Every since I heard about 23andMe and Ancestry DNA, I wanted to have my daughter tested. Genetic tests are highly specific and very costly. After several years and assurances in the validity of testing, we completed the testing through 23andMe.com. Their tests sequence the genome for variations that deviate from the expected results. These are referred to as polymorphisms.
23andMe, by law, is only allowed to report on ancestry, not medical issues. However, there are a variety of websites that will interpret the data for you. We chose livewello.com. After a small payment for use of the site, we uploaded a file which we previously downloaded from 23andMe. Livewello was able to provide a report for us on the medical side. The results are in a pdf format and deliver a specific number of genes both with and without polymorphisms. The location of the polymorphism is identified by a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) number. In the PDF, Livewello provides a general description of each SNP reported as either Homozygous (a variation from each parent) or Heterozygous (a variation from only one parent). Having a variation either Homo or Heterozygous does not guarantee a fault in a gene. Some polymorphisms can be turned on or off based on other contributing factors. Now you don't have to stop at just the SNP's reported in the standard report. You can find other SNP's and plug them into what is referred to as the SandBox on Livewello to provide results from other areas of your genome. For example, I want to see if my daughter has the propensity to have Familial Atypical Cold Urticaria (FACU). I can google SNP's for this condition, plug them into the SandBox, and receive a report on the polymorphisms just for this condition.
My daughter's report was eye opening. There were multiple Homozygous SNP's for Allergies, Methylation, Detox, etc. I researched each and everyone of them. Even though there are no known polymorphisms for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Type III, Dysautonomia, Myoclonus and Idiopathic Hypersomnia, we were able to find polymorhism that when put together create a picture for each of these issues.
It was tough to wrap my head around all of the information being provided. I quickly found a website for Amy Yasko dealing with Methylation issues and Autism. This site, though very enlightening, was still just too much to understand all at once.
This leg of our journey has just started. We want to share it with you. Just maybe someone could be helped by the information provided.
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