Angelina Jolie wrote a heartfelt column, "My Medial Choice" for the New York Times Tuesday, detailing her decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy at age 37.
She explained that her choice was based on her abnormally high genetic predisposition for breast cancer; doctors estimated there was an 87% chance she would get breast cancer and a 50% chance she would get ovarian cancer. As the mother of six, Jolie says that she would hate for her children to lose her too early; her own mother died when she was just 56 years old.
After having her DNA tested — a process which can cost anywhere from a hundred dollars to several thousand — Jolie learned that she is a carrier of a defective BRCA1 gene.
That defect, though not the only determinant of breast cancer, meant a 65% chance she'd get the same disease that killed her mother.
If you're looking to learn more about your genes, and are interested in having your DNA tested, there are several options you can pursue, that will ship direct-to-consumer. In addition to learning about your health, personal genetics services will often reveal things you didn't know about your ancestry. We've rounded up some online resources, so you can get your search started online. Keep in mind, direct-to-consumer genetic testing is illegal in New York and Maryland, meaning your results cannot be shipped to those states. Whether you chose to pursue testing or not, we recommend you consult a doctor or gentic counselor before making any medical decisions.
23andMe: Perhaps the best-known personal genetics company, 23andMe lets you begin your gene exploration online, by ordering one of its spit kits for $99. Once you receive your Personal Genome Service, you register and spit into the included container. After mailing back your saliva, it takes six to eight weeks for your results to be processed. Once your test has been completed, you can take advantage of 23andMe's relative finder, in addition to learning about your disease risk.
deCODE Genetics: More than half a million people's genetic information is in Iceland-based deCODE Genetics' database, which charges $1,100 to genotype roughly 1 million single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).
Gene by Gene: The tests offered by Gene by Gene range in price from a $195 non-legal DNA profile to a $950 forensic-infidelity test. It's tests cater to specific circumstances, such as "Paternity Peace of Mind," "Twin-Zygosity," and "Complex Family Reconstruction."
Gene Planet: This €499, UK-based service promises to offer insight into preventable diseases. Gene Planets recommends its service to people with family histories of certain diseases, people who regularly take medications and people interested in adjusting their diets.
DNA Ancestry: This $99 DNA test, a new service from Ancestry.com, focuses on your family's origins. The entire database boasts some 10 billion entries and 34 million family trees. While other tests emphasize health, this one emphasizes region of family origin.
By Zoe Fox Image courtesy of iStockphoto, zmeel
