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.
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.
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.
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.
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.