genetic results are in

[mellowtigger]

The email arrived at 11:07pm.  My genetic results are in.

Slight detour first, there was news yesterday about a new technology that may make sequencing much faster in the future.
http://www.physorg.com/news156953933.html

First glance at my "generic" results for specific conditions that they evaluate for people:

Research confidence:	Condition:	Their take:	My take:
4 stars	multiple sclerosis	I have 2 markers for increased risk. 0.52 out of 100 people of European heritage get MS.  0.71 out of 100 of them who have my genetic markers get MS.	The neuropathy in my feet was considered several years ago to be a result of low B12 value, causing myelination problems. Something to investigate, perhaps, if I ever get health insurance again.
3 stars	abdominal aortic aneurysm	"Slightly increased" odds for me, based on 1 marker tested.	There are only 36.5 cases per 100,000 people each year.  I'm not worried.
3 stars	brain aneurysm	"Slightly increased" odds for me, based on 1 marker tested.	Up to 5% of all people have one eventually.  I'm still not too worried.
3 stars	chronic lymphocytic leukemia	I have 2 of 6 markers.  One of them gives 1.5 X the odds, and the other gives 1.4 X the odds.	I wouldn't dismiss the possibility someday, but it's not something I'm worried about.
2 stars	developmental dyslexia	"Slightly higher" odds for me, based on 1 marker tested.	If it hasn't been a problem by now, I don't think it will be.

I also have higher odds for gallstones, gout, and statin response.  I have decreased odds for cluster headaches, various cancers (bladder, esophageal, larynx, oral and throat, breast, and skin), Lou Gehrig's disease, and schizophrenia.  I also have decreased odds for Restless Leg Syndrome, but I know that I've had exactly those symptoms many times over the years.  It's all a matter of playing the odds, obviously, not a matter of certainty.

On various traits, I am typical in many ways.  I have average odds of living to age 100, typical caffeine metabolism, typical odds of male pattern baldness, typical progression of HIV-1 infection, typical response to antidepressants, and typical sensitivity to pain.  I have typical odds of blond hair or brown hair, and typical odds of blue-vs-green eye color.  Men in my family actually start out blond and grow darker soon after.  My eyes seem to change between their blue and green hue, plus I have yellow in there too.

I have one marker that suggests I eat more sugar per day than the average person, and I heartily disagree.  Sweets I easily ignore, but it's the high-fat foods that I get cravings for. 

I have one marker for reduced sensitivity to sweat odor.  Woe is me.  ;)   I have one marker for 0.16 inch (0.4 cm) shorter height than the average person.

I also have a genetic marker that was found in Dutch families to be associated with 3 IQ points higher in non-verbal scores.  I have 1 marker that's associated with 4-5 point increase if I'd been breastfed as a child.  I have 1 other marker associated with 6-7 point increase in IQ if I'd been breastfed.  (I think I was, but I don't know for sure.)

I'll examine specific markers next.  The initial review is not really anything very remarkable except for the Multiple Sclerosis risk.

Comments

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

This is really cool... :) Science is fun!

Wow

[otterlover01.livejournal.com]

This is all SO interesting. I didn't know I would get to know you THIS deep! :o) Congratulaions on receiving the results at last! I look forward to more of this interesting post and thank you for the comments on my postings too! NOT big congrats on the MS results though. Love you friend, Luis.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

You're HIV+?

If you should ever consider a move to Mass, you'll have guaranteed health insurance.

[mellowtigger]

Nope, HIV negative. I'm interested in my progression genotype, though, because of the time that I spent long ago dating a man with AIDS. Apparently my failure to seroconvert had a lot to do with following Safe(r) Sex rules.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

Interesting...I was blonde as a baby and developed brown hair by the time I was around 5 or 6.

[mellowtigger]

It seems like a condition that's common enough to be a familiar story. I think it was even asked in a 23andme question, or maybe it was just one of the community forum questions. But, yeah, it's a real effect.