Introducing Mayo Clinic GeneGuide™
Mayo Clinic—one of the world’s most trusted names in medicine—has been breaking new ground to help people live better, healthier lives for over 150 years. That commitment to innovation continues today with the launch of Mayo Clinic GeneGuide™, a genetic testing experience powered by Helix that can help you understand how genetics affects your health.
The result of several years of research and development, Mayo Clinic GeneGuide offers health-related DNA insights across four major categories:
Carrier screening
Mayo Clinic GeneGuide’s carrier screening results can help you better understand the risk of your children inheriting certain genetic conditions. It does this by analyzing whether you are carrying variants in your DNA that are known to cause specific diseases. As a carrier, you do not have the disease. But if your partner carries a disease variant in the same gene, there is an increased likelihood that one of your children could inherit both variants. If this happens, the child will likely have the disorder.
Disease risk
Often, diseases have a genetic component to their development (in addition to lifestyle and environmental factors, in many cases). Mayo Clinic GeneGuide uses your DNA information to help you uncover certain diseases that you may be at risk for, including coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and more.
Mayo Clinic GeneGuide™ is a genetic testing experience that helps you understand how genetics can affect your health.
Medication response
Many people are unaware that the way their bodies respond to certain medications can be impacted by their genetics. Mayo Clinic GeneGuide offers details on several of these genetic connections, including ibuprofen and omeprazole, which is found in some common heartburn medications. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn about pseudocholinesterase deficiency and malignant hyperthermia, which can impact how your body responds to certain drugs used during surgical procedures.
Health traits
Mayo Clinic GeneGuide also offers a selection of general health traits like lactase persistence (which impacts lactose tolerance) and alcohol flush.
At the core of Mayo Clinic GeneGuide are tools and educational resources that help you better understand your risks, discover how your family history and lifestyle can impact your health, and learn what next steps you can take. And should you have any questions after receiving your results, genetic counselors from PWNHealth are available to speak with you.
Combined with the advanced DNA sequencing technology offered by Helix, Mayo Clinic GeneGuide is an extraordinarily powerful new way to understand more about the relationship between your genetics and your health.