Direct-to-consumer testing

“Our research is finding that genetics is about to take its rightful place in medical care for the world.” said Dr. Robert Green, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School.

More and more people want to explore their own medical data, and a DTC genetic test is one way to begin to understand some aspects of your future health.

Its screen for selected variants of some disease-linked genes gives customers an incomplete picture of their risk—do they know?

Nearly 90 percent of participants who carried a BRCA mutation would have been missed by 23andMe’s test, geneticists found. Dr Robert Green comments, “I think people have the right to their own genetic information, but with that right comes a responsibility. If you are going to go around the medical mainstream, read the caveats.”

Highlighting the changes that are happening within direct to consumer testing, experts predict that consumer genomics will become “the new normal,” with the companies in this space and healthcare providers working together to find the best path forward.

At-home genetic testing can  help you understand your biology. But before delving into your DNA, consider the caveats.

With genomic testing running at a low cost, why aren’t more people running toward the shelves to grab direct-to-consumer testing? Read this Wired post featuring Dr. Robert Green to learn more!

The Washington Post brings in genetics expert Dr. Robert Green to clarify some of the misconceptions present in results of ancestry genetic testing.

Having genetic information to determine metabolic predispositions can be a powerful tool tool for staying on a nutrition program, says Robert C. Green. “In some cases, people really are motivated by hearing about something from their own DNA. We all know we have to eat better.”

Dr. Robert Green addresses a new epigenetic test that tracks molecular aging claims to show you how to stay biologically young.

Dr. Robert Green explains why DNA testing kits can’t reveal anyone’s complete ancestral history.

Laura Diamond’s 23andMe results noted she had a genetic mutation, BRCA 1, which could increase her risk for breast cancer. When she was screened a few years later, an MRI showed that she had developed stage 1 breast cancer. Direct-to-consumer testing paid off in her case, as she was aware of her condition and was … Continued

Consumers should consult their physicians or at least think through the consequences of learning medical information from at-home genetic tests, says Dr. Robert C. Green.

“What you see in the consumer genetics market is that legitimate genetic findings, often from studies with very large sample sizes, are being turned around and marketed to people in a way that implies it’s going to be actionable for individuals,” says Harvard geneticist Robert Green.

Some genetic variations can be associated with physical responses to diet and exercise, says Dr. Robert C. Green, but it remains to be seen how large those effects are and what it really means for one’s health.