Not all genetic tests are created equal
Genetic testing has become quite the hot topic in both the science and even consumer worlds in the 21st century, especially with the development of new testing and technology to analyze human genetics and how our genes play a role in our overall health.
In recent years, genetic testing has found a home in the modern medical office for a variety of helpful and insightful reasons. These include diagnostic testing, carrier testing, and prenatal testing, to name a few, but in the last decade or so, gene testing has become much more accessible to individuals outside a medical environment with the development of at-home testing.
But with so many options and uses, many still wonder which test is right for them. And to answer that, you need to first look at your unique situation, needs, and goals.
Different types of at-home genetic tests
Aside from clinical genetic testing, there are a few types of tests that are adapted from a clinical environment into the at-home genetic tests we see on the market today:
- Lifestyle Genetic Tests: Based on variations in your DNA, these tests can give you general information related to your lifestyle, like nutritional facts, your fitness level, sleep patterns, and more.
- Ancestry Genetic Tests: Ancestry tests are pretty self-explanatory – they provide clues about your ancestry. For example, this test can tell you where your ancestors may have come from, what their ethnicity may have been, and similarities in your DNA compared to other family trees.
- Health & Disease Genetic Tests: The most common type of at-home genetic testing are tests that give you information about diseases and your overall health that are influenced by your gene makeup, like food allergies you may have or if you’re predisposed to something like Alzheimer’s. Some of these tests include carrier testing, as well, so you can learn if you carry the genes for certain diseases.
The 10X Health genetic test is closest related to a general health and disease test, but our tests tell you something a bit more specific related to your overall health.
The 10X Health approach to genetic testing
Our at-home genetic test here at 10X Health specifically looks at your body’s methylation cycle, which tells us how well (or not well) your body can process nutrients from environmental forms into forms that are usable by your body.
Methylation is a foundational cellular process that, when not optimized, can negatively affect your physical and mental well-being. Things like diet, lifestyle, and other genetic factors play a significant role in how efficient your body’s methylation cycle is, and by analyzing this cycle, a 10X Health can help you make changes that will help this process run more effectively.
How to pick the best genetic test for you
When looking at genetic testing and considering the options for at-home gene tests specifically, there are a few key factors that you should weigh in your decision.
Things like cost, how the sample is collected, and the speed at which you’ll get results are all important, but what’s most critical is to really consider what you want to get out of your genetic test results and how you ultimately choose to act on those results.
If you want information about your ethnicity, an ancestry genetic test is probably the best choice for you. If you’re more interested in fun facts about your lifestyle and how your genes impact your day-to-day life, consider a lifestyle-based genetic test. Or, if you want to get a snapshot of your current health and get actionable insights for how to improve your overall health, look for a health and disease test (like the 10X Health gene test).
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10X Health System provides a great genetic testing option for anyone wanting to take control of their wellness, optimize their health, and make decisions based on real data about their body.
If this sounds like you, get started by ordering your own, at-home gene test and let our team of experts take it from there.
