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Q: How do genes affect my health?
A: Genes are like "recipes" that your body depends on to produce proteins. Proteins, in turn, play important roles in metabolism. They affect the make-up and function of all your cells, tissues, and organs. They build bones, skin, and hair. They help break down food into the energy your body needs, and help your immune system fend off harmful "foreign invaders" like bacteria, yeast, and viruses. And they are essential for processing and eliminating harmful toxins. Q: What does this test measure? A: Using cells collected either from a simple mouth rinse procedure or from a single blood draw, this test measures selected segments of the genetic code that differ from individual to individual. These are called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs for short.
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SNPs are
variations in the genetic code that occur only at certain places,
in certain individuals. Everyone has SNPs - that's
what makes us different from one another. Some SNPs
are quite common and others are quite rare. Many SNPs
have no effect on our health, but others can predispose us to
disease, or influence our response to a particular food or drug.
Even SNPs good for health in one situation may be harmful in another. The SNPs in these tests are carefully selected. Your test will not measure any SNPs that will absolutely lead to disease. Your test will evaluate only SNPs that may lead to health problems when influenced by other external factors-factors you can often change. It's very important to remember that the SNPs included on your test indicate risk, not certainty. Testing positive for SNPs doesn't mean you are sure to develop a health problem. |
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