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Can spit really tell you spit about your health?
A simple sample of saliva is all it takes for commercial DNA researchers to say whether you're likely to get certain diseases, from diabetes to colon cancer to restless leg syndrome. Armed with that knowledge, it's up to you what steps to take next: Steer clear of the buffet table?
Exercise more? Get to the doctor for that checkup you've been avoiding?
All good ideas. Just remember that these commercial genetic screenings shouldn't be seen as serious medical advice, say those working in the rapidly evolving field of genomics.
The companies challenging consumers to take charge of their health with a personal genome test that costs $250 to $1,000 are the same as those gaining recent attention for identifying the ethnic roots of many celebrities.
Although shows such as "Faces of America" and "Who Do You Think You Are" offer broad and harmless clues about genealogical ties, geneticists and medial ethicists say the health tests could persuade a person to undergo a preventive medical procedure to lower the risk of getting...