Marla Ahlgrimm: Advancements in DNA Sequencing and Health

Genetic testing has become available to the masses thanks the companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com. Marla Ahlgrimm says this has given individuals more power to take control of their health since many of the tests are FDA-Approved to screen for genetic markers associated with health conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. In 2018, Michigan State University researchers took things one step further.

Q: What can DNA predict?

Marla Ahlgrimm: People inherit DNA from both of the parents, who, in turn, inherited DNA from their parents and so on. It’s widely accepted that children inherit approximately 50% of their genes from their mother and 50% from their father. These genes share markers with certain populations that can help predict things such as eye color, skin tone, and an individual’s region of genetic origin. But they can also offer insight into more important subjects, such as medical risk.