We already know that our DNA holds the key to… well, just about everything related to you. In the past, the idea of DNA tests is often only associated with paternity tests and crimes, but thanks to technology, now regular people can have access to the secrets that their DNA hold.
Companies like Genelife offers to take a sample of your DNA, test it in their labs, and produce an easy-to-understand report, helping you understand aspects of your life that are coded within your genes.
Genelife offers many different tests but the most comprehensive and popular is Genesis 2.0. This genetic test kit is designed to analyse your DNA for more than 360 test items. Besides disease risk, it is also able to identify other lifestyle-related conditions and even physical characteristics.
The most interesting thing about the Genelife DNA tests is that the sample is collected without pain or hassle. DNA can be tested from blood, nails or hair, but for Genelife, they’ve developed a DNA testing method that only needs your saliva or cheek cells (taken by rubbing a swab inside your mouth).
At SGD249 (you can use AVENUE1M to enjoy 15% off, so it’ll be just SGD211.65 for you), Genesis 2.0 provides you with the kit for the test, return envelope to easily send your sample to the lab, and a detailed report that you can access online or through their app.
Genelife Genesis 2.0 DNA test review: What is the process like?
After you’ve placed an order online, a test kit is mailed to you.
The Genesis 2.0 kit comes with a vial and applicator, as well as a ziplock bag. It also has a booklet that shares more about the test kit with you.
Before you mail out the sample, go into their website or app to register your kit first. You’ll need your test kit with you – because you’d be ask for details that can be found inside the kit. The registration is a simple process that takes at most five minutes.
Once it’s registered, you can proceed to the fun part: getting the sample ready!
I avoided flavoured beverages for about an hour, and then rinsed my mouth before producing the sample. A clean mouth can help make sure that results are more accurate since the sample won’t be contaminated by other elements. Then, I simply spat out saliva into the vial that was provided.
There is a mark on the vial that indicates how much saliva you should provide. Good news: it’s actually not that much. If your mouth isn’t particularly dry, you should be able to produce enough for the lab testing after about four to five “spits”.
Thereafter, remove the blue applicator and you’ll notice a liquid mixed into your saliva sample. Then, you should try to mail the sample to the lab as soon as possible. Simply put the vial in the zip-lock bag, put it into the envelope provided, seal it, and drop it into the postbox.
And you’re done – now, just wait for the results to be ready!
While the website says that the test period is approximately six weeks, I actually received my results within about four weeks – which I think is quite fast!
The results can be accessed in two ways: on their website or on their app.
The app definitely has a better interface (simply search for “Genelife” on your app store) and is easy for you to navigate through the different test results.
Besides accessing your test results, there’s also a function on the app that helps you track your nutrition and fitness while accessing advice and recommendations that are personalised based on your genetic results.
Genelife Genesis 2.0 DNA test review: Did I find it useful?
Genesis 2.0 is indeed very comprehensive and gives me a lot of insight into everything related to my health and lifestyle that I would have never known prior to the DNA test. There are very useful information, such as my disease risk, my constitution, and even my body type, potential skin concerns, and abilities (for example, memory, information processing, math ability etc.)
It was particularly interesting to note that a few of the diseases I have high risks for, according to the DNA test, are also the diseases that are present in my family history. Genelife did not collect any family history data from me, so it tells me that the DNA test is really rather accurate.
On the other hand, as a cancer survivor, it was interesting that the cancer that I suffered from in the past was at a normal risk level for me. What this goes to show is that the DNA test assesses risks, which means it doesn’t mean you would necessarily be susceptible or exempted from the disease. The good news is that knowing that you’re more susceptible to a certain disease can help you take preventive measure earlier so that the probability of you preventing or delaying it is higher.
Now that I’m armed with more information about my predisposed health risks, I feel more equipped to making the right lifestyle decisions. I had been more conscious about the diet, workout, and lifestyle options that I make on a day-to-day basis.
And since our DNA doesn’t change in our lifetime, it means that these options and recommendations are always relevant to me. And if I start making these lifestyle changes and turn them into a habit, it can only mean that I can be potentially healthier and prevent the occurrence of diseases I have higher risks to for the rest of my life. If you ask me, that’s a huge upside for just a one-time investment of SGD200.
On the user experience side, I like how the results are presented and how it can be accessed online easily.
There are three ways you can have the results presented to you so you can choose the version that is most useful.
I find myself going back to the app or website to look at my results from time to time when I need information. While this cannot replace a diagnosis by a doctor or regular medical check-ups, I think this will be particularly useful when it comes to any suspicious health issues. For me, I know I’d be more cautious about symptoms that relate to diseases I’m in higher risk for and not wait for too long to approach a doctor if I notice them, for instance.
Genelife Genesis 2.0 promo code
Genelife Genesis 2.0 is available on their website. It retails at SGD249 but you can get a 15% off when you use AVENUE1M during check out.
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