Access Your DNA & SNPs

An overview of the genes and their single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or variants, that may affect the biology of THC for an individual. The first step is to get your DNA analyzed. Below is a site that provides and overview of the different options available.

Once you get your DNA results back, locate your raw data. In the case of 23andMe, it is located in your account name (where your name is – upper right corner). Pull down the menu for your account name and select “Browse Your Raw Data”. On that page, in the middle of the page (second line down from the top) you will see “Download”. Download the data which now leads to a request to customer service for approval. Approval happens within a day, usually. Once it is approved, you will download a *.txt file. Save the file. Now you have the raw data.

The raw data are SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) and not the full genome scan (Nebula Genomics provides a full genome scan – I would recommend the deep scan). 23&Me uses the Illumina chip that evaluates 600,000 SNPs or alleles present in different genes.

You can now do two things with the raw data:

You can search for specific sequences on SNPedia (https://www.snpedia.com/) or and you can search it either by topic, e.g. CNR1 for Cannabinoid 1 receptor or by an individual SNP (SNPs have an number that begins with rs…..)

You can also go to a website (https://www.xcode.life/23andme-raw-data/promethease-xcode-life-23andme-raw-data-analysis-health-reports/ ) which informs you about how to upload your raw data for a nominal fee.

An excellent source for current literature is PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ )

My family found this useful. We collected and analyzed DNA from three generations. We discovered that younger people have good homeostatic mechanisms and the relative increased risk for many diseases was minor. However, the older family members had less resilience. As their homeostatic mechanisms deteriorated the underlying genetic risk factors became increasingly important.