3 key things to know about Raw DNA Data Analysis

Wherever you stand on DNA research, given what we know about our human essence and aspirations, our DNA is like a fingerprint-distinctive, unrepeatable, and non fungible in the truest sense. What can forward thinking people learn from DNA analysis?

What is Raw DNA Analysis?

When you use a consumer genetic testing service, you get a user-friendly report summarizing the findings. But you can often download your raw data files too. These files contain your unique genetic nucleotide sequence consisting of A, C, T, and G chemical bases. Unless you have a good understanding of genetics, figuring out what this raw data means for you and your health is challenging, to say the least. This is where raw DNA data analysis can help.

Raw DNA data analysis takes all of this digitized sequence data, compares it against existing scientific research, and then produces an easy-to-understand DNA report. This report can give you lots of really useful information about your health and wellness. Let's look at the three key things you should know about Raw DNA Analysis:

1. Certain genes may affect your response to Psychedelic drugs

Psychedelic compounds, psilocybin, and others came out as promising therapies for mental health that may increase the brain’s ability for change. This creates a unique opportunity to improve symptoms, and ultimately eliminate suffering.

The Serotonin Gene: Many psychedelic drugs imitate the effects of serotonin, the mood-boosting neurotransmitter. Psychedelics like psilocybin Magic mushroom, and others activate those serotonin receptors in the brain. About one fifth of people have a variant of the serotonin gene; they may be extra sensitive to it and more susceptible to the hallucinogenic effects of psychedelic drugs.

Certain genetic variations in the CYP2B6 gene that cause slow drug clearance are found at high frequencies in all major ethnic groups. Affected individuals have a higher risk for adverse reactions to psychedelic drugs.

Psychedelics used recreationally or as part of a mental health condition treatment- proceed with care. Always seek medical attention right away if needed. Remember to talk to a mental health practitioner.

All in all, it makes for an exciting time for innovation and progress within the mental health field.

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2. Is there a link between depression and intelligence?

The answer might be in your DNA. In January 2021, Nature Human Behaviour published a report that investigated shared genomic architectures between major depression and general intelligence. They identified several common genetic variants that influence the onset of major depression alongside general cognitive ability.

The research suggests that a high IQ is a potential risk factor for affective disorders, such as depression, and early findings support a hyper brain/hyper body association. Simply having a high IQ will not make you depressed, but being intelligent often means that you possess other qualities that can make you more likely to experience depression, such as over-analyzing, being hyper-critical, worrying and overthinking.

3. Can stress really affect your DNA?

There are different kinds of stress: good stress and bad stress. Good stress, also known as eustress, can motivate us to meet a deadline at work or perform well in an important meeting. On the other hand, bad stress, or distress, is the kind of stress that overwhelms us and can be too much to manage. This bad stress can lead to mental and even physical health problems. Negative stress can also alter your DNA by changing how your DNA expresses certain genes.

Epigenetic aging refers to changes to your DNA as you age. These changes can be influenced by lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and (as we now know) stress. If exposed to chronic stress, such as bullying in the workplace or an abusive relationship, neural pathways can develop that may do more harm than good.

Thankfully, research shows that stress is not all doom and gloom. While we can't change our genes, we can influence how they are expressed. This is where stress resilience comes in. By participating in activities that regulate the nervous system, such as meditation, yoga, and other relaxation techniques, we can not only lower the amount of stress we experience at the moment, and reduce our sensitivity to stress over time. The more we build stress resilience, the more likely we will combat those changes to our DNA.

What's next

Hopefully, more studies will provide a springboard for future research in the mental health field. With the pandemic putting a spotlight on depression and mental health issues, this is an exciting time for research into emotional wellbeing. In what used to be considered a taboo topic that was not often discussed, the hope is that this important area of study will be given the attention it deserves.

If you’re keen to mine your raw DNA data for all the insights it can provide, there are plenty of analysis services to choose from. And the process is pretty quick and straightforward too. All you need to do is download your raw DNA data from 23andme (or ancestry DNA test) and convert that downloaded text file to a .csv spreadsheet file.

The information in this Report is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended for direct diagnostic use or medical decision-making. Individuals should not change their health behavior solely on the basis of information contained on this website. If you have questions about the information contained on this website, please see a health care professional. 23andme, ancestry DNA and all trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners. Phenocopy LLC is not affiliated with 23andme or ancestry DNA.
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*This product provides only a preliminary analytical result. An independent, clinically validated test must be used in connection with the medical trait in question.Limitations: This product analyzes certain genetic variants associated with how quickly a medication is metabolized in the body. This product does not query all possible alleles associated with drug metabolism. Results may change as research advances and permit us to better understand what these genetic variations mean for health. Numerous factors can affect response to a medicine, including gender, age, and diet. Not a diagnostic product. Contains data from dbSNP, ClinVar, 1000 genomes project, COSMIC, dbGaP, dbVAR, EGA and many other sources.

Warning: The software and technology components may be subject to United States
trade secret protection laws and the The Defend Trade Secrets Act.

Lesser known three things about Raw DNA Analysis

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What is Raw DNA Analysis?

1. Certain genes may affect your response to Psychedelic drugs

2. Is there a link between depression and intelligence?

3. Can stress really affect your DNA?

What's next

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