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Within these cells are DNA molecules that connect to form a sequence. They carry instructions that tell our bodies how to grow, develop and function.
These chromosomes kind of look like squiggly blobs. Most people have 46 total chromosomes, in 23 pairs. Also useful to know is that the last pair determines your sex.
For each pair of chromosomes, you inherit one from your biological mother and one from your biological father. Each chromosome contains thousands of genes that carry instructions for how our body works.
In fact, all humans are 99.3% the same each person to the next. That tiny .7% difference is what makes each one of us unique.
This is also how we often get family traits like hair color, eye color or that dreaded bald patch (damn you, grandpa!).
This is why certain genetic conditions often affect certain ethnicities more than others, and are important to consider for healthcare.
Some of these are no big deal in the grand scheme of things, like hair or eye colour. Others, though, can impact our children’s health. Carrier testing helps you understand those risks.
Share this with the people you trust to speak to about your health — whether that's your partner, parent, doctor or friend.
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