I remember it like it was last night. I was in grade 8. An Asian youth in Canada with over protective Parents who had me home at dark or rather sooner. In junior high, I wanted to hang out with my Canadian classmates outside of school, and especially go to some of these parties I always hear them talk about. Well, one night that fall, I finally got permission.
23andme
This Skinny Asian’s Chance for Obesity? 0.85X the Average Caucasian
23andMe’s genotyping results has provided scientific support for something I’ve been telling people over the years without many believing me… that I can become fat. At 5’2″ and 108 lbs. of a marathon runner’s body, I can’t say I blame them. I don’t look like much at this weight, never mind the 90 lbs. I used to be at before I started distance running 16 years ago. Yet, I can eat a lot, with consequences almost like any over typical person if I don’t run it all off.
The Anecdotal Case
Life Consequences of Having ZERO Out of 50 Genetically Inherited Conditions Tested by 23andMe Genotyping
This post contains appropriately used inappropriate language that may not be suitable for all readers. You have been forewarned. 😉
I’m 2.8% Neanderthal Genetically According to 23andMe Genotyping
To best understand this post, you might need a little anthropology background on human prehistory (before written history) if you don’t already know it well. The award winning set of videos below are about as good, simple and complete a picture on human evolution as I’ve ever seen. If you have the time, I would highly recommend you watch them because I think this knowledge of our past is interesting and beneficial to help us all better understand how we came to be who we are today. I’ll refrain from taking shots at Creationists who are being phased out by evolution as people get more aware and intelligent. 😉
I’ve Got the Speed Gene! (ACTN3)
When I first started learning about genetics for 23andMe’s genotyping services, I started on their site where there was some material. One of the articles was on variations, and more specifically, the “speed gene” with the scientific name of ACTN3. Being a multiple marathon runner who knew I was more of the fast twitch muscle variety for short bursts of speed rather than endurance running, I wanted to know if I, indeed, had this gene and was going to check on it among the first things I do, unless it were really hard to find. To be more correct, I wanted to know if I had the correct configuration of this gene. Everybody has this gene. It’s just a matter of which configuration it was in to enable the benefit of physical speed and power.
