By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: What Are Home DNA Tests And How Do They Change Our Life?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > Home Health > What Are Home DNA Tests And How Do They Change Our Life?
Home HealthNews

What Are Home DNA Tests And How Do They Change Our Life?

Jane Koval
Jane Koval
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

  DNA testing is today an integral feature of any effort to determine identity, but its origins can be traced back to 1866 and a Czech monk named Gregor Mendel whose experiments on pea plants set the wheels in motion for a whole new realm of study in the field of heredity and genetics. Different blood types were identified in the 1920s, but it wasn?t until some sixty years later that the first DNA tests were able to map differences in our genetic make-up which are unique to every individual. It was a process applying these principles, developed in conjunction with the Forensic Science Service in the UK, which led to the solving of the rape and murder of two teenagers in what was to prove a groundbreaking case. These operations employed methods then considered to be at the cutting edge of science but which in fact were not much different to how home DNA kits work for millions of ordinary people today. The Emergence of DNA Testing as a Universal Tool This technology was then only at the disposal of advanced scientific research establishments, the military (see this article from the National Library of Medicine) and law enforcement agencies. It wasn?t until the later identification of Next Generation Sequencing, in the 2000s, that its potential as a means of prompting research by the wider public into their own unique genetic heritage became apparent. In 2009, Time magazine noted the transformation of DNA profiling from a plaything of the elite to a tool of mass discovery. As DNA testing became more mainstream its uses naturally multiplied. As well as using it for solving crimes or in advanced medical procedures it soon became clear that it could provide a range of other indicators, some of them of less import but nonetheless useful to ordinary people wishing to know more about themselves. Its accessibility and simplicity in testing without the need for expensive machinery made it ideal for mass-consumption. The Impact of Home DNA Testing on Industry At less than S100 apiece, genetic testing kits supported by huge databases enable people from around the world to pinpoint their own precise ethnic make-up and to identify other people to whom they may be related. Thus low-cost genetic testing has revolutionized the way in which industry can access information once available only to major scientific corporations and governments. This has led to its use in a number of fields which not very long ago wouldn?t have been possible. Paternity Testing The relative ease with which a thing such as a paternity test can be accurately undertaken has generated a much greater interest in seeking out such information. Whereas once a person may not have gone to the expense of confirming their parentage unless there was a real issue involved which rendered it unavoidable, now that it is much easier and cheaper to do there is more likelihood that some will wish to undergo such a test ?just to be sure?. This has created an opportunity for small business to offer paternity testing services without incurring the prohibitive overheads and initial investment costs which once would have been involved. In the same way public interest in investigating any potential hereditary medical conditions has also increased in line with the availability of such information. Private Surveillance DNA testing has been used by law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations since the 1980s, but it was another twenty years before the technology became accessible to small private investigation firms and now features as an integral part of their armory. Forensic investigation is now within the remit of private detectives investigating matters of identity, location and placing individuals at scenes, as well as enabling the exploration of potential criminal issues which may not have been pursued by the authorities. Assisting Law Enforcement Buzzfeed reported recently that Family Tree DNA, one of the largest companies in home genetic testing, has allowed the FBI access to its vast database in order to help it solve cases of violent crime. This has proved both helpful and contentious, as customers of the DNA firm protest that they did not consent to their information being passed on in this way. Conclusion Home DNA tests are making major changes in our everyday lives and how we view our health. Consult a doctor or professional if you have any questions, and consider your options before embarking on using one of these tests

TAGGED:DNADNA testingdna tests
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Q and A: Addressing an Enormous Public Health Problem with a Simple Technology Solution

January 15, 2014
healthy pasta
NewsUncategorized

How To Make Pasta Healthy

April 28, 2021
medical bills
News

Quick Settlements Can Help Car Accident Victims Cover Medical Bills

April 12, 2024
Home HealthWellness

Great Health Resolutions to Live By in 2018

January 11, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?