About Living DNA

Living DNA, a UK- based genetic company, was founded by husband-wife duo David Nicholson and Hannah Morden in 2002. The company initiated the One Family World Project in 2017, aimed at eliminating racism with a global family tree. The company offers ancestry and wellbeing reports and strives to be the first to map and describe a global family tree. 

Living DNA Products & Services 

Living DNA offers a range of genetic testing products:

Wellbeing Kit

This kit provides insights into fitness and nutrient traits. In addition, users will receive personalized diet and fitness recommendations based on their genetic results. This kit covers the following categories:

• Vitamin Response
• Food Metabolism
• Nutrition Ideas
• Exercise
• Recovery
• Exercise Ideas

Source: LivingDNA website

Ancestry Kit

This kit provides information on deep ethnic ancestry. It offers access to ancestry reports across 150 regions & sub-regions, including a global family ancestry report going back to around 500 years. This kit covers the following categories:

• Recent ancestry
• Sub-regional ancestry
• Your DNA today
• Extended ancestry
• DNA matching

Source: Living DNA website

Wellbeing and Ancestry Kit

This kit is a package of both an ancestry test and a wellbeing test.

Apart from this, Living DNA offers a free 7-day email course. This course will help you understand the relevance of DNA and the DNA testing process.

Source: LivingDNA website

LivingDNA: Getting Started

Living DNA ships their autosomal DNA testing kits all over the world. You can order the kit online. The DNA kit is a cheek swab kit. 

Once you register with LivingDNA, you'll be provided with the following options:

Upload DNA

This option requires you to fill in some personal details before uploading your DNA file. Living DNA accepts DNA files from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, Illumina, Gene by Gene, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage.

You can check out our DNA raw data download guides here:

How To Download Your Raw Data From FTDNA

How To Download Your Raw Data From AncestryDNA

How To Download Your Raw Data From 23andMe

How To Download Raw Data From MyHeritage DNA

Activate Kit

Choosing this option allows you to enter an activation code provided with your DNA testing kit.

If you do not already have a DNA file, the company offers DNA testing services by purchasing a swab kit.

Living DNA also allows users to opt for the Family Network feature, which is a free service that matches users to relatives around the globe. One can opt into or out of this feature at any time through the Relatives tab on the profile.

Source: LivingDNA website

Once these steps are complete, your kit is active for use, and you can access Living DNA's services.

The dashboard containing profile information allows users to navigate through the following:

• Ancestry tab to purchase ancestry kit and access reports
• The wellbeing tab to choose a focus between various nutrition and fitness traits and access to the same
• The store which allows users to purchase kits
• Profile page to upload a DNA file, activate a kit, view the DNA processing status, or even add a new DNA profile
• Account tab to manage your account settings and even permanently delete your account

Living DNA takes around 72 hours to process DNA uploads and up to 8 weeks to send the DNA samples to the lab for testing. Users will be notified via email when the results are ready.

Overview of Living DNA Reports

Living DNA Ancestry Reports 

Living DNA offers detailed ancestry reports, covering an ancestral range from 80,000 years ago until recent times.

• Users can trace their ancestry back up to 10 generations over 10,000 years. 
• The analysis uses a database of people from around 150 subregions in the world.
• Users can access cultural and historical information about the subregions. 
• Users can explore their ancestry on an interactive map. 
• Reports include regional breakdown results based on African, British, or European lineage.
• Users can track down their paternal and maternal ancestral line in different global regions. 
• The report provides a percentage for your haplogroup, with a breakdown of locations where the same haplogroup exists.
• Users can match with relatives up to the 4th cousin circle using the family network feature.

Image: Subregions

Living DNA Wellbeing Reports

This report enables users to make better lifestyle choices to optimize their wellbeing and improve their quality of life with dietary and exercise changes based on their genetic makeup.

The Wellbeing Report focuses on the following:

• Vitamin Response

Users will learn how their body responds to and metabolizes different vitamins

• Nutrition Ideas

The report includes personalized nutritional dietary recommendations

• Exercise

The report suggests the best type of exercise for the user based on their genetic makeup

• Food Metabolism

Users will receive insights into how their body processes different foods

• Exercise Ideas

The report provides personalized fitness routines and advice based on your genetic profile and lifestyle

• Recovery

Users will receive recommendations for the best way to relax and recover after a workout.

Image: Wellbeing report overview

Living DNA Pricing

Living DNA price points range from $99 to $199, exclusive of shipping. The shipping charges are between $49 and $99 within the US based on the region.

The costs of purchasing kits on Living DNA are as follows:

• Ancestry Kit ($119 + shipping)
• Wellbeing Kit ($149 + shipping)
• Ancestry and Wellbeing Kit ($199 + shipping)

Apart from these, you can purchase the following from the store:

• Personalized Vitamin Kit as an add-on ($66)
• Recent Ancestry Upgrade ($19)
• Full Wellbeing Upgrade ($29)  
• Personalized Ancestry Book ($44.99)

About Living DNA Privacy 

Living DNA claims that they are committed to user privacy and handle your data with integrity.

The company only collects and stores user information to improve the quality of its services. Personal information includes name, email, card details, and user activity. 

Genetic information is stored separately from personal details. Confidentiality is maintained by labeling DNA samples with random barcodes, identifiable only to help with customer queries. 

The company takes measures to ensure user security. It stores DNA samples securely and also gives users the option to delete their data at any point. 

Living DNA does not sell user data to any third parties. Users can consent to research and opt-out of it at any time. However, we use aggregated data to improve the quality of our systems.

For further information, read the Living DNA privacy policy.

What People Say: News & Reviews  

News

Living DNA co-founders Hannah and David opened the RootsTech 2018 conference with a presentation as platinum sponsors.

Living DNA launched affordable genealogy and wellbeing DNA kits at the lowest retail price point. 

Living DNA made an impressive entry into the DNA testing kit market and a solid choice as a 3-in-1 DNA testing kit.

Reviews

Living DNA reviews by TechRadar states that the kits are expensive and ancestry results are vague.

Trustpilot reviews on Living DNA show that 30% of 171 customers voted it to be excellent while 44% voted it bad. 

You can find few Living DNA reviews on Reddit

Summary: Pros & Cons 

Pros 

• Report covers around 150 subregions for deep ancestry insights 
• Kits come with easy instructions for users to follow
• Reports include information on migration patterns and the history of ancestral lineage
• Users can trace their ancestry back up to 10 generations
• Reports include an interactive map for better user understanding
• The company offers a free family matching feature

Cons

• Users have reported cases of incomplete results
• The company accepts DNA raw data only from a fixed list of genetic testing companies
• DNA processing and test results might take a little longer than other companies
• It takes a while for the company to complete deleting a user profile

SelfDecode was founded in 2014 by Joe Cohen with its headquarters at Newport Beach, California, US. The company offers personalized DNA testing and provides health and wellness reports by analyzing your genetic data. 

Selfdecode also has some tools to analyze your genome and a personalized genetics blog that helps you understand your DNA results.

SelfDecode Services

DNA Wellness Reports

The company's most attractive offering would be its DNA Wellness Reports. These reports:

• Compares the consumers' genetic data with information from hundreds of scientific studies
• Lists relevant genetic variations (changes) and their reported health impact 
• Summarizes estimated risk for wellness traits
• Provides personalized recommendations

The wellness package includes the following reports:

1. Health Overview - This report covers fitness, food, and nutrition, personality traits, etc. 
2. Inflammation - This report includes information on inflammatory conditions and analyzes your risk for several traits like bone inflammation, brain, and nervous system disorders, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, and digestive problems.
3. Cardiovascular - This report includes risk information for some heart diseases like atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, congenital heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease.
4. Sleep - This report explains how genes affect sleep quality and duration, chronotype and risks for insomnia, teeth grinding, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, bedwetting, and narcolepsy.
5. Vitamins - This report explains how genes affect how the body absorbs and processes vitamins A, B9, B12, C, D, E, and K.
6. Minerals - This report explains how genes affect magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc requirements.
7. Mood - This report explains how genes affect traits associated with your mood, like happiness, emotional balance and stress, stress, and seasonal mood problems.
8. ApoE- This report covers interpretation of ApoE genotype, comprehensive introduction of the gene, risk interpretation of your ApoE genotype, signs or symptoms of potential health risks, and diet and health recommendations based on personalized ApoE genotype.
9. Fitness - This report explains how genes affect response and motivation to exercise and the risks of an exercise-related injury.
10. Cognitive Function - This report covers the effect of genes on brain fog, lack of focus, and other mental issues.
11. MTHFR - This report analyzes rs1801133 & rs1801131 SNPs of the MTHFR gene and provides health recommendations according to the genotype.
12. Longevity - This report explains the effect of genes on oxidative stress, inflammation, heart health, cell growth, and DNA repair.
13. Thyroid - This report analyzes changes in 20 genes and determines the risk for thyroid issues like iodine deficiencies, hormone production changes, and autoimmune thyroid conditions.
14. COVID-19 - This report analyzes genes to determine the likelihood of contracting viral infections, the potential susceptibility to complications, and the relative severity of the symptoms.
15. Gut Health - This report analyzes 33 genes related to gut health and describes the risk for inflammatory gut conditions.
16. Body Weight - This report explains the influence of genes on weight management, appetite, food choices, energy metabolism, etc.
17. COMT - This report covers the COMT gene and its influence on cognitive function, mood, cancer risks, etc.
18. Headaches & Migraines - This report analyzes 19 genes associated and reveals the genes' impact on frequency, severity, and duration of pain and gives personalized recommendations to prevent and limit pain.
19. Pain - This report covers whether genes could cause knee aches, backaches, internal discomfort, and long-term pain.
20. Food Sensitivity - This report analyzes 54 genes related to food sensitivities like lectin allergy, alcohol tolerance, wheat tolerance, etc.
21. Attention & Focus - This report analyzes 21 genes related to attentional focus, ability to concentrate, working memory, ability to focus, etc.
22. Anxiety - This report analyzes 228 genes that affect stress response, the likelihood of anxiety, etc.
23. PTSD - This report analyzes 22 genes related to trauma and stress that affect the risk for increased fear and anxiety, the likelihood of developing trauma disorders, predisposition to panic and emotional responses, etc.
24. Acne - This report describes how genes can affect the risk of acne-causing health issues like hormone levels, skin oils, inflammation tendencies, etc.
25. Blood Sugar - This report describes the effect of genes on bodily processes involved in determining blood sugar levels, including insulin resistance, metabolism control, zinc levels, etc.
26. Chronic Fatigue - This report analyzes 19 genes associated with chronic fatigue and low energy causing health issues
27. Tinnitus - This report covers 18 genes affecting tinnitus and gives recommendations to decrease or eliminate ringing in the ears, solve hidden health issues and optimize all areas of your health.
28. Rheumatoid Arthritis - This report investigates 40+ genes that affect joint inflammation and strategies to ease the pain.
29. Lupus - This report explains how genes could contribute to severe symptoms of systemic autoimmunity and provides solutions to aid skin irritation and sensitivity, joint pain, fever, headache, fatigue, etc.
30. Hair loss - This report assesses risks for male-pattern baldness or alopecia areata.
31. Allergies - This report analyzes your genetic risk for several allergic reactions and offers actionable solutions to combat hayfever, suppress food allergies, improve asthma, eczema, anaphylaxis, etc.
32. Eczema - This report assesses optimal functionality and offers insights to relieving inflamed skin, stopping constant itchiness, and reducing the frequency of flare-ups.
33. CNR1 -This report investigates the activity level of the CNR1 gene for specific genotypes and offers advice on improving mood and decreasing stress, regulating appetite, eliminating brain fog, etc.

Source: https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sd-genereports-launchjul2018/Sample+report.pdf

Personalized Genetics Blog

SelfDecode has a Personalized Genetics Blog, which the company claims to be the first and only one of its kind. The features that make this service unique are:

• According to the consumer's DNA data, each article in the blog shows a personalized score ranging from positive, neutral, or negative for the concerned topic. 

• Based on the consumer's DNA and genetic variations, each article generates a table of recommendations to manage and tackle the negative impacts of risk variants.

• Each article gives a gene summary outlining the health implications of the given gene. 
• Each article generates a personalized genetic variants table or SNP table based on the consumer's DNA data. 

For more information, consumers can watch the SelfDecode Blog walkthrough video.

SelfDecode Tools

Symptoms and Conditions Analyzer

SelfDecode offers the Symptoms and Conditions Analyzer tool where the consumer can search for anything - any symptoms or conditions. 

For example, upon searching for symptoms like brain fog and fatigue, the search results will find the consumer's risk variants from their DNA data and outline the gene influencing these symptoms.

However, this tool isn't available for free.

Check out Xcode Life's FREE Gene Tool To Explore Your DNA Raw data for various genes, conditions, SNPs, and symptoms!

Lab Test Analyzer Tool

SelfDecode's Lab Test Analyzer Tool is an independent subsidiary that consumers can access with or without using SelfDecode's genetic services. Consumers can sign up for Lab Test Analyzer to avail its facilities. Signup in either SelfDecode or Lab Test Analyzer lets the consumer use the other service free of cost.

The Lab Test Analyzer unlocks and reveals critical information by analyzing lab test results:

• Understanding why a healthcare provider prescribes the test - analyzing test markers
• Understanding and learning the health implications of test results and their impact on the consumer
• Normal doesn't mean optimal - The Lab test Analyzer uses up-and-coming peer-reviewed research to identify optimal ranges for test results which may help in reducing the risk of death or disease.
• Gives personalized and natural recommendations on lifestyle, health, and diet according to lab results
• Consumers can even track their improvement upon implementing the given recommendations.

The tool analyzes over 500+ lab markers, with more being added regularly.

How it works:

1. Upload test results
2. Get personalized reports and recommendations for optimization.
3. Implement the recommendations and track improvement.

Other features: 

The tool also analyzed Health Goals information hidden in the lab results:

• Nutrient Levels 
• Thyroid health
• Energy Levels
• Toxic exposure
• Heart Health
• Methylation
• Toxic Mold Illness
• Stress
• Weight loss
• Hormone Balance & Fertility
• Aging
• Gut health 

Lab Analyzer Pricing

SelfDecode: Getting Started

SelfDecode ships its DNA test kits worldwide. 

Consumers can order the test kit online. The DNA test sample is a simple cheek swab.

SelfDecode has no provision for free signups and free reports.

Consumers have to sign up for one of the plans offered by the company. Upon successful payment and eventual signup, consumers will be given two options:

Upload DNA data 

This requires the consumer to provide some personal information before uploading DNA raw data.

SelfDecode accepts raw DNA data files from 23andMe, Ancestry, Courtagen, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, Atlas, MapMyGenome, Diagnomics, DNALand, and LivingDNA (among others). They also support whole-genome sequenced files from Dante labs.

Registering the DNA test kit

This requires the user to enter the barcode on the kit, name, ethnicity, sex, and birth year to successfully register your kit.

Once successfully registered, your DNA test kit is ready to use, and you can avail of the company's services.

Test results usually take six to eight weeks, by which time you can log in and access your results. Further, you can also access SelfDecode Insights and DNA Wellness Reports depending on your plan type.

SelfDecode Pricing

The SelfDecode DNA test kit comes for $90.

For mere signup, the company requires the user to get a subscription:

Annual subscription plan - $194 excl. DNA test kit price 

This plan only includes five premium DNA Wellness reports/year, whereas an additional charge at a 50% discount is applicable to access other reports. 

The plan comes with a provision to cancel anytime.

Lifetime Access Plan - $599 excl. DNA test kit price

This plan includes access to all current and future DNA Wellness Reports. 

Professional Plans - SelfDecode Pro

SelfDecode offers exclusive services and plans if the user is a professional. 

• Monthly - $199
• Yearly - $2388
• Lifetime Access - $11600

According to SelfDecode’s website, the Pro membership gives practitioners:

• Unlimited DNA file uploads so that you can work with as many clients as possible
• Unlimited DNA Wellness Report downloads for all of your clients
• Unlimited lab test uploads and analysis
• 1:1 Onboarding call
• Free advertising on SelfDecode
• Exclusive Pricing for DNA Kits
• Easy DNA Kit ordering system for you and your clients
• Priority Support Contact
• Custom Dashboard to easily manage and switch between client profiles.
• Ability to compare clients' genetic files

About SelfDecode Privacy

SelfDecode claims to be committed to its service to the community and complies with its Terms of Service. 

SelfDecode collects personal information such as name, address, email address, phone number, and credit card or payment information upon account creation. Additionally, the company also asks for the demographic data of the user.

SelfDecode uses the information it collects to improve its services and develop better and new services.

SelfDecodes's Platform Consent lists terms of consumer consent which the company uses to store the genetic information uploaded and provide SelfDecode Insights. 

Upon account closure, SelfDecode retains some account information on purchases and keeps backup and archival copies of information files following state or legal obligations or regulatory requirements.

For more information, please read SelfDecode's privacy policy.

SelfDecode Reviews

Trustpilot reviews on SelfDecode show that 85% of 160 customers voted it excellent while 5% voted it bad. SelfDecode has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot.

On dnatestingchoice, SelfDecode was ranked 13th out of 109 companies in the Health Testing sector.

Summary: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Gives a wide range of health and lifestyle insight in the form of various DNA Wellness Reports
• Easily accessible DNA test kits with worldwide shipping 
• Provision for third party company DNA test raw data upload and analysis
• Requirement for healthcare providers to access the company's service for their clients and hassle-free promotion and connectivity to consumers who seek expert advice

Cons

• Provides no ancestry or genealogy services
• Only accessible through subscriptions - either yearly or lifetime
• A yearly subscription only gives access to 5 reports. Other reports are only accessible upon additional purchase.

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