No "Gay Gene"

With 23andMe becoming more and more talked about, some people have wondered if there is such a thing as a gene that makes someone gay. Based on all the data collected, it is impossible to determine if someone is gay based off of genetics. Sexual preference is similar to food preference, how could we collect someones DNA and know if they prefer apples over oranges? Exactly, we can not. This was a very thorough investigation and there was no evidence that could back up the gay gene theory. 23andMe is a scam considering they say they can analyze someone's DNA and determine if they are gay, but for a price of course. A researcher said it is more likely to be an element of the environment, but not disregarding the fact that someone does not choose to be gay, but it is simply how one feels.

In my opinion, I do not believe genetics is a major contribution to sexual orientation. We are a complex species and one can not help who are what they are attracted to. For someone to say being gay is a choice is the same thing as saying being straight is a choice. We can not help who we are, only the decisions we make. I also think it is unfair how 23andMe is taking advantage of people by saying they can provide answers when they are just providing false claims and making money.



http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/08/29/same-sex-attraction-genetic-study-gay-gene/#.Xby_k5NKjjA

Related Article:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02585-6

Study Debunks 'Depression Genes' Hypotheses

For years, researchers have supposedly found that a certain group of genes play a key role in depression. This has not only lead to a lot of further research, but also given doctors and patients the hope that technology like CRISPR could simply cut these genes out for future offspring. These previous ideas of depression genes come with hypotheses about the future of the disease itself.

Several of the prior studies, at least 10, saw that a certain 18 genes were completely associated with depression. Unfortunately, new testing has proven that of the 18 specific genes that scientists have associated with depression, none of them play any larger role than every other random gene in the body. Though depression is indeed a heritable condition, it “is influenced by many many variants, and individually each of those has a minuscule effect." 

Looking closer at some studies, a particular gene SLC6A4 which directly deals with the transportation of serotonin was previously said to be very important with depression. Specifically, it was believed that a person with a short version of this gene was at a higher risk for developing depression than a person with a “normal” size SLC6A4. This is even more likely if the person was exposed to early life trauma. 

Another study was done with the participation of several DNA/chromosomal data sources such as 23andMe. They used the data from those types of websites in order to determine if any of the so called “associated genes” actually played a role in producing depression when combined with childhood trauma. This is said to be the largest depression study known to man. The researchers were actually surprised to find that those 18 genes are no more related to depression than any other gene. However, it is still believed that as a group, many genes participate in the development of depression. It is important to note that “genes associated with the disease, and what they do, can ultimately come up with more accurate "polygenic scores" to predict risk and still potentially develop drugs designed to counteract that risk.”

I think that this study is really interesting because it involves scientists disproving past hypotheses about this specific disease. More genes must be looked at to determine even the smallest roles in depression, yet I don’t think this disease will ever be completely abolished. Too many genes are involved to pinpoint a certain gene removal or drug that will get rid of all symptoms. This research is a big step in furthering the scientific knowledge of depression 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190402164517.htm

DNA Testing Reveals true Identity of Kidnapped Child

This Article was about using Genetic makeup to help identify a Woman that had no idea who she really was. Lisa Jensen was a woman who was kidnapped at 2 then later abandoned by her supposed father at 5, she had no knowledge of her past or identity. Using 23andme, ancestry.com, FamilyTreeDNA, and GED match, her and a team of investigators were able to identify distant relatives that matched her genetic makeup. From tracking down and interviewing these relatives, she was able to slowly build a family tree that linked those distant relatives closer and closer to herself. During the research however she discovered her birth mother had passed away long before the search began but from this information Lisa was able to identify her birth name: Dawn. Because of these databases and the process of linking people from their genetic makeup, Lisa was able to meet her blood relatives and find more about her true self that couldn't be identified without DNA.

From discussing the true process of Gene sequencing done by these companies however the databases that they keep are extensive and do prove their worth in this case. IN the article it states that she would have no clue what her past was if not for the help of these databases. Because of this this I believe that the so called “mail order genetic sequencing” companies do have some importance to mapping lineages based off DNA. Although they aren’t extremely accurate to tell you health risks or potential concerns based upon your genes, they can tell you who you are related and not related to. Because of this property, these companies are a good thing to have due to their enormous databases of DNA and lineages of people.

References

Corum, J., & Murphy, H. (2018, October 15). How Genetic Sleuthing Helped a Kidnapped Girl Recover Her Identity. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/15/science/gedmatch-genetic-sleuthing.htm

Study tries to Identify the Link Between School Attendance and Genetic Makeup

The purpose of this study was to identify any link in human genes to the length of time people stay in school for. Citing the fact that researchers have linked other aspects such as income and overall health to certain genes, they hope to find a link for education. Although the researchers know that outside factors also affect this, they believe that the genetic makeup affects how neurons communicate to affect performance in school and thus the time spent in education. The source group was more than 1.1 million Caucasians from European descent citing that they required a homogeneous group to maximize the odds of discovering the link. Studying this data, Dr. Benjamin & his team found a number of genetic variations that were common to those who finished a large amount of school while other genetic variations were found that were common in people that left school early. Now the school time isn't only affected by the students genetic code but since they inherit these genes from their parents, the parents would put more or less emphasis on the importance of school depending on the genes they carry. Because of their findings, they were able to create a scale to calculate a genetic “score” for educational success due to these genes that are believed to be linked to schooling success. They tested this scale on 4,775 Caucasian Americans and ranked them into 5 groups based on the genetic makeup they had. From this ranking, the bottom group had only 12% finished college while the top group had 57% college completion. The same grouping was performed on African-Americans and produced inconclusive results citing that gene influence different traits in different populations.

The best way to sum up my feelings about this article would be the saying “correlation isn't causation.” First of all, the fact that they used a Caucasian group only tells me that they may have found the correlation primarily in Caucasians and decided to exclude other groups to make their data seem more relevant. They even say that the purpose of finding European descent Caucasians was to “maximize the odds of discovering the link,” to me this is just manipulating your data pool to benefit your theory. We have seen from the video on eugenics that the theory of linking certain races or groups to non-genetic related factors is nothing new. Despite this, this article somehow this gets posted in the New York times, meanwhile we look back on Kellogg as a crazy but at the core they are looking for the same non-existent genetic links.



Zimmer, C. (2018, July 23). Years of Education Influenced by Genetic Makeup, Enormous Study Finds. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/science/genes-education.html

The Truth on Online Gene Testing.

A 29-year-old radiology resident at Baylor University Medical Center, Dr. Joshua Clayton sent in a sample of his saliva to 23andMe in hopes of learning more about his ancestry. 23andMe is one genetics testing company out of many where people can send in DNA samples and get quick results for a decent price. However, many physicians are arguing that is may be doing more harm than good. After Dr. Clayton’s results came back ordinary, he sent the same sample of DNA to a separate genetics testing company called Promethease which advertises to do a more in-depth analysis. The results of the analysis came back positive for Lynch syndrome, a genetic disorder that can lead to deadly cancers at an early age. Frightened by this, Dr. Clayton reached out to a company with expertise in medical diagnostics and found that the  results from Promethease were actually a false positive. Although he knew false positives were common in these genetic testings, many consumers do not understand how debatable their results may be. In a small study performed by Ambry Genetics, it was found that 40% of the results from these companies were erroneous. These testing companies do state that their results are not intended for medical purposes yet this can be very confusing when the consumer is expecting to have accurate results.

Personally, I do not see the harm in participating in these genetic testing activities, however, one should never rely solely on the validity of the results. If there is a chance a mutation is hereditary than one should be examined by a certified clinical laboratory. Possibly having a genetic disorder is worrisome enough so why take the chance of being misdiagnosed.

Related article

Reference Article

A DNA Site Helped Authorities Crack the Golden State Killer Case

With the help of genetic data from databases, police were able to arrest a man suspected to be the notorious Golden State Killer. It was through the GEDmatch genetic database, which has a lot of unknown genetic information listed within it. Unlike big companies like 23andMe which has more than 5 million users, GEDmatch has between 900,000 and a million users, and those users upload and share their information for free. This makes it easy for law enforcement to use it to collect data. In this particular case, investigators used genetic databases in order to find relatives who matched genetic material taken from an old crime scene, and they went on to cross-reference family data from GEDmatch and were able to find the suspect, Joseph James DeAngelo. This case has brought the issue of genetic privacy to light, especially nowadays where genetic testing is becoming more popular and extensive. People will get there DNA tested to know of their ancestry and family history of health, but a lot of them don't consider what happens to their data after that.

Most of the big companies resist all law enforcement inquiries to protect customer privacy, but they do warn customers that there is a possibility of it. 23andMe has stated to never have given customer information to law enforcement. Although, many companies do give users control on where their data goes, whether they want to share it for research, with third parties, or with other consumers. However, databases like GEDmatch, which are open for everyone, don't have the same precautions to privacy. Although, they do inform their users that the data can be used by others for anything.

Users should always be cautious when using sites like these, even the ones who claim privacy.
Customers should be critical when reading privacy policies and understand how genetic data can be shared with third parties, especially when it's an open-source database. There is a lot of potential for abuse of genetic material exists, so it's important to be cautious about putting your genetic data onto the internet.

Article: http://time.com/5257474/golden-state-killer-genetic-privacy-concerns/

5 Things to Know Before Purchasing a DNA Testing Kit

DNA testing kits are becoming more affordable and cheaper than they ever were before. Many popular brands like 23andMe and ancestory.com are selling these kits and all it takes is a sample of your spit and you are given information about your DNA. Alicia Park from TIME Magazine thinks there are five important things everyone should know before purchasing these kits. These five things are; you won't find out everything about your genes, don't expect to learn if you will get cancer, you'll learn more about where you came from, your DNA might not be as private as you think, and your DNA isn't your destiny. Many people will think that if there results show they have a specific "cancer causing" gene they will one day get cancer no matter what. Unfortunately, this person might be right, but just because they have the gene does not mean they will get cancer. It only means that their chances of getting cancer might be higher than someone else without that gene. DNA testing kits can be very interesting and fun if the buyer has an understanding of what their results show.













Article URL: http://time.com/5063464/23andme-dna-ancestry-test/
Additional Information: https://www.23andme.com/

Genetics Influence Human Empathy

Empathy is a complex part of a person’s mind and allows people foster emotionally charged relationships with others. A lack of empathy is usually associated with behavioral issues, making finding out the variables that control a person’s empathy levels important. Around 46,000 23AndMe customers took part in an experiment to see if empathy levels were influenced by genetics, run by a group of scientists from the University of Cambridge and Institut Pasteur. The genetic information of the participants was then compared to their empathy quotient or EQ scored (a 50-question long test to help rate one’s empathy level) to see how much of the difference in the EQ score could be attributed to a participant’s genetics. According to the article around 10 percent could be attributed to genetic factors. However, the sample of people used was not representative of the world’s diversity.

The experiment sounded fascinating due to its hard-to-quantify subject even though it was sparsely detailed in the news article on how the calculation went from EQ score to the difference in empathy level. The news article did bring up doubt about the experiment (issues with the sample size and diversity) which is refreshing to see.

News Article- http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/03/12/genetics-of-empathy/#.Wq3SqUxFzIU
Other article- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-017-0082-6

First Home Testing Kit for Breast Cancer Mutations

The FDA has granted a genetic testing company the rights to distribute an at-home saliva test in order to determine one’s risk for three breast cancer gene mutations. 23andMe now offers these screenings as part of their Health and Ancestry product listed at $199. These saliva samples also provide individuals with ancestral history on their country of origin, as well as the genetic health risks that are involved in said areas. The test takes approximately two weeks to be analyzed and have a return of the results. Women are at an extremely higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer if they test positive for one of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Men are also at a higher risk if they possess one of these genes, however it is much more uncommon for men to develop breast cancer (however not impossible). These mutations however, may lead to a higher risk of prostate cancer in men. Clients need to be aware; because if the at-home test states that you are negative for the gene mutations, it does NOT mean that you can’t get breast/ovarian cancer, since there are over 1,000 mutations associated with the BRCA gene. The Ashkenazi Jews (a derivative of Judaism of central Europe) are more likely to test positive for all three gene mutations than any other ethnical group. Donald St. Pierre of the FDA states that, “The test provides information to certain individuals who may be at increased breast, ovarian or prostate cancer risk and who might not otherwise get genetic screening, and is a step forward in the availability of direct-to-consumer genetic tests…this test should not be used as a substitute for seeing your doctor for cancer screenings or counseling on genetic and lifestyle factors that increase or decrease cancer risk”.

23andMe had originally reported these gene mutations back in 2010 without being approved by the FDA, however the FDA has issued them a warning in 2013. This caused the company to stop providing all health data until the FDA had reproducible results, and was proven statistically significant. A warning label is also not made mandatory on all test kits, stating that negative results do not rule out other genetic mutations associated with cancer risks, tests should not be used to determine medical treatment, tests should not be a substitute for a doctor’s visit, and that positive test results must be reviewed with their doctor in order to determine proper medical treatment. Ann Wojcicki the CEO of 23andMe, said that this product was made available due to high public demand.

This article was interesting to say the least.  It is nice for people with a background history of breast cancer to may find a a little piece of mind if they are positive or negative for these gene mutations, however I do not know about the quality of these tests.  $199 seems a little to good to be true to me, and since it is a newer product, I am not sure if I would trust the results or not.  I would personally stick to testing done through a licensed physician, or through a specialist with a more reputable product.

(Link to article)
(Related Article)

What Do We Know About Genetic Links to Depression?

        

        Through studying genetics, researchers have found that nobody inherits depression from his or her parents and that there is no "depression gene" (as far as anyone knows.) There is; however, a clear genetic component of depression that is currently being studied extensively. 

        In a study of twins, it was found that if one twin has depression, the other is more likely to have it as well when compared to non-twin siblings. "We know there is a heritable quality of both unipolar and bipolar depression," says Dr. John H. Krystal, chair of the department of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and chief of psychiatry at Yale-New Haven Hospital. The exact numbers are still unknown, but it is estimated that one-third to one-half of the reasons why somebody may develop the disease is due to genetics. Researchers were able to find 15 different aspects of the genome associated with depression. These genes are getting and will continue to get a lot of intensive study, thanks to the hard workers at 23andMe. Dr. Steven E. Hyman, director of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University, believes it's unlikely there will be one single genetic marker for depression to be discovered. What we can begin looking at are different risk versions someone may have, making it a statistical matter. 

        One can have higher risks for depression, but there are other factors that must be taken into consideration since three are other factors that can also lead to depression (i.e. stress. nutrition, and exercise.) "I am more than hopeful that, with enough time and effort, genetics will yield a useful piece of the puzzle," Hyman says. Krystal agrees to his positive forecast and is optimistic about what we'll be able to achieve through studying genetics in the coming years. I agree with both, Hyman and Krystal and I am hopeful. Since different factors in the genome linked to depression have already been found, further studies can be done from here and hopefully lead to new breakthroughs in genetic research on a terrible disease, depression. 

https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-10-03/what-do-we-know-about-genetic-links-to-depression
http://depressiongenetics.stanford.edu/mddandgenes.html

23andMe Sell Genetic Test

For the first time in United States the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the company 23andMe to sell genetic test directly to the public. The Ancestry and Health test is sold for $199 and will allow the customer to know which mutation increases their risk for certain diseases. The test is made simple for the customer, they just spit into a tube and mail it away. 23andMe will extract the DNA from saliva cells and find genetic markers using a special chip for genotyping. The customers will receive the results within 6-8 weeks with 10 common diseases and the information educating them. Some disease indicators tested are celiac disease, Gaucher disease type 1 and factor XI deficiency.

I think this can reduce the costs of health care because you no longer have to see your primary doctor which in turn will refer you to genetic doctor. It’s a time and money saving approach. Although as convenient as it seems it might cause some people to get upset or overreact. They might think that just because the have a genetic indicator they WILL have the disease.