The Power of Information At a Molecular Level
Figuring out how the human body works has been the goal of thousands of scientists throughout the ages. Much of its workings remained elusive and difficult to explain until people began looking at human tissues through the lens of a microscope. When people discovered that the body’s organs were made of even smaller organelles contained in cells, whole worlds of possibilities were uncovered. One of the most fascinating structures found in living cells is DNA. Everyday people can discover just how amazing their own bodies are with take-home DNA kits.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
The chemical term for DNA is actually deoxyribonucleic acid. It is present in nearly every single cell of the human body. DNA is what directs the body when it makes new cells. In your DNA is the pattern for every single tissue and genetic trait in your body. A single DNA molecule is tightly compressed in the famous double helix pattern. If you were to unravel a single DNA molecule, it would be 3 meters long. If you unraveled every single molecule of DNA in one adult human, it could travel from the Earth to the Sun 140 times.
Learning About Genetics With a DNA Kit
While you will not become a geneticist or even a DNA expert by using a DNA kit, you will be able to learn a great deal about your own heritage. Recent advancements in DNA testing technology has enabled people searching for answers to many of the questions related to the following:
- Paternity Tests
- Discovering Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Relation Tests
- Infidelity Investigations
- Ancestry Information
Finding an Affordable and High Quality DNA Test
No matter what your reason is for wanting to perform a DNA test, you will want to find the highest quality test, but pay a reasonable amount of money. Since paternity tests have been some of the most commonly requested tests, you can find very affordable and easy to use take-home kits online. Typically, these tests are easy to decipher and are very accurate. A test should never claim to be 100% accurate because there is always a margin for error. That being said, paternity tests requested by from a judge are often used in child custody disputes and child support cases. They are accurate enough that you can be confident when test results come up positive or negative.
Taking Your Genetic Information Into Your Own Hands
You can learn a great deal by performing a DNA test on your own cells. Ever since Gregor Mendel first postulated the theory of genetic traits, people have been trying to study what kinds of physical traits are hereditary and which traits are products of the environment. For example, there are some disorders that are passed on from one generation to the next. Often, a disorder can be the result of an improperly coded fragment of DNA. These are known as mutations. A common mutation is genetically missing adult teeth. If you would like to be prepared for what kind of offspring your genes are capable of producing, you should look into DNA take-home tests.
How the DNA Testing Process Works
There are typically 4 steps involved in DNA testing:
1. Order the Right Test for Your Situation: There are a few different methods of DNA testing and they coincide with what your ultimate goal is. The tests are based around the X and Y chromosomes, so make sure to research what kind of kit you will need before purchasing.
2. Collect a DNA Sample: You can either collect the sample yourself or request an expert to collect and submit your DNA so that there are no mistakes made.
3. Submit the Test: After collecting the DNA sample for your test, submit it to a research lab to be analyzed
4. Receive Your Results: Some tests take longer to process and interpret than others. Make sure you understand how long you can expect to wait for the results; you may be able to expedite the process by paying a little extra.
Peace of Mind Through Science
Once you have completed your DNA test and received your results, you can have conclusive, scientific proof of biological relationships, infidelity, or specific genetic markers. If you have ever wondered about how your genes make you who you are, consider seeing what a DNA test can tell you about yourself. You may be surprised at the information you can learn from what is, in effect, a code within your cells.
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This article is presented by Genetic Testing Laboratories, Inc.
