The Economic Times: Mapping Genome Offers Better Clues About Health Risks
Originally published in The Economic Times.
The Hindu belief is that we are born with an opening balance sheet of good and bad deeds — karma. Astrologers claim to cast our janampatri based on the date and time of our birth. When it comes to genetics, nature endows us with starting genes from both our parents. As a result of environment and lifestyle, our genes influence our health through the proteins they produce — this interplay between nature (inherited genes) and nurture (lifestyle) is the subject of epigenetics.
My ears pricked up when I met Anu Acharya, a Hyderabad-based entrepreneur, who has a startup called MapmyGenome. Their kit — which resembled a toothbrush with a cotton swab at the end — required me to rub the swab around my upper teeth and gums. Three weeks later, a copy of my “genomepatri” arrived by email. A genomic counsellor arrived and explained how to interpret the 70-page document. Bingo — I am now aware of my DNA inheritance.
What the Genomepatri Tells You
Genomics is emerging and, as of now, not much understood. Of the many human genomes known to exist, apparently only 1% are thought to influence our inherited traits. The genomepatri studies the simplest of those — called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). Our health bears some influence of inheritance (nature) and lots of influence of lifestyle (nurture). Physicians and annual medical tests offer guidance on the latter. The genomepatri offers clues about the former. Read together, our physician could get better clues about our individual health risks and how to manage them.
Soon after my genomic counsellor departed, I described my experience to a friend. Her 40-year-old husband had died of an unexpected heart attack although he was fit as a fiddle and very athletic. “If only his genomepatri was available and we were guided to think about his inherited risk. This stuff sure can be useful,” she sighed.
If an annual medical checkup is useful, why should a genomepatri not be useful? It is obviously not a panacea for all health issues, but may offer directional hints and probabilities of disease and advise appropriate care. The data so collected could also be useful to pharmaceutical companies to devise research solutions for broader national and community characteristics — for example, Indians are increasingly prone to hypertension, and India is the diabetes capital of the world.
Your Genetic Health Blueprint Awaits
Genomepatri by MapmyGenome covers 100+ health conditions, nutrition, fitness, and drug response traits — with certified genetic counselling to help you and your physician understand your inherited risks and take informed, proactive action.
