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In the past few years, the science of genetic testing has advanced exponentially, both in the amount of information genetic testing can reveal and the precision and reliability of the results. It’s also more convenient and affordable than ever before—making it possible for companies like Pathway Genomics to provide consumers with valuable insight into their predisposition to certain health conditions, their individual response to medications, information about their family ancestry, and much more.

However, receiving a detailed report on your genetic make-up and understanding how to best use the information included in your report are two different things—and this is another area in which Pathway Genomics stands out in the industry. Pathway Genomics’ genetic health report is more than just informative. It is designed to provide consumers with information they can use to take proactive control of their health and well-being.

In Pathway Genomics’ genetic health report results are easy-to-read and action-orientated. For example, some results may be labeled “Immediate Attention” with specific recommendations spelled out. Others may advise to “Be Proactive” and consult with a physician. Those labeled “Learn More” advise on prevention. In areas where a genetic report reveals no significant health issue, Pathway Genomics encourages people to move forward confidently and do what they can to “Live a Healthy Lifestyle.” It’s important to note that genetic testing tells us with great accuracy if an individual has a particular genetic marker, or SNP. It does not predict with absolute certainty whether that person will or will not develop that disease. This is where the role of genetic counseling comes into play, and it is a critical factor in people being able to use results from their genetic health report to develop well-informed plans of action to adjust their lifestyle or make other decisions concerning the quality of their life and their health. At Pathway Genomics, we offer to every customer the opportunity to speak with a genetic counselor in order to fully understand their genetic health report, and from there, make positive and well-informed decisions.

What you can learn
Although we can’t change our genes, there are things we can do to maintain our health or mitigate our risks. For example, if genetic testing revealed that you might be predisposed to diabetes, your Pathway Genomics’ genetic health report would give you detailed information on the disease, its various types, its causes, treatments, and the prevalence of the disease among the general population. The report would also indicate whether you should consult with your doctor immediately and/or make lifestyle adjustments like eating differently, exercising more, or making changes to your environment. This depth of information is repeated for every condition included in your report—providing a comprehensive and actionable guidebook on how to take charge of your well-being.

Your genetic health report from Pathway Genomics can be exciting and enlightening. For many people, however, the wealth of information provided in a genetic report can also be a bit overwhelming. For that reason, Pathway Genomics has a team of certified genetic counselors on staff that are available, toll-free, for one-on-one phone calls to help customers interpret and understand their genetic reports.

For more information on “What is genetic testing?” and “Why Test?” look for DNA Conversation Starters #1 and #2, respectively on our blog, DNAction: Your Pathway to Human Genomics. Here you have access to all of Pathway’s DNA Conversation Starters.

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Does the term “genetic testing” conjure up thoughts of cloned, robot-like human beings and malevolent plots to rule the world? If so, you’ve been reading too much science fiction! The truth is, DNA testing has been put to very beneficial use for decades, primarily in the medical, law enforcement, and legal fields. And with the dramatic scientific advancements that have occurred in recent years, genetic testing has become a valuable resource for general consumers as well. Today, companies like Pathway Genomics are making it easy and affordable for consumers to test their DNA privately and securely.

By testing for common genetic variations or changes in your DNA, commonly referred to single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs (pronounced: “snips”), consumers can understand more about their personal biology, and take more proactive control of their health and wellbeing.

Drug response
Pathway’s genetic health report can reveal a person’s tolerance to certain medications. Not all drugs are equally effective for all people—and some medicines can trigger adverse reactions in some individuals. By knowing your sensitivity to Plavix (a drug used to protect against heart attack or stroke), Coumadin (a highly prescribed blood thinner), birth control pills, and other common medications, you can work more effectively with your doctor to determine optimal medical treatment.

Disease
Genetic test reports can also provide you with a wealth of information about your predisposition to certain health events—from chronic conditions like allergies and asthma to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more. It’s important to note that having a genetic marker or SNP that is associated with a health disorder does not mean that you will develop this disease or condition. However, having reliable information about your genetic “blueprint” can help you make more informed decisions about your health and wellness.

Carrier status
It’s also important to know that some diseases are recessive; meaning that both copies of a gene must be defective to have the disease. In recessive conditions you may have a single copy of a defective gene even if you are not directly experiencing a specific health condition. This is commonly referred to as carrier status. As is true of all of your genes, a defective copy can be passed on to your offspring; increasing your child’s chances of being affected with the disease or condition. If both parents are carriers of a particular genetic marker, each child of the couple has a 25% chance of inheriting two copies of the disease-causing variant and developing the disease. By accessing genetic information, couples can make more-informed family-planning decisions.

Ancestral path
Genetic testing can also uncover information about your family’s ancestral path. For some people this could be simply a topic of interest. For others—such as individuals who were adopted—tracing one’s ancestry can provide valuable information about the genetic makeup history of their ancient relatives.

Once you have your genetic test report, then what? That’s another area where Pathway Genomics makes the experience simple and convenient, with a comprehensive, yet easy-to-read, action-orientated genetic test report. If you’re still asking yourself, “What is genetic testing?” look for DNA Conversation Starter #1 on our blog. If you are curious about what you can learn from genetic testing, look forward to Pathway’s next DNA Conversation Starter.

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Welcome to Pathway Genomics’ first, official DNA Conversation Starter. We felt the best way to kick off this campaign was to start with the basics and to answer the first question that comes to many of our minds—What is genetic testing?

If you mention the term “genetic testing” reactions can vary widely—from curiosity, to reticence or anxiety, to enthusiastic acceptance. The reality is, DNA testing has been used for decades, primarily to determine the paternity of children and to obtain forensic evidence for police investigations and legal trials.

In case your high school science classes don’t come readily to mind, here’s a quick refresher: Within every human cell are 23 pairs of chromosomes that house approximately 25,000 genes—coded instructions for building and maintenance of a human body. Our genes are composed of the chemical, DNA. DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the fundamental building block of humankind’s genetic “blueprint” and contains the biological instructions that make our species different from others, and every person (except identical twins) unique.

In the past few years, the science of DNA testing has advanced exponentially, both in the amount of information genetic tests can reveal, and in the precision and reliability of the results. Today, companies like Pathway Genomics are making it easy and affordable for consumers to test their DNA privately and securely, and gain information that can help them make more-informed health and lifestyle decisions. You may still be asking yourself, how does it work?

How it works
Pathway Genomics’ genetic testing service starts by a customer ordering a genetic health or ancestry report. A DNA collection kit is then delivered via mail, containing a saliva collection vial, simple instructions, and a prepaid return envelope. Once a customer returns their saliva sample to Pathway Genomics’ laboratory, and activates their account online, the genetic results are returned in only a few weeks. By using customized and innovative DNA genetic testing technologies, Pathway Genomics conducts comprehensive genotyping services to provide customers with personalized genetic test reports, outlining their propensity for disease, carrier status, drug response, and ancestral history.
Why test? Perhaps you’re simply curious! If you’re like most people who take a personal DNA test, however, discovering the details of your DNA can help you understand more about your biology and empower you to take more proactive control of your health and wellbeing. If you are interested in learning more about why you should test or what you can learn look forward to our next set of DNA Conversation Starters on these topics.

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Welcome to DNA Conversation Starters! Since launching our company early last year we’ve realized how important it is to provide the public with educational information about genetics and personal genetic testing. For most of us, we learned about DNA for the first time in middle school. But, when was the last time you revisited your biology textbook? Recent discoveries show that genetic information can actually be used for so much more than just determining our eye color.

More and more we see well-known TV shows like Law and Order or CSI using DNA to obtain forensic evidence for police investigations and legal trials. Did you know that canine (dog) DNA is even being used to identify pet owners for not picking up their dog’s droppings on the street? Now, with access to advanced genetic testing technologies, companies like Pathway Genomics can generate genetic test results from a small saliva sample and tell a fascinating story about who you are at your biological core. This information can give you greater insight into your past and present, and empower you to make more-informed choices for your future.

We understand that making the decision to order a personal genetic test brings up a lot of questions. Here, in our ‘DNA Conversation Starters’, we will discuss these questions. We will offer our thoughts and insights on the benefits associated with personal genetic testing and rule out various myths associated with genetic testing. For instance, a genetic health test may tell you that you carry a certain genetic marker linked to heart disease, however being at risk does not mean that you will develop this condition.

Join us as we talk through a variety of topics linked to genetics including women’s health, cancer, heart disease, asthma, men’s health, nutrition, and ancestry. We’ll also answer some of your common questions. If you don’t see a topic that you want to hear about, please let us know and we will do our best to address your questions. This information is meant to help you talk about genetics with confidence.

To help launch DNA Conversation Starters, we are offering a discount for Pathway’s combo Health and Ancestry Genetic Test report. For $348, customers can access genetic testing for health conditions, including drug response, carrier status, and disease plus ancestry. Just enter the code, DNASTART at check out!

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