Personal DNA Testing
While all humans share almost all the same genes, very subtle differences in the sequence of the genes’ chemical bases help make each individual unique. Genetic technology now allows us to test for specific differences that scientists have determined to be associated with specific conditions.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Pause/Play video playback |
| Enter | Pause/Play video playback |
| m | Mute/Unmute video volume |
| Up and Down arrows | Increase and decrease volume by 10% |
| Right and Left arrows | Seek forward or backward by 5 seconds |
| 0-9 | Fast seek to x% of the video. |
| f | Enter or exit fullscreen. (Note: To exit fullscreen in flash press the Esc key. |
| c | Press c to toggle captions on or off |
Personal DNA Testing
Click on the left to watch the video about tests designed to look for single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs ("snips"). These single-letter differences in DNA sequence, taken together, are the reason people have different hair color and other genetically determined traits. They may also predispose us to common diseases. While companies that offer testing for SNPs might appeal to people who want to learn their risk for particular diseases, critics suggest that this method may be no better at prediction than a well-documented family history.
After watching the video, briefly explain what SNPs are, how they are used in genetic testing, and what they can reveal.
