Editing 1706: Genetic Testing
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | [[Cueball]] has sent a DNA sample to a {{w|genetic genealogy}} company. | + | [[Cueball]] has sent a DNA sample to a {{w|genetic genealogy}} company. It is inferred that he has sent his own sample, but that is not necessarily the case. Apparently he sent it to a {{w|purebred dog|dog pedigree}} company, meaning that the results show what dog the DNA matches. [[Megan]], assuming he was referring to a human sample, thusly comments that he sent it to the wrong company. Only [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1207_051207_dog_genome.html 5% of DNA] is shared between humans and dogs, so we are genetically very different. In spite of the DNA test clearly showing a canine sample was submitted, Cueball clearly does not understand that he needed to send ''his own'' sample for testing, and assumes that he must be more canine than human. He decides to abstain from eating chocolate, because he figures he is probably highly susceptible to {{w|theobromine poisoning|poisoning from theobromine}}, a compound found in chocolates which causes seizures and heart failure in dogs (and many other creatures). Basically, if Cueball really is a dog, then eating chocolate could kill him. |
− | + | One would assume that both human and canine DNA analysing services would be able to tell if the sample they received was not from the species they were set up to analyse. In this comic, there are alternative explanations that Cueball actually sent his own DNA to a dog pedigree company, and they didn't couldn't tell the difference, or that Cueball is actually a dog with excellent human impersonation skills. | |
− | + | ===Title Text=== | |
+ | The title text refers to the fact that certain dog breeds are more or less susceptible to disease. The diseases he mentions, {{w|elbow dysplasia}}, {{w|Dirofilaria immitis|heartworm}}, {{w|parvovirus|parvo virus}} and {{w|mange}} are several diseases that can end up killing, disfiguring or disabling dogs. While the information is useful for dog owners, as it tells them what diseases they should keep an eye out for, it is unnecessary for humans, as we can express illnesses to other people, and are largely unaffected by these diseases. However, knowing your ancestors (as Cueball was trying to do) is important for figuring out your family's medical history. Had he received legitimate results, he could then look for diseases his ancestors had (or died of) and thus, he would be aware of the risk factors, exactly like he ended up with, albeit irrelevant for him. | ||
− | + | ==Transcript== | |
− | + | :[Cueball and Megan are talking to each other] | |
− | :[Cueball and Megan are talking to each other | ||
:Cueball: I sent a DNA sample to one of those "Trace your ancestry" projects. | :Cueball: I sent a DNA sample to one of those "Trace your ancestry" projects. | ||
:Megan: How legit are those? | :Megan: How legit are those? | ||
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:Six weeks later... | :Six weeks later... | ||
− | :[Cueball walks towards Megan with a letter in his hand | + | :[Cueball walks towards Megan with a letter in his hand] |
:Cueball: Sweet, got my results back. | :Cueball: Sweet, got my results back. | ||
:Megan: Ooh, share! | :Megan: Ooh, share! | ||
− | : | + | :Ancestry Report |
::48% Labrador Retriever | ::48% Labrador Retriever | ||
::35% Beagle | ::35% Beagle | ||
Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
::5% Other | ::5% Other | ||
− | :[Megan is holding the report | + | :[Megan is holding the report] |
:Megan: I think you sent your sample to the wrong service. | :Megan: I think you sent your sample to the wrong service. | ||
:Cueball: Just in case, I should probably start avoiding chocolate. | :Cueball: Just in case, I should probably start avoiding chocolate. | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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