DNA testing: Crack open your genetic code

Peeking at your DNA is getting cheaper.

(Money Magazine)

You might also learn whether your genes raise your chances of getting diabetes -- but your doctor will still probably be more interested in other, more obvious risk factors, such as your family history and diet.

To avoid catching the attention of the IRS, beware of these pitfalls.

In short, although technology is quickly making it cheaper and easier to get data about yourself, it's not always clear which information is worth getting and which isn't.

Here's a guide to using, and paying for, genetic tests.

What you can find out -- and what you'll pay

Roughly, two kinds of tests are available.

The first is ordered by a doctor and will often involve finding all the variations in specific genes. Research has found some variations that point to a higher risk of diseases, including breast cancer and a kind of colon cancer.

A doctor might recommend a screen based on risk factors like family history or ethnic background. Other tests, says David Fleming, an internist and health ethicist at the University of Missouri, can provide clues to how you'll respond to certain drugs or treatments.

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DNA testing: Crack open your genetic code