Overview
How curious are you about the information in your DNA?
Have you ever thought of taking a genetic test you can buy on the internet?
Or giving a test to friends or family?
Our colleague, Dr Steve Cross, decided to analyse his DNA using texts available to UK citizens over the internet. We thought yourgenome.org visitors might find his thoughts and results interesting ...
Read Steve's project brief below, watch his videos and find out more information about the 'Genes Direct' debate by following suggested links.
Steve's statement:
"The development of cost-effective DNA sequencing technology, combined with public interest in DNA, has led to huge growth in the market for DNA tests, bought and delivered online. These tests are marketed many different ways: some focus on people's fear of disease, others play on the desire to know the future and yet others offer information about history of your DNA in the belief that it will tell you something fundamental about yourself.
In this project, which started at Wellcome Collection (http://www.wellcomecollection.org/), continued with Inside DNA (http://www.insidedna.org.uk) and has developed here, I took my credit card online to see what I could find out about my DNA without going through proper medical channels. I took medical, genealogical, identity and fun tests from a companies in the US, UK and Germany.
Many companies offer tests of dubious worth. Some launch tests for specific genetic variations within a month of new discoveries being announced, when doctors and research might have only slight understanding of the effects and consequences of the variation. During this project I found an inconsistency in testing quality and a willingness to give me information about my own DNA variants with no advice or counselling on what they might mean.
To ensure that I was prepared for the results, I did what many people might not and talked to a genetic counsellor and discussed with my family the implications of having so much of my DNA (which I share with them) in the public domain. But I didn't tell the testers this... There is currently no regulation of DNA testing in the UK, but the Human Genetics Commission has begun to call on the government to establish more formal structures to ensure consumers are offered valuable, verified and supported services."
Dr Steve Cross has a background in genetics and curated the permanent galleries of Wellcome Collection (http://www.wellcomecollection.org/) where some of his test results are displayed.
