for up to six months.
However, it is better to collect the sample and mail it as soon as possible. This will ensure you get results faster too.
Sample recollection may be necessary in the following cases.
A DNA test, or a genetic test, is a medical test that evaluates your genetic code and identifies any abnormal changes (mutations) in your genes, chromosomes, and proteins.
These mutations indicate you have a condition or are at risk of developing one during your lifetime.
A DNA test also helps determine how likely you are to pass a genetic disorder to your offspring.
Since DNA in an individual is inherited from both parents, a DNA test can help determine the paternity or maternity of an individual.
The time taken for DNA test results to arrive varies, depending upon why they are done and the laboratory.
DNA paternity tests can take between two to ten days from the receipt of the sample in the laboratory.
Most court-ordered DNA test results take two to ten days or a week or two to arrive.
The court conducts detailed checks about other documentation and maintains privacy throughout the procedure.
DNA tests for genetic disorder diagnosis are performed using blood or saliva samples.
The results of these tests usually arrive in a few weeks.
DNA testing is usually recommended and done through physicians, nurse practitioners, or genetic counselors.
However, with direct-to-consumer DNA Tests, you can now opt to undergo a DNA test by purchasing a kit.
Once you purchase the DNA testing kit, you take a DNA sample from a cheek swab and send it to the laboratory.
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing may take slightly longer than a prescribed laboratory test.
It may take a few weeks from sending the sample until you get your results.
You will be notified when your results are available online.
While most DNA or genetic tests assess the data and give you various reports and analyses, you can also download the raw data online.
Raw DNA data is the genotype that includes the various genetic codes in your DNA.
Interpreting raw data is challenging.
Several online tools and applications can help analyze your DNA raw data.
However, you must consult a genetic counselor before reaching any conclusion about your condition, your risk for disease, maternity, paternity, or ancestry.
Once you upload your DNA raw data on one of these tools, you may get your results as early as 24 hours.
It takes around two to three weeks to extract DNA from the sample sent and up to eight and nine weeks for the DNA sequencing results to arrive.
Ancestry DNA testing is a type of DNA test that allows people to learn more about their family history and give an idea about their ancestors.
The test evaluates certain patterns of genetic variations shared by people from common backgrounds.
The results of the ancestry test can take around six to eight weeks from the time the lab receives the DNA sample.
Most people who opt for a DNA test to know more about their health and family history presume it is a tell-all.
Here are three things to know before you take a DNA test:
The results vary between home DNA test kits and those performed at laboratories.
Granular information about the ethnicity percentage may be different based on the brand of the test.
If you took or are taking a DNA test presuming you’ll decode all genetic secrets in your chromosomes, it may not happen.
Owing to the cost of DNA genome sequencing and technology, there is still some time before you know all the secrets of your genetic code.
DNA tests can spill out surprises, many of which you may not be ready for.
From finding an unknown biological parent to half-siblings, DNA tests can reveal plenty of information.
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes and play a role in cellular aging.
Genetic information is stored inside the nucleus of each cell in the body.
The genes are arranged along twisted, double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes.
The ends of each chromosome are present stretches of DNA called telomeres.
Telomeres are also responsible for how we age or get cancer.
When cell division takes place, telomeres become shorter.
The cell can no longer divide when the telomeres get too short and eventually dies.
This process has piqued the interest of researchers and scientists.
Telomeres perform several functions.
DNA makes up all the cells in our body, so telomeres at the end of each chromosome are vital for health.
The cells in our body replenish by copying themselves, which occurs throughout our lives.
Every time the cell copies itself, the telomeres get shorter, but the DNA of the cells stays intact.
Eventually, when the telomeres get too short to protect our DNA, the cell ages and stop functioning.
So, telomeres act as an aging clock for each cell in our body.
Telomeres also regulate the cell cycle, prevent unnecessary recombination of DNA, repair any defects in the genes and preserve the information in the genome.
Since telomeres shorten with age, the rate of telomere shortening may indicate the pace of aging in an individual.
A telomere comprises several hundreds of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA).
At least a few hundred nucleotides must cap each chromosome end to prevent DNA repair pathway activation.
DNA repair pathways are activated in response to any damage to the DNA.
As part of the body’s natural aging process, telomere length decreases. When the telomere length reaches below a critical limit, the cells undergo senescence or death (apoptosis).
Though telomere shortening has been associated with the aging process, it is still unknown whether it is the cause or result of it.
Telomeres at the tip of chromosomes are like the plastic tips at the end of your shoelaces.
Without the plastic tips, the shoelaces become frayed. Similarly, without telomeres, the DNA strands become damaged, and the cells are unable to function normally.
For this reason, telomeres are important.
Progressive telomeric shortening affects an individual’s health and life span.
Shortening of telomeres is also triggered and accelerated by stress, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and poor diet.
In fact, the rate of telomere shortening can be increased or decreased by certain lifestyle factors.
Shorter telomeres have been associated with an increased incidence of diseases and poor survival.
Several studies have stated that shorter telomeres are a risk factor for cancer.
People with shorter telomeres are found to have a greater risk of developing lung, bladder, renal cell, and gastrointestinal cancers
What and how much we eat has a direct correlation to telomere length, health, and longevity.
Here are a few ways to slow down telomere shortening:
Some antioxidant-rich foods like salmon, tuna, halibut, flax seeds, sprouts, chia seeds, blueberries, and vitamin C and E-rich foods are great for preserving telomere length.
Are you interested in learning more about your ancestry?
Have you ever wondered if there is a way to get a free DNA test?
If so, then this article is for you.
There are many ways to obtain a free DNA test, such as participating in research studies and taking advantage of resources provided by the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG).
Additionally, depending on your last name, additional opportunities may be available to receive a free DNA test.
DNA tests are usually offered for a fee.
You have to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to get it done.
But you can get a DNA test for free if you volunteer for a research project.
For paternity-related disputes, you can contact your local Child Support Enforcement, and they can arrange a free DNA test.
While DNA tests might not be free, it is possible to do a DNA analysis for free.
Many apps and websites can analyze your raw data and give a detailed report.
There is a lot of difference between DNA tests and DNA analysis.
A DNA test involves processing a sample (like cheek swabs, saliva samples, or blood) to retrieve the DNA information from it.
This information further goes through a bioinformatics processing post-which you get a report.
The process of decoding the DNA information into a genetic report is called a DNA analysis.
The results of the analysis can reveal a lot of information depending on the type of test done.
It can be used to:
Although DNA tests are usually not free, some apps and websites can analyze DNA data for free.
Companies only provide free DNA tests if you are part of a research project.
You will only get a free DNA test kit to test your DNA samples.
However, plenty of apps on the market will analyze your DNA test results for free.
You can use free DNA analysis apps.
If satisfied with the results, you can use the paid version to gain even more knowledge from your DNA.
The cost of DNA testing will vary based on
The cost would also differ based on the type of test you want to perform.
For example, paternity tests usually cost around $200 - $250.
On the other hand, a DNA test for genetic abnormality usually costs around $1000.
While several DNA testing companies are on the market, a free DNA test is something only some of them offer.
However, there are a few free ways to get a DNA test kit - volunteering for research projects, searching with last names, and using ISOGG tools.
If you already have your DNA data from a previously taken test, you can use it for free DNA analysis, which a handful of companies offer.
People now believe that the ability to lose more weight does not merely depend on a restricted calorie diet or the extent of physical activity.
Losing weight is a complex process, affected by multiple internal and external factors.
One such factor could be your genetic makeup.
Weight loss DNA tests can help explore weight loss/weight gain traits and understand why it’s difficult for some people to lose weight.
Genes can contribute to body weight in different ways.
A combination of multiple genes and their functioning may be one of the primary reasons some people lose weight quickly, and others find it challenging.
Studies show that more than 400 genes are responsible for determining body weight. These genes may do one or more of the following tasks.
You may have the perfect weight loss plan in place. However, your genetic makeup influences how effective or practical the method is in helping you shed weight.
Nutrigenomics studies how nutrition and genes interact and affect a person’s health.
Many health experts are looking to explore nutrigenomics instead of simply advising their patients to stay away from carb or fat diets or work out more if they want to lose weight.
Nutrigenomics is based on the idea that nutrients interact with individual genetic characteristics and up-regulate or down-regulate the metabolic pathways.
Your metabolic pathways include a set of chemical reactions that process these nutrients, break down, and convert them into forms used by or stored in the body.
Thanks to nutrigenomics, two people can eat the same food but experience different effects in the body concerning fat deposition and weight gain.
Fitness levels and rate of physical activity are as important as nutrition in helping lose weight.
A person’s genes could be a significant factor affecting a person’s weight in the following scenarios.
A new study shows that a person’s genes could explain up to 72% of differences in outcome in different people taking up similar kinds of physical activity.
A and B could be doing similar exercises at the gym. However, due to their genetic makeup, A may lose weight quicker and more consistently than B.
It makes sense to understand your genetic predisposition and choose workout regimes best suited for your body type if you want to lose weight and maintain the same long-term.
DNA testing for weight loss is a relatively new concept, gathering interest globally.
Such tests can tell a person how their body is processing food or how they may respond to different fitness regimes.
These tests are usually available as mail-order kits.
You can place an order, receive the kit, collect your DNA sample and mail it back to the company.
The company will analyze your DNA and get back to you with the results in a few weeks.
These results usually include a detailed analysis of how a person’s body reacts to different types of nutrition and recommendations to help lose weight.
Most of these tests would recommend something called a DNA diet.
DNA diet is customized for the person based on their genetic makeup.
Such a diet could increase the person’s chances of losing weight.
It would also alert the person on the possible diets and food choices that could lead to weight gain.
Clearly, weight loss depends on more than a calorie-restricted diet and physical activity.
Some people could lose weight by eating fat, while others could accelerate weight loss with a specific exercise regime.
Genetic test results will help understand how every person’s body reacts to diet and physical activity and help build a customized food and fitness regime that would work effectively.
Many people struggle with obesity or excessive weight gain all their life.
For such individuals, a DNA diet and planned physical activity based on genetic makeup may help bring effective results.
Obesity and the tendency to gain weight could lead to health complications too.
Genetic testing for weight loss could help avoid these problems over time.
Weight loss DNA tests may not provide ground-breaking solutions in the following cases.
DNA testing for weight only tells you if you have a genetic predisposition to gain weight. You will still need to make all the right efforts and give it time to lose weight.
In the last decade, many companies have started offering direct-to-consumer genetics tests.
While many of these companies specialize in genetic ancestry tests, only a handful of them offers nutrition and fitness genetic tests.
Getting DNA testing for weight is only half the battle won for people with a high genetic predisposition to weight gain.
The person will need professional help analyzing the results and planning a diet and workout regime that would work for them well.
Such a regime will need to be followed throughout life to stay fit and prevent regaining the lost weight.
Also, whether or not a person is genetically inclined to gain weight, other factors like lack of sleep, stress, mental health issues, and habits like smoking can contribute equally to weight gain.
All these need to be altered if you want to lose weight and stay in a healthy BMI range.
