Analysing Your Raw DNA Data At Home
Ben Casey [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Step 1) Download your raw autosomal DNA file and save it to a safe and secure location
To analyse your DNA data, start by downloading your raw autosomal DNA and save it to a safe location. Here are instructions to download your raw DNA file from: 23andMe, Ancestry DNA, Family Tree DNA, Dante Labs, We Gene, My Heritage, Genes For Good, Vitagene, Genera, and Living DNA.
Step 2) Analyse your raw DNA file
>Not all DNA tests target the same markers. (see comparison), but most direct-to-consumer DNA data target several hundred thousand DNA markers, so each DNA file contains a lot of information to learn more about yourself. While carrying certain genetic markers can increase your risks of addiction and other diseases, the knowledge of this information will allow you to plan to mitigate these risks from your life..
Use tools like Promethease
Promethease is a literature retrieval system that constructs a personal DNA report by linking a file of DNA genotypes to the scientific findings referenced in SNPedia..
Or manually search your raw DNA data in a text editor using the 'find' function
Open the raw DNA file in a text editor and you will notice the unique SNP ID (rs# or i#), chromosome, position, and genotype. The formats differ slightly between each DNA testing company.
To evaluate your risk of alcohol dependence, the 23andMe blog recommends you look at these SNPs:
- rs1799971 the homozygous A alleles (A:A) are associated with a 2x greater risk of severe alcoholism
- rs1799732 the homozygous Insertions (I:I) are associated with a 1.85x greater risk of severe alcoholism
To evaluate your taste preference for coriander, look up this SNP:
- rs72921001 people with the C allele (C:C) believe cilantro tastes like soap
To evaluate your risk of marijuana addiction, look at these SNPs:
- rs1057910 the A allele results in faster metabolism of THC, while the C allele results in slower metabolism of THC, tending to take longer to process THC with more in the bloodstream and also tends to report more drowsiness or a more intense effect from the same amount of THC
- rs324420 the C allele is associated with lower levels of anandamide (more FAAH activity), increased dopamine activation when exposed to the smell of cannabis, and poorer sleep with cannabis use
- rs2023239 the G allele is associated with more cravings and withdrawal; this correlation is very strong when combined with a FAAH CC variant. The G allele carriers may have worse working memory than AA when using cannabis.
- rs2494732 the C allele is associated with a more psychedelic effect
Step 3) Compare your genotype with research findings
>There are a wealth of resources describing information for each SNP including dbSNP and SNPedia
dbSNP
> dbSNP contains human single nucleotide variations, microsatellites, and small-scale insertions and deletions along with publication, population frequency, molecular consequence, and genomic and RefSeq mapping information for both common variations and clinical mutations..
SNPpedia
> SNPedia is a wiki investigating human genetics. They share information about the effects of variations in DNA, citing peer-reviewed scientific publications. It is used by Promethease to create a personal report linking your DNA variations to the information published about them..
>**If you are concerned about anything you see in your DNA results, please speak to your doctor or a genetics counsellor.
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