Anne Hart
Here’s how to tailor your drugs, food, and skin-care products to your DNA. This is your consumer’s guide to genetic testing kits.Your DNA, including your ancient ancestry and ethnicity has a lot to do with how your body responds to food, medicine, illness, exercise, and lifestyle, but just how much? And how do you know which DNA kits and gene testing are reliable and recognized?Learning about DNA to understand and improve your health is now interactive and available to the average consumer, not limited to students and teachers, but to anyone else. In the last few years genealogy buffs, parents, and anyone interested in DNA without a science background took an interest in DNA tests rests that reveal deep maternal and paternal ancestry. No science background? Don’t worry. There’s a DNA summer camp near you, or an educational experience in learning about DNA now available to the average consumer. Educators, scientists, and multimedia producers have teamed up to teach you the wonders of DNA, your genes and your lifestyle. What’s left? Physicians and genetic research scientists need to talk more to each other because most family doctors don’t have time to read the proliferation of publications reporting new advances in genetics or other areas of science that directly affect consumers.It looks like it’s the consumer’s job to bring people together through the media and through consumer’s watchdog organizations, professional associations, and support groups. Key words: action and public education about DNA through multimedia and consumer involvement. Find out who is credible and recognized in the right places.
