Ever wonder why some individuals have an easier time keeping their cholesterol optimized? Or how some people can maintain bone mineral density, while others need to work much harder? While there may be many possible reasons, one scientifically validated explanation is our genetic predispositions, or potential, for various traits. Sometimes the answers lie within our genome*—our complete library of DNA —the instruction manual for how our body works.
By merging genetic insights with continuously updated blood biomarkers, you gain a holistic view of your health, enabling tailored lifestyle strategies and early detection of potential health issues. Only InsideTracker’s expert system can take blood, DNA, and physiomarker data to deliver personalized recommendations to help you live a healthier longer life.
To fully understand how, let's start at the very beginning with the discovery of DNA.
*Want to learn more about terms like these? Check out our Glossary of Terms at the end of this article for clear definitions of these terms and others throughout this post.
The discovery of DNA
Scientists have been studying genetics as early as the 1800s, when Gregor Mendel first offered the theory that living organisms share hereditary traits. After an experiment with peas (which you might have learned in middle school biology), he discovered that dominant and recessive genes were passed down from parents to offspring—a principle that applies to peas and humans alike.Then, in the 1860s, Friedrich Meischer first identified DNA in human white blood cells. By the 1920s, the scientific community had widely accepted the theory of genetics and inherited traits. Rosalind Franklin’s x-ray photographs of crystallized DNA particles in 1950 (below) acted as a springboard for future discoveries and provided clues and precise observations into DNA’s notorious double helix structure. Shortly after, James Watson and Francis Crick constructed the first physical model of DNA. [1]
Photo 51 taken by Rosalind Franklin and RG Gosling.
DNA testing was first used in the 1980s for paternity tests and to help solve crimes. But it was the Human Genome Project in the 1990s that led to explosive progress in the field. The project’s goal was to map all 3.2 billion nucleotides in the human genome, which it achieved in nine years—one of the world’s most ambitious scientific undertakings. Developments continued in 2014, when scientists discovered that genetics and DNA are linked to mental illness and markers associated with Type 2 Diabetes including inflammation, fat, and glucose metabolism.
Technological advances in the field also significantly reduced the costs associated with sequencing DNA. In 2003, it cost a whopping $2.7 billion to complete. As technologies developed over the years, the price continuously dropped. Now, the cost to sequence an entire human genome is generally less than $1,000, making DNA testing commercially available. [2]
Now, let’s take a more in-depth look into how we can extract information from our DNA and use it for our benefit.
Genetic "typos" make us unique
The human body produces an average of 222 billion to 242 billion new cells every day! New cells are created through a process called cell division—the cell replicates its DNA, then divides into two, creating a new cell with a complete set of genetic instructions. This process happens so frequently that mistakes (or “typos”) are bound to occur.These mistakes lead to variations at specific locations in the DNA sequences, called single nucleotide polymorphism, or SNPs (pronounced “snips”). SNPs occur about every 1,000 DNA units, which means we each have up to five million of these genetic variants in total. And while the majority of SNPs have no observable outcome at all, they occasionally create meaningful differences—differences that account for the variability in our DNA that makes us unique. SNPs can determine physical traits like hair and eye color, and even some less obvious characteristics, such as stubbornly-high levels of triglycerides.
With the genetic advancements made this century, researchers can now perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with relative ease. These studies compare the DNA sequences and SNPs of thousands of individuals at once. For example, a study may look at participants with a specific trait (like a peanut allergy) and compare their DNA to a similar group of people without the trait (a control group). By identifying the common SNPs and their locations, scientists can pinpoint the genetic variant that drives a risk for developing a peanut allergy. These studies have also identified SNPs associated with blood levels of just about every major health-related biomarker. This is excellent news for InsideTracker users, because we can use genetics as additional context regarding stubborn biomarker levels, like cholesterol.
Our scientists at InsideTracker were not satisfied with commercially available DNA testing platforms because they lack the SNPs that give our users true personalization. In response, we spent over three years of rigorous research developing our own DNA platform, and carefully identified unique SNPs specific to wellness traits, blood biomarkers, and personalized nutrition. These SNPs, most of them not available through any other DNA test on the market, were handpicked for precise relevance to complement the InsideTracker blood biomarker and personalized nutrition systems. How so? Let’s find out.
DNA and blood: Better together
Understanding the small variations in your DNA can give you an indication of your body's predisposition to certain wellness traits. While you can't change your genes, you can change how your body responds to them. Remember, your DNA is not your destiny. Blood biomarkers, on the other hand, are constantly shifting in response to your nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle choices. They paint a picture of your body's response to your environment, and that picture can be improved over time by following personalized nutrition and lifestyle recommendations. It's the personalization of these recommendations that gets even more precise when both blood and DNA are part of the analysis.
By combining our latest DNA scores alongside our established blood testing capabilities, you unlock an unparalleled healthspan potential. This data presents both your genetic potential and a snapshot of your current wellbeing, empowering you with more dynamic, customizable, and precise recommendations for optimizing overall health. You also receive a DNA Report detailing your risk and potential percentiles for 10 healthspan-related scores, providing an even more precise roadmap for your health.
For instance, take Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)---a protein found on the surface of all potentially atherogenic (artery-clogging) lipoproteins. The concentration of ApoB in your bloodstream directly reflects your heart health, with elevated levels signifying a heightened risk of heart disease.
The influence of genetics on ApoB levels is significant. The ApoB trait is strongly associated with heart disease, stroke, and overall lifespan. The InsideTracker genetic risk assessment looks at up to 16,907 genetic markers that orchestrate ApoB levels, meticulously comparing your genetic risk profile to your present ApoB measurements.
In addition to heart health, InsideTracker DNA scores are meticulously tailored to various aspects of wellness. These wellness traits are not only relevant to your healthspan goals, but they also have a strong genetic basis, making the insights you receive more accurate and personalized to you.
InsideTracker’s DNA analysis looks at up to 38 wellness traits, based on up to 20,000 genetic biomarkers. These genetic biomarkers traverse ten key domains. More specifically, these powerful and proprietary scores give you insights into your genetic influence on hormone balance, metabolism, fitness, recovery, endurance, inflammation, sleep, heart health, cognition, and gut health.
Given the relatively new and evolving world of DNA testing, InsideTracker and its team of experts are excited to deliver cutting edge analysis to our users as the field advances. Those who purchase the InsideTracker DNA Kit will get increasingly valuable insights over time as we continue to add new genetic insights. And as new genetic research is published, InsideTracker's own software will also become more robust with new data inputs.
A practical approach to your data
Finally, how can you put this data to use? Let’s use LDL or 'bad' cholesterol as an example since the heritability risk for having elevated LDL cholesterol can be relatively high. Suppose you just joined the InsideTracker family and had both your blood and DNA tested. You believe you lead a relatively healthy life but notice your cholesterol is quite high. Trying to make sense of this, you check your DNA report and it reveals that your genetic risk for high cholesterol is “increased.” Armed with this awareness, now you can more carefully follow your personalized InsideTracker nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations for addressing this increased genetic potential for high cholesterol.Understanding your genetic predisposition and your blood levels gives you a much more comprehensive look into your health. Through our DNA analysis, we hope to empower you to continue to make health decisions that are right for you.
Glossary of terms
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is present in nearly all living organisms and contains the instruction manual for how a body works. It carries a cell's genetic information and hereditary traits within its two nucleotide strands – the twisted, ladderlike "double helix" that is commonly seen in visual representation.
- Chromosome: DNA is organized into pieces called chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, with a copy from each parent. A person's genes are stored along their chromosomes at specific positions.
- Nucleotides: A group of molecules, also known as bases, that form the sequence of DNA when linked together. There are 4 different nucleotides found in DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).
- Variant: Any alteration in the DNA sequence. Genetic variants make each person unique.
- SNPs: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is the most common type of genetic variation among humans. Each SNP represents a difference in a single nucleotide (A, C, G, T).
- Cells: There are around 210 types of cells in the body from bone cell to fat cells to blood cells. Cells receive instructions on how to function from their DNA.
- Genes: Genes contain the step-by-step instructions that tell the body's cells how to function and what traits to express. Each gene codes for a specific protein. Every gene generally has 2 copies or alleles, one allele inherited from each parent. Humans have roughly 20,000 genes. While all humans share the same set of genes, our biological differences arise from the variations in the inherited alleles.
- Biomarkers: Substances in the blood that indicate your body's condition.
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Diana Licalzi, MS, RD
- Diana is a Content Strategist and Team Nutritionist at InsideTracker. As a Registered Dietitian and self-proclaimed "biohacker," Diana enjoys researching and testing the latest trends and technology in the field of nutrition and aging. You'll often find Diana completing a 24-hour fast, conducting self experiments, or uncovering strategies to increase longevity.
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Julia Reedy, MNSP
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- Julia is a Written Content Strategist & Editor at InsideTracker. She loves to use her experience in cutting-edge nutrition research and writing to spin complex health and nutrition topics into clear, approachable info everyone can relate to. As an inquisitive food shopper, she's constantly reading ingredient lists—and leaving shelves of backward products in her wake.
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References
[1] https://www.dna-worldwide.com/resource/160/history-dna-timeline[2] https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Sequencing-Human-Genome-cost
