Sequencing
What is DNA sequencing?
Genomic sequencing reads your DNA and creates a book with a very long run-on sentence containing 3 billion letters in sequence. BioAro uses ‘next generation sequencing’ (NGS) or ‘massively parallel sequencing’ technology to accomplish this massive task. Your sample (inner cheek swab or blood) is used to isolate DNA, make many copies, read them, and arrange them like a puzzle. Once the DNA is sequenced the resulting series of letters is what can be analysed and risk of health conditions can be interpreted.
What is an exome or genome?
Exomes: Your exome is the entirety of your ‘coding DNA’. Coding DNA makes up only ~2% of all the DNA in your human cells, but this tiny amount contains around 85% of disease-causing DNA differences (variants). Exome sequencing technology can change over time to include more DNA as what we know to be protein coding expands.
This is the important sections where you can discover a lot about how your DNA impacts your full body health. However, the information you can find is limited when compared to the whole genome.
Genomes: Your genome is the entirety of your human DNA, which is over 3 billion DNA molecules (nucleotides). Though the exome covers a lot of the important parts present in our DNA, it does not cover all. Beyond the exome is a lot of ‘non-coding DNA’ and ‘junk DNA’, however their names are misleading, since these areas have functions critical to our life and health. This includes regulation of the production of various molecules in the body that can lower or increase risks of disease.
This is all of your DNA regardless of its relative importance to any specific analysis. This is where you can continue to discover more about your DNA, as the scientific community understands human DNA more.
Is genome sequencing better than exome sequencing?
Though genome sequencing is more costly in both time and money to perform it is for good reason. With a genome sequence will be receiving 100x the amount of DNA sequence information than you would with exome sequencing. This allows you to future proof the information you have about your DNA and allows lifetime access to use this information to receive personalized healthcare. After you have passed away your genetic legacy will still be able to live on by enabling your future generations to access your DNA information and use it to learn about their own risks.
Will I still get future benefit from exome sequencing?
Will I still get future benefit from exome sequencing?
YES! By getting your genome or exome sequenced you can provide your kids, grandkids, and further descendants with medical and genetic insights into their health. Genetic history can save future lives and enable preventative care.
With exome sequencing you can still enrol in the genetic monitoring program (GMP) and receive updates when they are available for the sequencing information that you have.
Why should I do exome or genome sequencing instead of independent panels from other companies?
Large scale sequencing (exome or genome) allows for more accurate analysis of your DNA sequence and expands the scope of analysis massively. Instead of looking at 100 genes for a handful of health conditions, we can look at 1000s of genes for any health condition. Our genetic analysis ensures your risk analysis for any disease is comprehensive and includes all relevant genes, not just the popular ones.