Ever since the DNA Testing was first successfully carried out in mid 1980s, more and more applications have been found for it. Many of these applications of DNA Testing have in turn revolutionized the world in various ways.

Initially, DNA Testing was carried out for forensic purposes only, mainly in resolving crimes. As it were, through the use of DNA Testing in what is popularly known as DNA fingerprinting, detectives are able to almost inextricably link suspects to crimes in ways there were not previously possible. The use of DNA Testing typically finds application in the resolution of serious crimes and has been used successfully in resolving murder, rape and other similar heinous crimes.??? This application of DNA Testing in crime resolution has in turn helped to nail down suspects who would have otherwise gotten away with grave crimes, and also helped exonerate some suspects who were otherwise bound to suffer for wrongs they didn??t do or even contemplate in some cases.???

With time, other forensic applications of DNA Testing, besides crime resolution have been developed. One of these is ancestry testing. Through DNA profiles, it now possible to conduct accurate ancestry testing and to determine one??s ancestry with a degree of certainty that was not previously possible. Before the advent of DNA based ancestry testing, people had to rely on genealogical records to determine their ancestry. The problem with this approach was that not all families have always kept formal genealogical records. And even for the families that have always kept such records, they do tend to be inaccurate ?? at least as far as blood relations are concerned ?? as people have always tended to have some children out of marriages ?? or sow wild oats as the trend is also called in some quarters.

And besides forensic applications, DNA Testing is also increasingly finding application in paternity testing. The use of DNA in paternity testing is basically based on the premise the while the general human DNA sequence is basically identical in all people, there are some patterns in the sequence that do vary from person to person. And it has been further observed that these variable DNA sequence patterns are more similar in people who are related (by blood) than in people who are unrelated.??? This makes it possible to determine paternity based on these DNA sequence patterns. And seeing how contentious an issue paternity can be, this DNA based paternity testing has been of great help to children, who otherwise risked being neglected by their fathers. It has also helped many men, who would have otherwise ended up being compelled to bring up children they didn??t sire. DNA based paternity testing has also made men more responsible in their siring adventures.

DNA Testing is also being applied in medicine to determine which genes seem to be co-relating with what diseases. At the culmination of these studies, it is expected that through DNA Testing, everyone will be able to determine their disease risk factors, and hopefully take steps to mitigate them. This is because in most hereditary diseases, the heredity only results in a predisposition to the disease, rather than resulting in the disease itself. In most cases, it takes a trigger to make this predisposition translate into the actual disease, and if steps are taken to avoid the trigger, one can be safe from the hereditary disease in question.

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As you may be aware, trampolining has become somewhat of a backyard craze in last year or two. It’s a fantastic way to have fun and keep fit for old and young alike. Trampolines are easy to keep, require little active maintenance and come in many different sizes (typically 8ft, 10ft, 12ft and 14ft) and shapes such as round trampolines and rectangular trampolines. Trampoline safety is often the primary concern leveled towards them and it is often blown out of proportion. Approximately 75% of all accidents that occur on a trampoline at home occur when more than one person is on the trampoline. This is because all trampolines, no matter what the size, are intended for one person usage. No matter how confident the users of the trampoline are you should always take turns. By allowing groups of two or more people onto a trampoline you are greatly endangering everyone involved, especially the smallest of the participants who is likely to be overbalanced by the activities of the other people.

Falling is the main concern for many first time trampoliners but is in fact easy to overcome. An easy way to add security for new bouncers or children is to use a safety enclosure. Many modern trampolines, especially those in the MadDash range come with fixtures for recommend safety enclosures and ladders so that you easily be able to climb on and off. To build confidence before using your trampoline to it’s full potential I recommend that you get used to the feeling of ‘bouncing’. Once your trampoline is erected in a safe, clear space position yourself in the very centre of the mat. Swing your arms up gently in a circular motion and push off gently. Brace to land by maneuvering your feet to approximately 15 inches apart. While in the air you should be straight with your toes pointed downwards. Try jumping a little higher each time until you have built enough confidence for a strong controlled bounce.

Aside from fun, trampolining is an excellent form of exercise. Benefits include;

• •Helps offset osteoporosis

• •Relieves menstrual discomfort
• •Helps recovery from injuries
• •Can help relieve back and neck pain
• •Enhances lymphatic circulation
• •Improves balance and confidence on unsteady ground
• •Strengthens muscles across the body
• •Actually improves digestion & absorption
• •Simple, fun activity can help overcome depression & negativity
• •Is great for burning calories

The general fitness benefit from trampolining is easily worth it, so why not go out and pick up a trampoline today. There are many retailers on the market including TP, Supertramp and MadDash. All these provide a safe and reliable trampoline for you to work with. I personally recommend the MadDash brand since I own 2 myself. They come in package deals so you can have all the safety equipment you need and are endorsed by major UK retailers such as Woolworths. A new range of MadDash trampolines are due for release in the second quarter of 2007. They will feature a special range of new coloured SE trampoline with the following features.

• •35mm thick safety padding made of strong UV resistant PVC

• •An inner netted safety enclosure
• •Large amount of springs on each size, size per ft diameter of the trampoline
• •320mm Wide pads
• •Come in a great range of sizes, 8-14ft to suit your garden
• •Excellent MadDash quality built to the highest specifications
• •Easy to understand instruction, fully checked and written in English only with diagrams and check lists.

MadDash also offer a great range with increased safety measures or a basic range if you already own everything you need, visit the MadDash home page or trampolines on Outdoor Toys Direct for a better idea on specifications of every trampoline available.
Trampolining is great exercise and fun so look into joining the hottest trend that has hit back gardens for 10 years.