So many DNA tests on the market,
they offer a glimpse into what makes you you including who your ancestors
are and some can even analyze your risk for developing breast cancer.
10 news, senior reporter Michelle Castillo visited nebula
genomics to find out more.
Take a look.
Our genes determine our traits.
Like our eye and hair color genes can even tell
us if we have an increased risk for diseases,
including some types of breast cancer.
And nebula genomics wants everyone to have access to their genetic code chief,
Strategy Officer Sam Beer
says customers can work with medical professionals to find out
more much of what we have now is it's reactionary care
through genomics. It gives us the opportunity to keep healthy people healthy.
Um
And that's part of the prognosis,
seeing things that uh could potentially develop before they develop.
The kits are about $500. You swab your cheeks, put the sample in a tube
and place it in the pre stamped envelope.
It then goes to the nebula genomics lab where it is analyzed,
results are emailed to you within 6 to 8 weeks.
I looked at a sample report for a 36 year old woman
alongside certified genetic counselor, Eleanor Griffith.
We analyzed her BRC A one gene.
We all have two copies of BRC A one and two copies of BRC A two.
We inherit one copy of each from each of our parents.
So we all have the genes and normally they help to protect us against cancer.
Sometimes someone has a change in one of
these genes that keeps it from working normally.
And that means they have fewer defenses against cancer.
So it does not mean that they will develop cancer but it's more likely.
So here you can say,
ok, here's the deletion, click on that
and it links you to other databases, other research that's available.
Let's say the average person decides to take this test.
How can this help them in their future risk for breast cancer?
This is a tool for it gives you a window into research that can be really interesting.
It shouldn't be a starting point if that's your primary concern.
That said
there is some interesting information
you can you can find in here but it's not clinical testing.
Nebula also offers polygenic risk factor reports.
This calculates how your genes line up with more than 330
scientific studies and it gives you a percentile risk score,
unlike some of its competitors,
Nebula offers whole instead of partial genome sequencing,
this means it can modify those scores as scientists learn more
kits like these encourage more people to see their doctor says Dr
Neil
Iar,
but he cautions it's not the full picture.
The problem is the technology is still evolving and I don't think we're yet at a
place where a type of test like that can definitively tell us uh our cancer risk.
Now, I think that those tests are certainly useful and
under the guidance of a clinician or a doctor
uh can be used to add to understand your own cancer risk.
He added sometimes they identify false positives or don't
test enough to understand a person's full risk potential.
I think it's very important to understand exactly what mutations
uh is that test looking for. Is it a complete
picture
of the DNA that exposes someone to cancer risk? Beer
agrees. Nebula isn't a diagnostic tool or a substitute for going to the doctor.
But what it allows you to do is
to no longer just be a passenger
in your health and wellness and longevity.
And these changes can make a lifelong difference for cheddar news.
I'm Michelle Castillo.
Nebula
Genomics is hoping in the future that
its whole genome sequencing can be used in clinical
settings and be a better tool for medical professionals.
Right now, Kristen,
it's currently going through approvals with the Department
of Health and the FDA for this step.
Our thanks to Michelle Castillo
for that fascinating report.