Amid Covid-19, DNA tests are more popular than ever – here’s how knowing your genetic background can help you lead a healthier life

Dec 22 , 2020

Danny Yeung, founder of CircleDNA, cut out beef from his diet after learning he has an increased risk for colon cancer due to a gene mutation. Photo: Handout

Health-conscious individuals are increasingly concerned with finding an edge in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and potentially staying ahead of diseases and any health issues that might manifest later in life. This spurred Danny Yeung to build a start-up offering easy and efficient DNA testing.

Danny Yeung of CircleDNA. Photo: Nora Tam

“We launched CircleDNA last year because we felt individuals globally want to be healthier, and what better way to start then by understanding your own genetic make-up?” explains Yeung, the business’ Hong Kong-based founder.

But what exactly can our DNA tell us about our health? For many of us who grew up watching crime dramas on television, we think of DNA tests in a rather simplistic fashion, as a way to pin down criminals and clear the names of those wrongly accused.

But as Yeung explains, its application is extremely helpful for identifying health risks: “Your DNA can tell you what you are at most risk for. Thus, by understanding your risk, you can then modify your lifestyle and diet.”

Yeung has learned a lot from his own DNA and has changed his lifestyle for the better, all in the hopes of leading a longer and healthier life. “I have increased risk for colon cancer due to a gene mutation, thus I have now cut out about 95 per cent of beef from my diet as that is a risk factor,” he explains. “If I didn’t know about my genetic risk, I would definitely not have reduced my intake of beef. I believe prevention is much better than treatment.”

While the Covid-19 pandemic has put the brakes on most businesses, Yeung has taken the opportunity to promote DNA testing. “I found myself spending more time with my team as we have been very active in providing Covid-19 testing in the communities where we operate, including in Hong Kong.”

But it’s not all work and no play for this health-tech guru. Better health and quality of life means time spent with people and on things that matter the most. “I believe we all have a choice when it comes to how we invest our time; we just have to invest wisely based on our priorities. For me, a priority is my daughter, Danica.”

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CircleDNA – a Hong Kong-based global mail order DNA testing service – has seen an uptick in interest with health-conscious customers eager to discover inherited genetic risks and learn how to live the right way for years to come