A genetic mutation is a permanent change in your DNA sequence. Think of it like a typo in an instruction manual that tells your cells how to build and operate your body. These changes can be tiny, affecting just one letter in your genetic code, or larger, involving whole sections of DNA. Understanding what is … Read more
How accurate are at-home DNA tests? I get this question constantly from friends and family who are curious about their ancestry or considering a paternity test. The honest answer depends entirely on what type of test you are taking and what you are hoping to learn. At-home DNA tests have exploded in popularity over the … Read more
Epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors, environment, and experiences cause changes that affect how your genes work. Your DNA sequence stays exactly the same, but chemical marks attach to your genes like tiny switches, turning them on or off. These marks determine which proteins your cells produce, ultimately shaping your health, appearance, and … Read more
If one parent has schizophrenia, their child has approximately a 10% risk of developing the condition. This is significantly higher than the 1% risk found in the general population. Yet it also means that 90% of children with one affected parent will never develop schizophrenia. This question weighs heavily on families. I have seen how … Read more
Dominant genes are expressed when you inherit just one copy from either parent, while recessive genes require two copies (one from each parent) to show up in your physical traits. This fundamental pattern of inheritance determines everything from your eye color to your risk of certain genetic conditions. I remember being confused about this in … Read more
You check your email and see it: another notification that your DNA ethnicity estimate has been updated. Last year you were 32% Irish. Now you are 18% Irish and suddenly 12% Scottish. You are not alone in staring at your screen, wondering if your ancestors changed while you were sleeping. I have been researching genetic … Read more
A polygenic risk score is a number that estimates your genetic predisposition for developing specific diseases based on thousands of tiny variations across your DNA. Unlike single-gene tests that tell you definitively whether you will develop a condition like Huntington’s disease, PRS offers a probability estimate for common complex diseases influenced by hundreds or thousands … Read more
Is PTSD genetic or just a trauma response? The answer lies somewhere in between. PTSD is not purely genetic, but research shows that genetic factors can account for approximately 5-40% of the risk for developing the condition after trauma exposure. A groundbreaking study from the Broad Institute and Harvard identified 95 specific genetic loci and … Read more
When you get a DNA test result from AncestryDNA or 23andMe, you receive pages of information about your heritage, health risks, and traits. But have you ever wondered exactly what these tests are looking at? The answer is SNPs. SNPs, pronounced “snips,” are the foundation of modern consumer genetic testing. In this guide, I’ll explain … Read more
Genetic counseling gives you information about how genetic conditions might affect you or your family. A trained genetic counselor will collect your personal and family health history, discuss your concerns, and help you understand whether genetic testing makes sense for your situation. This process helps you make informed decisions about your health with clarity and … Read more