Welcome to DNAtest.online!
Here you can find different DNA test providers in comparison. We provide you with an informative overview of the pros and cons of DNA testing to help you make your choice.
DNA testing can be done for very different reasons. The spectrum ranges from genealogy to health factors to paternity testing. DNA testing for dogs is also trending strongly, especially for adopted but also purchased four-legged friends. This allows dog owners to determine the exact breed mix or breed purity.
However, DNA testing is also accompanied by privacy concerns. This is of course understandable, as one does not want one’s own genetic material to fall into the wrong hands or to be misused for other purposes.
I hope you find the information you are looking for here to get a better insight into the world of DNA testing. If you want to know more about our organization, you can find more information on the page “about us“.
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What actually is DNA?
DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, in German both are used. It is a nucleic acid consisting of nucleotides and carries the genetic information of all living organisms.
Human DNA is divided into 46 different chromosomes, together they are crucial for the structure of our body, appearance, predisposed abilities and possible genetic dispositions towards diseases, but also intelligence is to some extent hereditary.
In the process of inheritance, the DNA of the mother cell is replicated and passed on to the daughter cells. In the process, errors in “copying” can occur, called mutation, they lead among other things to harmless defects (e.g. blue eyes with black skin color), but also to serious diseases.
Gene mutations are a natural process and fuel of evolution, they can bring advantages or disadvantages. To find out which genes are anchored in one’s own DNA, there is now a range of tests that can provide information.
How does a DNA test work?
The smallest amounts of body cells (skin scales, blood, etc.) are sufficient for an analysis.
Human DNA is a double strand, often represented as a double helix. In addition to the genetic information, this strand consists of four bases: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C), which occur in different order in each individual.
In the laboratory, chemical substances are used to separate the base chains from the genetic material and sort them according to length. The result shows the individual DNA profile, which can finally be compared with other profiles.
Why should you have your DNA analyzed?
The most common use of DNA analysis is in research and forensics for the identification of traces and suspects.
However, there are reasons and situations where it may make sense to do a DNA test. This is the case, for example, when there is an increased incidence of hereditary diseases in the family. it may be advisable to have one’s DNA tested for appropriate genetic markers. These reveal whether there is an increased risk of disease and thus gives the opportunity to prevent and take the right measures.
If you suffer from allergies or intolerances, DNA analysis can help to identify allergens, but the results cannot always identify all substances beyond doubt.
If one is healthy, there is usually no urgent reason from a medical point of view to perform a DNA test. However, for those who have a general interest in your DNA composition or genealogy, this may well be of interest. This method can also be used for kinship research in man’s four-legged friends.
From ethnicity and genetic research
In recent decades, science has managed to establish connections between ethnicities and groups of peoples that at first seemed absurd. Thus, the hereditary material provides information about where one’s own ancestors came from, and not only those of the last generations, but of the last thousand years. When comparing DNA profiles, short identical sections indicate a long-dated ancestor, longer sections indicate a more recent relative. This is because DNA divides with each inheritance and not all genes are passed on.
For example, researchers have found that Europeans were closely related in the past.
Such analyses not only help to clarify kinship relationships, but also to understand what effects migrations of peoples have had on history and which may still influence us today.
Paternity test (or paternity test)
If the question of paternity is not clear, or the person concerned refuses to acknowledge it, the common method used is paternity testing.
There are various methods for this, such as the blood group test or the serological report, but DNA analysis is probably the safest and most reliable method. In addition, it can be performed before birth (prenatally), since the DNA of the fetus can be found in the blood of the pregnant woman.
Once samples have been taken from the father and child, the genetic profiles are created and matched in the laboratory. Depending on how high the match is, paternity can be confirmed or excluded.
Kinship test – the key to the family tree
Determining paternity is not the only relationship that can be clarified or verified using DNA analysis. Thus, in case of doubt, maternity can also be tested. The relationship of the male offspring can be proven perfectly on the basis of the Y chromosome, and the brother tests are also based on this principle. In the meantime, methods have also been developed that can examine the X chromosome and thus determine the female line, but statistically they are still in their infancy.
Significance for health
If parents or grandparents suffer from chronic diseases, a DNA analysis is often advisable in order to draw conclusions about one’s own health and, above all, possible risks in the future. However, a test cannot give certainty, but only indicate the probability of certain diseases.
In prenatal diagnostics, a DNA test can detect whether a form of trisomy may be present (Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, or Pätau syndrome). This is an ethically controversial issue and it is up to each pregnant person to decide whether this form of testing is desired or foregone.
Psychological aspects
Those who have their genetic material analyzed are primarily striving for clarity, but this knowledge can also become a burden. The tests only state a probability and can neither insure nor exclude a disease, especially since the diseases in question are usually serious and have only limited or no curability.
A woman who learns that her risk of developing breast cancer is increased by 20% may be limited in her quality of life by this prognosis and the worry that comes with it.
In prenatal diagnostics, the procedure gives rise to discussion, as children are repeatedly aborted, only on the basis of probability.
Human rights activists also ask whether a child with a genetic defect has no right to life. Opinions on this issue are divided.
However, those who decide to take a test should also consider whether they can handle the result, because sometimes ignorance is the better option.
Detect allergies at an early stage
It is certain that allergies are at least partly genetic.
If one parent, or both, is allergic, the risk for the child increases up to 50%. However, there is no such thing as an “allergy gene”. The overreaction of the immune system is rather the result of an interplay of genetic disposition, environmental influences and life circumstances. A distinction must be made between allergies (defense reaction of the immune system) and intolerances (disturbed metabolism), both of which are associated with considerable suffering.
DNA analysis can help determine allergens, but the results cannot always identify all substances beyond a doubt. It is therefore advisable to combine the test with other methods, such as antibody testing and a food diary.
It should also be remembered that the cost of DNA analysis is often not covered by health insurance and the patient must pay for it out of pocket.
Diet – the gene diet
There are countless types of diets and they work (or not) a little differently for everyone. Giving up carbohydrates does a lot for some, but others despair of it. The key also lies in our genes, because they determine how our body is structured and how well the metabolism can process the macronutrients carbohydrates, fat and proteins.
That is why there are now diets that are precisely tailored to the individual gene profile. For this purpose, a saliva sample is sent in and a few days later receives its metabolic type. Each vendor categorizes these types slightly differently, but there are three broad divisions.
– Protein type: Metabolizes proteins and fats better than carbohydrates
– Carbohydrate type: Better processing of carbohydrates
– Mixed type: metabolism uses all macronutrients equally well (or equally poorly)
Among other things, this type influences susceptibility to stress, energy levels, eating habits, and how easy (or difficult) weight management is. Knowing which category you fall into can definitely make everyday life easier. Because this way, nutrition and habits can be adjusted individually. Whether a DNA test is really necessary for this, or whether self-observation is also sufficient, is something everyone must decide for themselves.
DNA tests for dogs
There are also good reasons to take a closer look at the DNA of our beloved four-legged friends. On the one hand, this can provide clarity about the breed and the degree of purity, or whether a genetic defect is present. For example, the MDR1 defect (defective protein synthesis and permeability of the brain barrier) in dogs can lead to hypersensitivity to some drugs, which is critical for treatment.
Genes are also decisive for breeders if certain characteristics of the animals are to be passed on strengthened or weakened. Sometimes, however, genetic defects are the result of such overbreeding, which has only aesthetic sense, as for example the strongly flattened muzzle in the mop, which makes breathing difficult for the dog.
However, DNA analysis can also be used to clarify relationships between animals in order to avoid inbreeding.
Different test types
Since our genes determine who we are, all kinds of information can also be determined through them. The most common uses for DNA analysis are:
– Origin test (genealogy test): Determination of kinship and ethnic origin.
– Paternity test: determination of the biological father of a child, or adult
– Health test: Detect genetic predisposition to certain diseases.
– Gene therapy DNA test: to find out if problems are expected in pregnancy or for prenatal diagnosis of the fetus.
Autosome analysis
Human DNA consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total), 22 of which belong to the autosomes and the last pair to the gonosomes, they determine the sex, XX (female), or XY (male).
Autosomal DNA analysis, as the name suggests, deals with the 22 pairs of autosomes. They form the longest information chain. This can be used to determine even distant relatives, or ancestors going back up to a thousand years.
Y-DNA & mtDNA
The Y chromosome defines the male sex. When inherited from father to son, it remains virtually unchanged, making it possible to trace the male line over a long period of time. These tests can help adoptive children find their biological parents, provide clarity in matters of inheritance, and reveal any connections to long-lost bloodlines.
The mtDNA is found in the mitochondria; it is maternally inherited and thus allows conclusions to be drawn about the female lineage.
How much does a DNA test cost?
Depending on how detailed the result should be, simple paternity/maternity tests start at around 150 Euros, kinship/sibling tests are around 500 Euros, determining whether twins are monozygotic or dizygotic is around 170 Euros. Express processing is available for a surcharge of just under 300 euros. Some laboratories also offer forensic trace analysis. However, prices vary depending on the provider.
The two market leaders in ancestry analysis “Ancestry” and “MyHaritage” offer DNA testing from 69, respectively 79 euros.
How quickly do you get the test results?
If you want to save the express option, you can expect the result of the DNA analysis after 3-8 weeks, depending on the provider. A paternity test is usually processed within one week.
Important tips for choosing the right DNA test
The choice of DNA test should depend on the information desired. A paternity test is far simpler than a complete DNA profile. The primary care physician can advise and usually knows the best provider to perform the test.
Data protection – how safe are DNA tests?
Anyone who wants to protect their data without foregoing a DNA test should read the data protection regulations thoroughly, provide as little additional information as possible and, in case of doubt, contact the doctor or the laboratory performing the test directly.
A person’s DNA profile is like a genetic fingerprint, absolutely unique and unchangeable. Therefore, some caution should be exercised when disclosing this information to third parties.
From a data protection perspective, online DNA analysis providers are a real nightmare. The data of the senders, such as name, address and payment methods, are stored and linked to the corresponding gene profile, anonymity practically does not exist. In addition, there is little overview of what else happens to the data, as it can easily be used for profiling, or not least sold to the highest bidder.
It must be remembered that a DNA profile not only reveals origins and relationships, but also makes the carrier vulnerable. This is because diseases, allergies and other health factors can also be read from it, which are of great interest to insurance companies, for example. What’s more, the data is stored on multiple servers and is usually also sent to the customer digitally, but what ends up on the Internet once is almost impossible to delete.
All in all, DNA analysis makes sense in many cases and can make life easier, but also more difficult. Many families have been reunited by means of these procedures and it is certainly exciting to find out where one’s own footprint in history lies.