SearchExclusive.com

4 Mind-Blowing Things Revealed by DNA Testing

While many folks associate DNA testing with paternity or crimes—I’m looking at you Jerry Springer and Law and Order: SVU. However, you might not realize that genetic testing can reveal some really amazing things. For instance, a DNA test can predict certain genetic disorders and developmental issues in unborn babies and even reveal your personal risk factors for specific inherited diseases, like colon or breast cancer, so you can take the proper precautionary measures for prevention.

In fact, research shows that DNA testing can pinpoint almost anything—from the breed of your pet to the off chance that your family is descendant of royalty. Here are four fascinating revelations from genetic testing…

1. DNA dieting?!

If you struggle with your weight, the secret to a svelter, healthier you could be discovered in your genes, according to a study out of University of California, Los Angeles . The study tracked the weight of 100 lab rodents who were placed on diets rich in fat and sugar, and found that mice with certain gene variants (also found in humans), were predispose to weight gain. The scientists speculate that 80-percent of body fat (and our ability to gain and lose it) is governed by our genetic makeup.

2. Identifying gene mutations

Genetic testing to discover certain gene mutations that can increase the risk of certain diseases is called the “Angelina Jolie effect” for a reason. When the famous actress tested positive for the BRCA1 gene in 2013, she elected for a double mastectomy surgery, followed by the removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes 2-years later. Her actions were so impactful that Jolie encouraged other women to do the same, and as a result the rates for genetic counseling increased considerably, as did the number of women identified as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Although identifying a gene abnormality through DNA testing doesn’t guarantee a certain disease (i.e., colon cancer) in an individual—it can alert you to risk factors so you can take proactive steps to prevent it.

3. Royal blood

Remember that Christmas when drunken Uncle Bob announced that your mother’s mother side of the family are descendants of Queen Elizabeth? Maybe it’s time to get your DNA tested to clear up any doubt. A study out of University of Strathclyde, in Scotland, identified a genetic marker unique to the family line of King Robert III of Scotland, also known as Robert the Bruce. Even if you’re family doesn’t descend from noble lineage, a DNA test can reveal family associations to certain heraldry or coats of arms.

4. DNA dog whisperer

As a pet owner, it’s often frustrating that our furry friends can’t tell us when they’re lonely or bored or sick. But it turns out that DNA testing can explain your dog’s endless hunger for tennis shoes, and even predict predilection for certain breed-specific diseases. Companies such as

BioPet Vet Lab and Wisdom Panel, offer a cheek swab home test that will test your pooch’s DNA against over 190 breeds to determine specific behavioral and health markers according to genetics. But the question still remains: is your poodle a direct descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte?

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.