You could be carrying a DNA test in your pocket

Have you heard Apple want us all to get spitting in cups? Yes you heard that right. Apple is working in collaboration with health researchers with the aim to develop a series of new apps that will ask Apple iPhone users to spit into cups to have the chance to test your DNA. 

This app is part of Apple’s new software that was launched back in March, ResearchKit. Five apps have already been created through the launch of this software, with the most popular app being mPower which can track symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. These apps can help hospitals and scientists to run medical related studies from the palm of their hand.

One study Apple plans to conduct, in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is to analyse the DNA of pregnant women who are also iPhone users and use the data required, to determine potential causes of premature births by combining gene tests with other data collected.

An issue that Apple is currently facing is whether consumers will be interested in learning more about their DNA. However, within the first few days of its launch, ResearchKit rapidly began recruiting participants. This clearly shows that people are interested and therefore the software has the potential to succeed.

Most Smartphone devices now are becoming highly involved with health and fitness. With apps and software being used specifically to track your calorie intake, or count how many steps you do, even measure the oxygen levels in your blood. With this development, Apple is taking health and fitness to a new extreme. This development could be the start of something that we begin to use in everyday life. If Apple’s plans go according to plan, it could be that we will have the ability to carry round our DNA information on our phone that can be used along prescriptions and shown to a doctor which can avoid allergic reactions to medications.  

If you’re wondering how this DNA testing works, this is how. For the software to test DNA, a participant would be sent an Apple-approved DNA testing tool, such as a ‘spit cup’, and would be returned to an Apple-authorized laboratory. The data that will be collected will be maintained by scientists, but certain findings, may become accessible on users iPhones. Ultimately, it could be possible for consumers to share their genetic information, just as easily as they share photos.

Apple hopes to announce the launch of this programme at the World Wide Developers Conference this June, where they hope to showcase their advancements.