As well as allowing us to discover who committed a crime, DNA testing lets us establish the paternity of a baby, quickly diagnose illnesses and discover our own genealogy – or our cat’s. Now, home DNA kits are making this more accessible, reflecting the ever-growing demand for DIY healthcare. At the root of this phenomenon is the universal desire to simplify practices that were once the exclusive domain of medical centres.

23andME’s DNA testing kit

What if all it took to discover everything – absolutely everything – about your genetic makeup was a tiny amount of saliva in a plastic tube? Well, thanks to 23andME’s testing kit, you really can find out every last detail on your ancestors, discover how likely you are to inherit a genetic disease and get the lowdown on both the more common, immediate risks and the more long-term ones, such as your chances of going bald! Not bad for a $100 test, right?

Yet the test has sparked a contentious, worthwhile debate. Supporters point to the ability to discover the genetic makeup of our forefathers and likelihood of being exposed to health problems, something that could allow us to take preventative action. Further tests and checks could be carried out to prevent some of the issues highlighted by the test.

Of course, you don’t need a white coat to know that whether we become ill or not depends on a whole host of factors completely unrelated to our genetics, not least diet and lifestyle. There is simply no way of being 100% certain that we will contract an illness or not, unless somebody has invented a crystal ball in the last five minutes.

But if this kind of delicate information was in the public domain, what would the consequences be? How would it affect our jobs? And our decisions to have children or not? It is a particularly thorny ethical question, the ramifications endless. Either way, we are witnessing the birth of consumer-powered healthcare with limitless potential. It may just spur us on to improve our lifestyle and put our health first, for example. With the technology evolving all the time, developments will be nothing if not interesting to follow.