Genetic Counseling

DNA Sequencing for the Masses

By now everyone has seen advertising or knows someone who has sent in their saliva DNA sample for 23&me, Ancestry DNA, or other ancestry related DNA testing with or without health reports. Maybe you have done this yourself. If you haven’t, but are thinking about it, here is a review of available tests to consider as you make your purchase decision.

The underlying technology and reliability of these DNA tests at the gene identifying detail is the same as expensive medical testing for a single disease or trait correspondence. These ancestry-type DNA testing services provide a wider survey of genes with correlations to many, but not all genetic disorders depending on which service is used. None of them measures every gene of interest for human health. These consumer available genetic tests are orders of magnitude less expensive than the one by one tests consulted in medical practice.

Family Health Secrets and Truths Unlocked

For those trained and knowledgeable, these genetic data can be unlocked by processing the raw DNA data produced for you for correlations with a DNA reference library. These correlations produce further insights to disease and health implications that can lead you to making better and more specific health decisions for yourself through genetic counseling.

Dr. Clark provides this service for a flat fee that includes a current DNA database correlation with your available DNA data. The reference correlation is returned to you as a personal website accessed from a private USB drive that you keep forever. There is never a direct connection of your identity and this data exposed to the on-line world. After his review, a followup visit is scheduled with Dr. Clark to review your DNA correlations and their relevance to your individual health, along with his recommendations.

Everyone Has Some Interest, Some Should Have More

Those who could and maybe even should find interest in their health-DNA relationships are couples considering having children, those who are adopted, people taking prescription medications, those with mystery health concerns, and everyone interested in identifying specific, possibly mitigatible risks for developing chronic diseases as they age.

Common Inheritable Genetic Diseases (table of genetic disorders)

Examples of Inheritable Autosomal Recessive Disorders -- must receive a gene from each parent

Sickle cell disease
Cystic fibrosis
Fanconi Anemia
Familial hemochromatosis

Examples of Inheritable Autosomal Dominant Disorders -- must receive only 1 gene from one parent

Marfan’s syndrome
Hereditary Spherocytosis
Huntington's Disease
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)

Examples of DNA Influenced Diseases of Aging — potentially modifiable risk factors

Alzheimer’s and dementia risk
Macular degeneration risk
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk
Diabetes risk
Alcoholism risk
Medication reaction risk
Impaired methylation and folic acid metabolism
More…