Our genes make us who we are. Now, thanks to direct-to-consumer genetics testing, it's easier than ever to find out more about why we are the way we are.
But what exactly are these kits testing? What do your results really mean? And if you find something bad, can you beat your genes?
Michael Pilgrim is a Central Texas father who has taken several of these tests in hopes of finding answers to his past and possible clues into his future.
Pilgrim was adopted at nine days old and knows very little about his biological parents.
Now that he has three daughters of his own, he has become more curious about his medical history.
“It really wasn’t until I had children of my own, and medical issues popped up, that I wanted to know more about my side,” Pilgrim said.
Last year, Pilgrim started researching genetic testing kits online.
"I had no background on my own medical history, and I knew the best way to find out was to look at some genetic testing," Pilgrim explained.
Kimberley Clawson teaches genetics at Temple College. She said genetic testing kits are great for people like Pilgrim who don’t know their medical background.
Clawson has researched many of the well-known genetics companies.
"The genetic tests are looking for ways to help you maybe change the outcome of what’s in your DNA," Clawson said.
According to Clawson, most genetics companies test for a broad set of genetic markers like those that might cause cancer, chronic illnesses, or even make you more likely to gain weight.
"With most genes there isn't a 100% guarantee that you'll have something just because you discover the gene," Clawson warned.
Clawson said we are born with some genetic markers which we can never change. But, others can be altered.
“There are some cases that no matter what you do that gene will be expressed, but it's better to try than not to try,” Clawson explained.
Dr. Lem Taylor, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at UMHB, agrees.
“It probably depends on what you want to beat, so if what you want to beat is combating obesity preventing chronic disease then yeah most definitely," Dr. Taylor added. "But will it be easy? No."
According to Taylor, the best way to combat your genes is by making positive lifestyle changes like having a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine.
Pilgrim ended up choosing the company "23 and Me" for his genetics test.
"They were more about the health than anything else, and that was what I was looking for," Pilgrim explained.
His test did reveal clues that might explain some of his daughter's health problems and also unveiled a potential health risk for him.
"One of the things I found out is I could be in line for pancreatic cancer, and I know it’s a cancer that usually kills people because you don’t find out until it’s too late," Pilgrim said. "But, if I know I have a gene to predispose me, I can talk to my doctor and we can catch it soon enough and do something about it."
And, that's exactly how Clawson said these tests should be used, although she admits she won’t be getting one anytime soon.
“I don’t want to know the genes that don’t have a cure," Clawson said. "So, I feel like if I had testing done for a particular disease like Alzheimer’s, every time I forget my keys I’d think it was symptoms, and I don’t want to live that way."
But, Pilgrim said he is glad he now knows more about what the future holds -- both for his sake and his daughter’s.
"There’s something to be said about being blissfully unaware, but knowledge is power," he said.