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Patients
Guide to Genomics
Bundled
deep within the nucleus of nearly every one of the 100 trillion
cells that make up your body lies a unique and miraculous message.
A message composed in the language of life itself— your
DNA.
At Genovations™, we are using this message in an innovative
way, to create precise, powerful, and personalized health care
designed just for you. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Empower Yourself—Gain Deeper Insight
Into Your Health
Talk to your physician today about how Genovations™ profiles
can improve the quality of your health care.
©2002 Genovations™, a product of Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory
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