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Patients
Guide to Genomics What are genes? Genes are Nature’s blueprint for "building" life. Genes are present in the central compartment (the nucleus) of almost every one of the 100 trillion cells in your body. In all, your body contains about 30,000-40,000 genes. At birth you inherit two set of genes—one set from each of your parents. Each gene contains a set of coded instructions that "explain" to your body how it will develop and function. Your height, your eye color, your voice, your hair texture—even certain elements of your "personality"—are strongly influenced by your genes. How do genes do this? Genes contain long double-stranded segments called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA is formed by a sequence of four chemicals (called nucleotides). The arrangement of these four nucleotides makes up your genetic code. No two individuals (except identical twins) are born with the same exact arrangement. In fact, just by changing the order of these four chemicals, all the wondrous genetic diversity within the human race is created. How do genes affect my health? Genes are like "recipes" that your body depends on to produce proteins. Proteins, in turn, play important roles in metabolism. They affect the make-up and function of all your cells, tissues, and organs. They build bones, skin, and hair. They help break down food into the energy your body needs. They help your immune system fend off harmful "foreign invaders" like bacteria, yeast, and viruses. And they are essential for processing and eliminating harmful toxins. More than 99% of the human DNA sequence is the same in all humans. Yet the relatively small amount of DNA that differs from person to person is very important. A gene sequence that varies from the usual pattern (a polymorphism) can alter the normal shape and function of proteins. This can change the way the body functions. It can also make us more susceptible to some diseases and more resistant to others. Just because we have a genetic variation that makes us susceptible to a certain disease, say heart disease for example, does not mean that we will necessarily develop heart disease. That’s because our genes are fluid and flexible in how they "express" themselves. Fortunately, only a few very rare diseases, such as Huntington’s or Tay Sachs, are caused by a single genetic polymorphism. In almost all cases, a gene’s ability to promote disease depends heavily on its being switched "on" or "off" by other factors in its environment. These factors can be things like cigarette smoke or air pollution, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, sun exposure, bacterial infection, chronic nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, lifestyle habits, or toxic exposure. In other words, the vast majority of genetic polymorphisms only have the potential to cause health problems, if exposed to the wrong "mix" of harmful agents over time. This is particularly true for the most common and disabling chronic diseases that develop as we age, such as heart disease or osteoporosis. These conditions are not caused by genes alone. Instead, they develop when many potentially harmful factors—both genetic and environmental—interact over a long period of time. Only by considering all of these factors together—Nature and Nurture—can a person accurately estimate his or her unique health risks and take the right steps to help prevent chronic disease from developing. What does this test measure? Using cells collected either from a simple mouth rinse procedure or from a single blood draw, this test measures selected segments of the genetic code that differ from individual to individual. These are called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs for short. SNPs are variations in the genetic code that occur only at certain places, in certain individuals. Everyone has SNPs—that’s what makes us different from one another. Some SNPs are quite common and others are quite rare. Many SNPs have no effect on our health, but others can predispose us to disease or influence our response to a food or drug. Even SNPs good for health in one situation may be harmful in another. For example, the same SNP that enables a person to better survive on a very limited food intake in situations of starvation, may cause that person to be more prone to obesity and cholesterol build-up in the blood after eating fatty foods. The SNPs in these tests are carefully selected. Your test will not measure any SNPs that will absolutely lead to disease. Your test will evaluate only SNPs that may lead to health problems when influenced by other external factors—factors you can often change. It’s very important to remember that the SNPs included on your test indicate risk, not certainty. Testing positive for a SNP doesn’t mean you are sure to develop a health problem. By the same token, if you don’t have SNP associated with a certain disease, that doesn’t mean you are completely protected from that disease, or that you shouldn’t take steps to optimize your health. It just means that your genetic risk is lower for that disease. Why is testing important? Imagine you were dealt a hand of cards and then were asked to play out your hand, without ever seeing the values of the cards. Without knowing the cards, you would have no idea how to best play out your hand. The outcome would depend on pure chance. For most of history, this is the way preventive medicine has worked. People took supplements or drugs, followed diets, made lifestyle changes, without really knowing if these strategies were the ones that best suited their body and their personal risks. Many conditions influenced by genetics were treated only after a person developed the disease. Seeing the results of your Genovations™ test is like seeing the cards you’ve been dealt by Nature. Once you know the cards, you can develop the most effective strategy to play out your hand. That means working with your healthcare provider to carefully develop a diet, lifestyle, and supplement program that matches the unique health risks for your body. Whether you choose to "see" your genes or not, they are always there. And they will continue to play an important role in your health. By choosing to look at them, you are giving yourself the opportunity to do something about them. In this way, you can more actively—and more accurately—promote your health. Who can this test help? "I have a chronic condition that just doesn’t get better, no matter what I do." "My mother suffered from osteoporosis. Her mother had osteoporosis. Isn’t there anything I can do?" "I’m willing to do everything I can to stay strong and healthy throughout my lifetime." Do you have concerns like these about your health? Then Genovations testing may help you . The days of "one-size-fits-all" medicine are coming to an end. Anyone who has struggled for years with a chronic condition that doesn’t respond to conventional treatment, or who has experienced an adverse reaction to a commonly used food or medication, knows only too clearly how each person’s body functions and responds in a very unique way. Often, that’s because of our genes. Genovations‘ profiles reveal variations that can shed light on how a person is likely to respond to a certain treatment or environmental factor. Are you plagued by a chronic condition that resists medical treatment? Testing can reveal whether you have genetic variations that make you more vulnerable to the harmful effects of toxins. Or if you are less likely to respond well to certain drugs or nutrients. Do you have a family history of a condition like heart disease or osteoporosis? When conditions "run in families" they often have a genetic component. Testing can show what specific genetic factors could pose a potential problem for you. For example, are your cholesterol levels more sensitive to a fatty diet than other people? Is your blood more likely to clot during long periods of inactivity? Do your bones properly utilize the nutrients they need? Is your blood pressure apt to be highly influenced by your salt intake? Once you have this information, you can develop a focused, plan to "break the pattern"—and better prevent your family risks from turning into realities. Do you take a very active role in optimizing your health? These tests can help you and your practitioner design a preventive program that works best for your body’s unique needs and health risks. One that "takes aim" at your most important targets years before symptoms ever have a chance to develop. Knowing your genetic "strong" points and "weak" points allows you to devise a targeted, personal approach that increases your chances of remaining fit and active as you grow older. Who will see my test results? Many people are understandably concerned about the privacy of their genetic test results. Genovations™ is dedicated to protecting patient privacy and the confidentiality of all records. We will not release any patient records or details of related services to anyone outside the laboratory (including insurance companies), unless expressly authorized by the patient through the practitioner. All records, both electronic and hard copy, including test orders, test results, related health care services, etc. are protected by this policy. What happens after the test? Based on your genetic test results, your health care practitioner can work with you to develop a customized treatment plan. But the support doesn’t stop there. Testing is also available that can monitor whether your personal healthcare strategy is having a positive impact on your genetic risks. These tests, called "functional assessments," give your physician a concrete way to evaluate how your body is responding to treatment. This is an important way to ensure that powerful environmental factors, such as hormones and nutrients, are in a state of optimal balance that minimizes your in-born genetic health risks. |
Predictive
Genomic Profiles by Genovation™ is the advent of truly personalized
medicine!