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Health

Epigenetic testing firms claim to help you live a healthier lifestyle

By Graham Lawton

29 January 2019

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Muhdo’s epigenetic sequencing kit is launching this week

Muhdo

Getting your DNA sequenced is now an everyday reality, but a new frontier has opened up in personal genomics. Two companies have started selling kits that sequence your epigenome. They claim it can deliver much more detailed and useful health advice than is possible from a regular gene sequence.

Epigenetics refers to biochemical modifications to DNA that occur during a person’s lifetime in response to lifestyle and environment. These alter the expression of genes and can have a profound effect on health. Detrimental effects can sometimes be reversed, and beneficial ones…

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