Oxytocin Levels: Genetics of the Love Hormone
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus region of the brain. Often called the “love hormone”, it is involved in parents bonding with their baby, recognition of other’s emotions, and overall social involvement. What is Oxytocin? Oxytocin is produced at a high level…
Caffeine Metabolism and Your Genes
Whether you start your morning with a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, caffeine remains the most popular ‘drug’ of choice for a large percentage of the population. Caffeine wakes us up by blocking the adenosine receptor. Caffeine also acts as a central…
Cannabis and your genes: effects, dependency, and risks
Cannabis is now legal for medicinal use or recreational use in many U.S. states and in Canada. Many people are using cannabis (marijuana) for a variety of reasons – from enjoyment to pain management to the side effects of chemotherapy. This article digs into…
How well do AncestryDNA.com and 23andMe data match?
Wondering whether to go with an Ancestry.com or 23 and me kit? I recently picked up an AncestryDNA kit to find out how well the data matched up to the 23andMe test that I did a few years ago. Quick answer: It matched up…
Biohacks – Experiments and Optimizations Based on My Genetics
After three years of digging into genetics and learning all that I can about my genes, I wanted to get a little personal and share a few things that have worked for me. I would also love to hear back from all of you. …
Intriguing Genes: Do you taste what I taste?
Ever wonder why some people don’t like Brussel sprouts or strong, dark coffee? I love a good, dark roast, cup of coffee, and Brussel sprouts and cabbage taste great. It turns out that I can’t taste the bitter compound in them, but the majority of people…
Lactose Intolerance: The genetics of not producing lactase
Are you a milk drinker? Does pouring a cold glass of milk sounds good? Your genes control whether you are likely to produce lactase as an adult, and it is easy to check your 23andMe or other genetic data to see if you are likely…
Intriguing Genes: Differences in how we smell things
Learning about genetics has given me a new perspective on so many different subjects. For example, seeing first-hand how much of a difference the right vitamins and minerals make in a person’s mood due to changes in their neurotransmitter balance has made me much…
Ear wax and body odor – it’s genetic
The ABCC11 gene determines both the type of earwax a person has and their armpit odor. A change in a single base in the code for this gene can cause the gene not to function. People with a functioning ABCC11 gene have wet earwax…
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