It wasn’t too long ago that DNA testing was out of reach for the vast majority of us, but now we’re living in a golden age of personal DNA discovery. The global genetic market has taken off and is predicted to continue to grow. The best global DNA market estimates see it expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 9.8 percent up to 2023, at which point the market is predicted to be worth over $10 million.
While most people saw DNA testing as somewhat of a trivial or leisurely activity which unveiled distant relatives – often in the hope of finding someone royal or famous down the line – more people are starting to realize the true potential of such kits. DNA test kits are now able to reveal much more than family trees, which is why they continue to increase in popularity and importance.
The base popularity of DNA testing is founded on humanity’s innate thirst for knowledge. Being able to get a full picture of you and getting strong predictions about the future is very appealing to most people, with DNA testing kits being able to provide this unique information. So, let’s dig into some of the primary reasons why DNA tests have become so popular and important to us in the modern day.
Empowerment in the Information Age
One of the simple but major reasons why DNA testing kits continue to grow in popularity is that they are much more available in a time when people are tuned to consuming as much content as possible. The internet has given the majority of the world the ability to find answers to anything that they want with a few taps or clicks. We all want to know as much about ourselves as possible, and this curiosity has helped to enhance the popularity of DNA tests.
However, it wasn’t until quite recently that the market became competitive enough for anyone to be able to get a DNA test done. The increased competition helped to enhance the offering as well as reduce the overall price, with the best DNA test kit only costing $69. Other top-rated kits max out at $99, meaning that all of the best kits are affordable for most people who want to find out about their DNA.
The important implications of your DNA
As the DNA test kits are in the price range of the general public, more people have been able to buy the packages and read into the results found by the testing company. From this, word has spread of the very important information that DNA tests can reveal. Knowing that your distantly related to someone well known is fun, but finding out that you carry genes which could predispose you to certain medical conditions is information that can greatly help you to stay healthy.
Some DNA tests can provide you with health and lifestyle information by analyzing your sample against the DNA of others to see if they contain similar genetic codes. Using the information from millions of other samples, similar unique sequences can be compared to determine the likelihood or possibility of you developing certain ailments. With this information, you can alter your lifestyle to reduce the possibility of you developing the identified illness.
Adoptees finding many uses for DNA testing
People who were adopted while young have been able to find many practical uses for the information produced by DNA testing. The obvious use of it is to find close relatives to reconnect with in person or through social media. Some adoptees are keen to meet their biological parents, siblings, and extended family: DNA testing results give them the tools to be able to get started on that journey. It has been reported on numerous occasions that DNA tests have allowed people to find siblings that they never knew existed.
On the flip side, some adoptees don’t wish to meet their biological family, are perfectly content with their adopted family, but would like to get their own genetic information for other reasons. While people who live and grow up with their biological family can get a slight hint as to what later life may entail for them, adoptees won’t have a clue about any possible genetic predispositions which could lead to certain illnesses. Adoptees can make great use of DNA testing kits to give them vital genetic information that they’d otherwise be oblivious to as well as potentially connect them to long-lost family members.
The uses of DNA testing kits far surpass mapping a family tree these days. The increasing popularity of the genetic service is due to the realization of these further findings. Discovering what your DNA contains can help you to lead a much better life for yourself as well as give you the nice-to-know information about old relatives.