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What is Genomics?
The blueprint of life is stored in a bio-chemical molecule called DNA that is present in almost every cell of our body. This DNA is comprised of several genes and is densely packed in the nucleus of every cell with the help of proteins. The combination of this DNA wrapped around these proteins and responsible for generating every cellular component constitutes the genome. Genomics is an Interdisciplinary field of Biology focussing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping and editing of genomes.
Why It Matters?
Genomics empowers individuals with knowledge about their genetic predispositions, enabling proactive health and lifestyle decisions. In an era where quality of life is as important as longevity, Genomics presents the opportunity to comprehensively address personalised, preventative and precision approaches to healthcare.
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Strand Genomic Wellness
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Overview
Strand Genomic Wellness is at the forefront of the consumer genomics revolution in India. We are dedicated to bringing the power of genetic understanding to every household, offering comprehensive and accessible genomic tests. Our informed and capable customer support team coordinate a smooth customer experience that starts with a cheek swab and culminates in an elegant report delivered over an informative software interface. Our team of certified genetic counsellors are on hand to explain the results and guide your decisions on the way forward.
Approach
Our commitment is to offer advanced genomic solutions that are both scientifically robust and ethically responsible. By simply registering on our website and providing informed consent our team is committed to escorting you through your genomic journey and empowering you to take the best decisions on your wealth and wellness.
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Strand Genomic Wellness - Offerings / Test
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GHI is a holistic test designed to uncover genetic predispositions to various health conditions, enabling you to tailor your lifestyle and medical decisions accordingly. Know more…
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BreastAssure is our specialized test for assessing the genetic risk of breast, ovarian & prostate cancer, offering early detection strategies for those with a higher genetic predisposition. Know more…
I am healthy, why do I need to sequence my genome ?
Screen Early, Treat Early
- 2-3% of healthy individuals we have sequenced have a mutation that increases their lifetime risk of cancer substantially (e.g. Mostly breast/ovarian cancer or colon cancer, but also prostate/pancreatic etc).
- 1 in 500 individuals have mutations that render them at risk for various heart conditions, called cardiomyopathies & channelopathies. These conditions may be clinically silent without any overt symptoms. Their impact could vary from benign at one extreme to sudden death in some cases at the other extreme.
- 25% of healthy individuals whose genomes we have sequenced are silent carriers of mutations that cause serious disease (e.g. Cystic Fibrosis, Beta-Thalassemia, etc. There are a few thousand such diseases).
- At 25 million births p.a., we can reduce disease burden by 25,000 – 250,000 annually if everyone were to get their genomes sequenced while planning their families.
Early Detection, Better Treatment
- Current medical protocols can help control this risk in those who harbour a mutation in genes associated with inherited cancer.
- Publications estimate 2,50,000 lives can be saved in India alone if, all adult women were tested and those with increased risks are monitored carefully.
- Continued monitoring of those with such mutations is key for early intervention and better health outcomes.
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Our Commitment to Privacy and Ethics
At Strand Genomic Wellness, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and ethical practice. Your genetic information is securely handled and confidentially treated.
What Our Customers Say
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Frequently Asked Questions
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GHI sequences all genes in your genome. It then analyses your genomic variants (places in your genome where you differ from the typical human) to identify variants of significance. These variants are then reported and explained in the GHI web portal. With that background, GHI differs from other genomic tests addressed at consumers in two ways.
First, GHI sequences all ~20,000 genes and identifies variants that are common in many individuals as well as variants that are rare and perhaps even unique to you. In contrast, most other tests only detect common variants, i.e., variants common to many individuals (and only a fraction of such variants).
Second, GHI identifies variants of significance with a high scientific evidence bar. GHI does not report on variants that have very subtle effects (for instance, where the variant works in concert with many other variants and with other environmental factors and contributes only slightly to the overall effect, making predictions on the basis of that variant alone difficult).
Third, GHI considers only variants within genes while other tests may look at a fraction of variants outside genes as well. The latter variants are in general very difficult to interpret meaningfully and typically have very subtle effects that do not pass the high evidence bar we have set for GHI.
The test is based on a simple blood/saliva sample that will be collected by a phlebotomist at your door. DNA is extracted from the sample and all genes (~20,000) are sequenced using modern, large scale sequencing methods. These gene sequences are then compared with those for the “average” human to identify variants, positions in your genes where you are different from the average human.
To register, visit the website https://strandls.com/strand-genomic-health-insights/
You can also install our latest app and order the test from there – It is available both on Android and IOS.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.strandls.ghi&pcampaignid=web_share
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/genomic-health-insights/id6469619131
Our customer support team will get in touch to coordinate payment and other logistical details from you.
Your data will be stored on a secure server with state of the art security measures in place. You will have access to your data through the GHI portal.
The Genomic Health Insight report will be available both on web portal as well as on our GHI mobile app. You will get the login credentials after you register for the test.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.strandls.ghi&pcampaignid=web_share
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/genomic-health-insights/id6469619131
The turn-around-time is 21 working days after sample collection. At or before that point, your will get log in credentials for your GHI portal where your genomic information will be resident.
Each individual carries 30-50k genomic variants. Detecting and analysing these with sophisticated bioinformatics can give insights into various adult onset diseases and other information relevant to individual’s health and wellness.
Out of the 3 billion characters that constitute a human genome, we understand the characters that lie in our ~20,000 genes the best. These carry recipes for the creation of various important biomolecules that keep our bodies functioning. GHI sequences these genes.
A genomic variant refers to a character in a gene where you are different from the “average human”. The gene data for an “average human” are stored in large scientific databases and are also referred to as Reference Genomes. Each of us carries ~50,000 personalized variants in our ~20,000 genes relative to the “average” human.
We inherit 3 billion genomic characters from each parent. A variant is Homozygous if it is found in the characters inherited from BOTH parents and Heterozygous if it is found in the characters inherited from only one parent. X-linked variants are those present on the X-chromosome. Males have only one X-chromosome and hence the ramifications of a variation found on an X-chromosome can be doubly detrimental to gene function (since there is no healthy paternal variant to compensate for the potential dysfunction).
Each of us carries ~50,000 personalized variants in these genes relative to the “average” human. These variants make each of us different from the other. Most of these variants have only subtle effects, if any, on our health. But some are more potent than the others. A few act single-handedly or in small groups, while most act in large teams. For example, did you know that your height is determined by tens of thousands of variants acting together. \nWe evaluate current scientific evidence to classify variants accordingly as per guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics. A Pathogenic variant has conclusive scientific evidence, while a Likely Pathogenic variant has enough evidence that stops just short of being conclusive. Variants that don’t have enough evidence or variants known not to have health impact are not reported.
An “Observation of Significance” refers to the presence of a variant that could have a significant impact on your health or that of your offspring. We evaluate current scientific evidence to classify variants accordingly as per guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics. A Pathogenic variant has conclusive scientific evidence, while a Likely Pathogenic variant has enough evidence that stops just short of being conclusive.
Recessive disorders are Genetic Disorders that require the affected individual to have TWO disease-causing genomic variants, i.e., the character inherited from the mother and that inherited from the father must BOTH be disease-causing. Both parents are carriers, i.e., they have only one disease-causing variant each, and therefore are not themselves affected. Dominant disorders are Genetic Disorders where an individual affected by the disorder has only ONE disease causing variant, i.e., EITHER the character inherited from the mother OR that inherited from the father is sufficient to cause the disease. Individuals suffering from dominant disorders will manifest with frank disease making testing only confirmatory. GHI does not report these variants and disorders. X-linked diseases are caused by variant genomic characters on the X chromosome. This is a sex-determining chromosome—males receive their sole copy from their mothers, while females receive a copy from each parent. For males, a single disease-causing variant in their sole copy of the X chromosome can cause disease. In contrast, females are more protected as they have two copies of the X chromosome. So these so-called X-linked recessive diseases (XR) affect males only. The mother is a carrier in these cases, i.e., she has the disease-causing variant in one of her two copies. Carrier testing can identify if you as a potential mother are the carrier for an XR disease. In GHI, we cover over 21 such diseases.
The ramification of a “heterozygous variant of significance” is to your children. If you are a woman and a carrier for an X-linked Recessive disease, or you and your spouse are both carriers for an Autosomal Recessive disease, then talk to your gynecologist or a fetal medicine expert about various options to manage your pregnancy.
A “homozygous variant of significance” called out by your GHI report will be discussed with your Report counsellor after you schedule your appointment. Thereafter, you should work closely with your clinician to further confirm, assess, and manage your risk.
This applies if you are male. A hemizygous variant resides on the X chromosome of which all males have only one copy. Such a variant of significance is most likely to manifest itself in some form. Discuss this with our genomic counsellor after scheduling an appointment. Thereafter, you should work closely with your clinician to further confirm, assess, and manage your risk.
When your GHI report says “No variants of significance” were found this means that based on our current knowledge, you are not at increased risk from the known genomic causes covered by GHI. However, scientific knowledge is advancing rapidly so please watch your account for any updates as more information becomes available. It is extremely important to note that the onset of disorders can be multifactorial including environmental and lifestyle modulated. GHI only determines genetic predispositions and risks. You are advised to continue to take all precautions to lead a continued healthy lifestyle to minimize other risks.
Genes carry recipes for the creation of biomolecules that are important for the proper functioning of our bodies. Some genomic variants change these recipes in predictable ways. Some others may do the same but not enough is known to conclude that they will. The former types of variants are those we categorise as leading to an obvious change in gene structure. Note however that a change in gene structure may not necessarily cause a change in gene function, so such variants may not necessarily have any impact.
GHI has adopted a high scientific evidence base for reporting of significant variants. Unless a variant single handedly (and not in concert with many many other variants and environmental effects) creates a substantial effect, GHI will not report it. Given the current state of knowledge, variants with small effects that do not provide enough clear predictive power are not considered. Other similar tests rely on variants outside genes and variants common to many individuals; these typically have small effects and do not provide enough clear predictive power.
These variants that cause obvious changes to gene structure may NOT always be reported as an “Observation of Significance” in your GHI report. This is because some some variants that cause changes in gene structure do NOT change the function of the gene product and hence will not manifest themselves. These “Near Miss” variant statistics are mentioned in the “Your Personalized Statistics” section of the GHI Report.
Yes, the GHI portal will be constantly updated to stay abreast of scientific progress in the respective clinical areas of interest. Please check back in to stay abreast of these updates.