It is common knowledge that male pattern baldness is linked to genetics - but what about degrees of nicotine dependence or whether or not you think cabbage tastes bitter? From the moment of conception, your DNA determines far more about you than simply the colour of your eyes; those genetic markers also carry intriguing implications for your health.

A new scientific trend offers to end speculation about which health problems may be developed throughout one’s life. By studying cheek swabs or saliva samples and analysing your DNA, “personal genome” services offer detailed, individual reports of your likelihood of developing particular conditions - asthma, diabetes, heart disease and cancers, amongst many others - and gives you the opportunity to avoid them.

There are several online personal genomics and biotechnology companies that can find disease associations for up to 90 different diseases. 23andMe, Navagenics and deCODEme are three such companies that operate online - which means you can unearth the secrets of your genes without having to leave your home. By simply requesting a mail-order kit, spitting into a test tube or swabbing the inside of your cheek and returning your sample by post, you can begin your genetic education. Your confidential test results, as well as an explanation of what they indicate for your health, are sent by email.

Rather than relying on a scatter-gun approach to maintaining good health, you will have the opportunity to customise your lifestyle to suit your genetic legacy - when it comes to health, knowledge is power. In fact, being informed about your DNA has even become somewhat stylish. Unlikely sounding “spit parties” took place during New York Fashion Week last year, which saw socialites gather in Manhattan to give samples of their saliva under the backdrop of couture and canapés.

But while the prospect of cheating fate may now appear easy, or even glamorous, retail genomics is only in its infancy. Pricing for the procedure varies widely from company to company (from €303 to €2,600), as do the exact services included (some have community forums, others offer the services of a counsellor to discuss your results), so it is prudent to do some research before getting out your chequebook.

More seriously, critics claim that people are simply not anticipating the possibility of unwelcome news. The painless procedure - as well as the lack of a doctor’s consultation - means that some may trivialise the process and never consider the consequences of unlocking the secrets of their DNA until it is too late. 23andMe strongly urge people to think carefully before ordering the test. “Once you obtain your genetic information, the knowledge is irrevocable.”

With a little preparation and forethought, as well as the determination to change your lifestyle if need be, retail genomics can be a practical way of targeting your personal health danger zones, but not a way to predict the future.