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Simple DNA test to predict life expectancy?


Eldorado

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A new DNA test could predict whether a person has the genes for a long life. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh were able to identify the 10 per cent of the population who could expect to live five years’ longer than the those scoring in the bottom 10 per cent.

Researchers said saliva tests could become available for as little as £150, for those who wanted to know their genetic life chances.

The study looked at genetic data from more than half a million people alongside records of their parents’ lifespan.

At the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/15/150-dna-test-could-tell-have-genes-long-life/

 Dr Joshi said: "The way statistics work, you have a clearer lens the more people you have in the sample. This time we showed that a gene that affects which blood type you are - A or B or O - affects how long you live. Another gene, insulin-like growth factor, appears to affect how you age.

"So two people might have different copies of the same gene and one of those people might have the copy that means, all other things being equal, that they might live slightly longer. When we say 'slightly', we're talking maybe a quarter of a year for the average person with the beneficial variant.

"But the overall shape of our findings are that the main way that genetics seems to affect how long you live is through susceptibility to heart disease. If you're carrying variants that protect you from heart disease, they seem to be the things that make the biggest difference."

At the Herald Scotland: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17357364.edinburgh-scientists-devise-dna-risk-score-to-predict-life-expectancy/

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2 hours ago, Eldorado said:

 

Researchers said saliva tests could become available for as little as £150, for those who wanted to know their genetic life chances.

 

^ ^ And there you have the whole thing in a nutshell!

What is the point of knowing you have a chance of living 5yrs longer than some other folk!!!!!!!!! What use is that information to you?

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Well I'm sure that insurance companies would just love to have your DNA profile on whether or not your genetic markers make you a predisposition for disease or a shorter life span.

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That would make me paranoid. I'd be looking at the clock and calendar so often. Plus who cares if they say you can live to 100, what happens when something out of our control happens. Life is short, that's why u have to make the best of what u got and complain less. There are people dying everyday unexpectedly. Just got to love the people who u care about & stop worrying about the petty stuff. 

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Sounds kind of like BS to me...Your environment, wealth, health, activities, etc. seem to have much more bearing on your life expectancy.

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they left out many variables one for instance is that Murphys Law exist and that  " Beep / censure beep " happens

Edited by Impedancer
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