I’ve been thinking about it for a while,
and I finally decided to get my genome sequenced.
When the results from Dante Labs arrived,
I went through a roller-coaster of feelings:
I was excited to know every secret of my DNA,
but I was afraid of getting to know my
cancer risks and worried what else I might
find.
But for me scientific curiosity always overrides
fear, so I jumped into the unknown.
And now, I’m eager to share my results and
experiences with you.
First, a little history.
When the Human Genome Project was completed
in 2003, researchers said that learning about
the functions of genes and proteins will have
a major impact in the fields of medicine,
biotechnology, and life sciences.
But more than ten years later, the revolution
lags behind.
Why is that?
Well, the price of genome sequencing started
around three billion dollars.
That’s with a “B”.
And even though by now it dropped below a
thousand bucks, it’s still very expensive
for the average consumer.
But once the price reaches that of a blood
test it will become mainstream, and change
how we look at it and treat our health forever.
The information gained from genetic sequencing
can affect medication decisions, lifestyle
and dietary choices, disease prevention plans,
and life expectancy in general.
It’s exciting, helpful and frightening at
the same time.
And don’t mistake whole genome sequencing
to simpler genetic tests that everyone seems
to be taking these days.
Companies like 23andMe can tell you more about
your ancestry and some disease risks.
Whole genome sequencing is like reading a
book, while simpler tests only show a few
pages.
Let’s see how genome sequencing works.
You just put saliva into a standardized tube
and send it to the labs.
Then comes the wait.
Two months.
It was nerve-wracking.
And as the DNA package contains a cancer risk
report, I was terrified for what they might
find.
However, I do believe that you have to think
proactively and that it’s better to know
the risks and to ensure preventive measures
than bury your head in the sand.
After eight weeks, finally, my report was
available.
It contained more than 160 pages and my raw
data.
Dante Labs sequenced all my base pairs - yes,
you have the same amount too- and gave me
a thorough overview of myself.
Since reading genome sequencing could be a
tough job for even an experienced physician,
the report supports interpretation with several
“crutches”.
They visualize the likelihood of the risks,
with scales and they emphasize how many studies
the results are based on.
I also contacted a genetic counselor and my
primary care physician.
So what have I learned?
I have a moderate risk for melanoma.
They suggest that tanning beds or sunburns
should be highly avoidable for me.
They also found a predisposition to thrombosis,
blood clots forming in my veins.
It turns out there is a reason why I have
long-distance running: my genes predispose
me for power training, the one I enjoy the
most.
Also, I had no idea before that I have a high
risk of knee arthritis and moderate ones for
hip and wrist arthritis.
So, I should rather not gain weight and I
should not wear high heels quite often.
That latter came as a real shocker.
So, yes, I also learned some less relevant,
but amusing facts.
Another one is if I eat asparagus, I can smell
it in my urine (one-third of you can too).
The report had a special section devoted to
pharmacogenomics which deals with drug responses.
I received information about how my body metabolizes
more than a hundred drugs, which is incredibly
useful.
For example, my cholesterol level is usually
higher than the reference value, however,
I would definitely have severe side effects
if I took prescription pills for lowering
cholesterol.
I learned similar risks in case I have to
take some types of antibiotics and antidepressants.
I also got calmed down, when I realized I
don’t have any mutations in any of the known
genes that would increase my risk of hereditary
cancer.
A new study concluded that those who you live
with have a bigger impact on your life expectancy
than the genes you inherit from your parents.
So while the information encoded in our DNA
is unalterable, many medical conditions highly
depend on the environmental factors.
So for the next step, I packed up my data
and consulted my GP to make a plan on how
to avoid my genetic risks.
Fortunately, I’m not alone in my fight – and
you are also aided by technology and great
medical professionals.
That’s why I advise you to have your whole
genome sequenced.
I already ordered two further kits – one
for my wife and one for my daughter.
While analyzing that vast amount of data is
still extremely challenging even with trained
professionals, if I only learned these snippets
about my DNA, that is still very useful and
impacted my lifestyle.
This way, you can prepare for your own future
in time – to get from chance to choice.
I’m glad that all these pieces of information
are available to me now, and it might be very
valuable in the future as data analytics will
only get better.
