genetic hint is going to be super helpful. Sometimes there’s just not a lot of written history about some details, and (we help) find commonalities that will be meaningful,” says Ball. And when it comes to uncovering meaningful stories with Ancestry, Ball says there are just too many to count. “Almost every person I talk to has a profoundly personal experience with it. For instance, I’m completely floored by friends of mine who are African American, and who, for the first time, can get a glimpse of their African history before their ancestors were enslaved.” PHYSICIAN-ORDERED DNA TE STING While most direct-to-consumer DNA companies are focusing on non-medical genetic interpretations, many people are still looking to the industry to provide deeper medical information. According to Wojcicki, 23andMe is the only direct-to-consumer DNA testing company that can offer carrier status information (without the 66 South Bay Accent involvement of a physician). However, there are many companies in the Bay Area that can offer detailed information on other disease predispositions and a host of other medical issues using a physician-ordered kit, paired with genetic counseling. San Francisco-based Counsyl has distinguished itself by focusing on women’s health conditions. Working with OBGyns and other physicians, Counsyl can scan for more than 100 hereditary diseases. Counsyl also advises women if they have a family history of breast, colon, ovarian and other cancers. Once a patient learns the information, Counsyl connects her to one of its 50 genetic counselors. “We don’t just dump data in patients’ laps. We think it’s really important for the patients, as well as the physicians, to understand what they can do with the data,” says Shivani Nazareth, Director or Medical Affairs at Counsyl. “For instance, if a patient learns that they are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, we want to make sure they know they’re eligible for earlier screening, Mixed Breed, Pure Science: Testing Your Canine Companion Ever since we adopted Ozzie, our cocker spaniel mix, from the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, our family has wondered what comprised the “mix” portion of our pup. At times, this question has been the subject of a heated family debate. With his similar markings, nonstop tail wagging, sweet nature and tendency to get really fat, I was almost sure he had the DNA of one of my favorite kinds of dogs, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. My daughter and husband had their doubts. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are sporting dogs who like to retrieve things. Ozzie retrieves nothing. Throw a ball at him, and he’ll sit down and watch it go by, then look at you and wonder if you’re maybe holding a treat. To answer the question once and for all, I ordered an $80 Mars Wisdom Panel DNA test kit for my dog. The small package I received a few days later included a simple DNA swab to rub against Ozzie’s inner cheek, instructions on how to mark it so the Mars team could track it for his records, and a return postage box. A few weeks after sending it in, I received an email from the Mars Veterinary Customer Care team telling me they had the results, and providing a link for me to access them on the Mars site. So, according to Mars, here’s the genetic makeup of Ozzie: 37.5 percent cocker spaniel 25 percent poodle (Poodle? Seriously? He’s just not yappy like that.) 12.5 percent Chinese crested (What?! This dog breed looks like a cross between a Chihuahua and a Shetland pony, and nothing like Ozzie.) 25 percent mixed-breed groups that do not include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. “No Cavalier King Charles. Not a trace,” I said with a sigh the next day to a fellow dog owner, who knew I had given our dog the test. He looked at Ozzie, examining his gentle eyes, huge dog smile, and nonstop waggy tail. “OK,” he said. “So now that you know, does it make you love him any less?” Nope. SHUTTERSTOCK
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2017
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