This Thanksgiving Day marks the sixth annual National Family History Day, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative to encourage families to discuss their health history. Holiday gatherings are excellent opportunities for discussing and documenting family disease backgrounds which can save the lives of loved ones through early detection and preventive measures. PreventionGenetics, a genetic testing and DNA Banking company located in Marshfield, WI, encourages all individuals to know their family medical history and advocates DNA Banking for all people as an important step toward preserving that history and improving the health of future generations.
DNA Banking is the secure, long term storage of an individual’s genetic material. DNA is most commonly extracted from blood, but can also be obtained from cheek cells, saliva, or other tissues. DNA can be banked at any time during a person’s life, but it is particularly urgent for the elderly and terminally ill.
The fact that each of us inherits half of our DNA from our mother and half from our father makes the practice of medical genetics about families rather than just individuals. A DNA test in a 95 year old great-grandmother is immediately and directly relevant to the health of her six-month-old great-grandson. Making your DNA available for testing, even after your death, can help improve the health of your family members.
A person may ask, “Why should my family and I bank our DNA when we are all relatively healthy individuals?” The answer is that there is no such thing as a genetically perfect person. We all carry at least hundreds of DNA sequence variants that adversely affect our health. PreventionGenetics recommends DNA Banking for all people, regardless of current health status. DNA Banking is a simple and inexpensive gift a person can give their family and future generations.
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