Josh Petersen

I just got my genetic test results from qtrait.com. The results aren’t uniformly interesting, but some of the stand outs are: I’m more likely to become an alcoholic (makes sense), more likely to be dyspeptic (true), a night owl (check), and less likely to smoke. A surprise was scoring 2 out of 2 on the obesity markers. Good to be on guard!

Here is the full genetic monty:

• Addiction to street drug use: CC (average)
• Alcohol processing: CC (more likely to become an alcoholic)
• Asthma: AT (medium to low risk)
• Bitter tasting ability: taster
• Codeine metabolism and nursing: Two CYP2D6 copies (average metabolizer of codeine)
• Coumarin-based drug dose (like Warfarin): high dose (slow or normal processing of coumarin-based drugs, meaning I need a higher dose of Warfarin)
• Dyspepsia (indigestion): CC (more likely to show dyspeptic symptoms)
• Early bird or night owl: CC (night owl)
• Eczema: GT (high risk)
• Glaucoma: no result yet
• Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease: No HLA-DQ2*0501 types (low risk)
• Hemochromatosis: GG (low risk)
• Initial response to smoking and drinking: GG(does not tend to report “strong” or “negative” effects from alcohol and nicotine consumption)
• Insomnia: CC (more likely to have a significant preference for evening time over morning)
• Insulin sensitivity in response to endurance training: CT (improvement in insulin sensitivity in response to exercise)
• Lactose intolerance/Lactose persistence: TT (very likely to be able to digest milk after childhood)
• Learning and Memory: CC (better than average)
• Mold sensitivity: GG (more likely to have mold allergies)
• Norwalk virus (the cruise ship sickness): AG (medium risk)
• Obesity (increased BMI): AT (up to 1.31 times more likely to be obese than those individuals with only T type copies.)
• Obesity II: CC (as much as 1.2-2.3 times more likely to be obese than other individuals)
• Odor perception: AG (less sensitive and more pleasurable response to certain odors)
• Physical performance, power vs. endurance v.1: CC (power, yes; endurance, no)
• Post-operative cognitive dysfunction: GG (average risk)
• Protection from Alcoholism: GG (able to process alcohol normally and may be as likely to become addicted to alcohol)
• Resistance to cannabis addiction: CC (more susceptible to THC dependence)
• Restless Legs Syndrome: TT (less likely to develop restless legs syndrome)
• Seasonal Affective Disorder: Normal risk
• Smoking addiction: CC (less likely to be a smoker)
• Variation in height: CC (on average ~.8 cm taller than non CC types

I returned to taking lessons in Italian two weeks ago after an almost six year pause. It is a challenge getting my homework done and a it hurts my brain to speak Italian for a full hour, but all and all it is a pretty satisfying endeavor. My desire was really just to get some mental exercise and not lose to much ground on the year or so I have put into learning Italian. Not sweating fluency or a planned trip to Italy and just focusing on the enjoyable parts of learning a language make this a pleasant experience.

I’ve had this goal on my list as long as any of the goals on my list. Today I can mark it done. My numbers were nothing special, but what is special is that I now know them.

BP: 129/80 (a bit high, but I’m always a bit high)
Total Cholesterol: 250 (I think I can do better)
HDL: 60
LDL: 158

The numbers don’t make me feel anything (because I mostly don’t know what they mean, yet) but marking this goal off my list feels great!