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4 Cool Fact Can Be Revealed from DNA

Friday, May 16, 2014

Since the discovery 60 years ago, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been used to uncover a lot of things, ranging from biological attachment between father and child or children with the mother to prove whether a person can be accused of committing a particular crime or not.

But probably not many know if DNA testing not only reveal things like that alone. Here are four cool facts can be revealed only on DNA testing as quoted by CNN.

1. Mapping the family tree
Who would have thought if you may still have a blood relationship with the leading celebrities? You can figure it out just by doing a DNA test.

No need to bother, sites like Ancestry.com are willing to compare your DNA with DNA recording various people around the world, hoping to hook you up with a family tree that you never knew before.

Not only that, Ancesty.com can also provide information about your genetic ethnicity.

"We can observe the massive amounts of DNA ... and compare it with other DNA samples from all over the world. Then to detect similarities that exist, we can trace back generations before you and connect you to your ancestors," writes the site The.

2. Solve an ancient mystery
Recently managed a team of archaeologists discovered the skull of one of the famous king of England that Richard III which was buried under a parking lot in Leicester. But investigators did not immediately believe it is a skull Richard III to DNA extracted from the bones of the king proved a match with Michael Ibsen, a direct descendant of the sister of Richard III.

This is not the first time the ancient relics can be identified thanks to DNA. The problem, though weather conditions were stored in a cool, dry and dark, DNA can last a long time, even up to thousands of years.

In 2009, DNA analysis of bone fragments prove that the two children of Czar Nicholas II was killed along with his entire family during the Russian Revolution, though so far there is speculation that the two managed to escape.

The scientists also succeeded in extracting DNA from ancient humans who have been extinct since the Neanderthals 30,000 years ago and the findings are expected to provide in-depth insight on the process of human evolution.

3. Predicting the future
By using a blood sample from the mother and saliva from the father, scientists can determine if their child is still in the womb will have a chromosome abnormality that can lead to genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome or not.

Later, the researchers also began to expand the functions of the prenatal genetic tests to identify potential developmental delays and intellectual disabilities such as autism in children.

Even genetic tests can also reveal certain health risk factors that you may have inherited from your parents, for example, the risk of breast cancer or colon cancer.

Although the determination of risk factors through genetic testing is no guarantee you are exposed to the disease, at least you know if you are likely to develop a certain disease. On the other hand, knowing the high risk such as this can encourage you to take some preventive measures.

4. Help you lose weight
According to a study, a persons ability to lose weight or otherwise established or determined by the genes you have.

The researchers themselves have identified several gene variants that may affect a persons potential for obesity, even down to their children. Studies in mice also ensure that 80 percent of body fat is regulated by genes.

"Although have found a genetic component that makes us prone to obesity, in fact, our understanding of this fact is very limited," said a diet and fitness expert Dr. Melina Jampolis.

From there, the researchers tried to figure out how to combine genetic factors, setting nutrition (diet) and exercise to help people lose weight and keep it off.



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