Recent Articles:

• Prions: When proteins go awry- What is non-living, doesn’t have DNA but yet can infect, replicate, and eventually cause death?  Sounds like either a really bad riddle or an episode of the Walking Dead…  The answer is a type of protein called a prion. Prions are a bit hard...
• Athletic Performance Genes- With enough training, a perfect diet, mental fortitude, and the right equipment… and any of us could be an elite athlete, right? While I would like to say, “of course, you can do anything!”, it turns out that genetics plays a role in athleticism...
• Should you eat organic? Genes that influence pyrethroid metabolism.- Is buying organic worth the extra cost? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Pesticides that are sprayed on conventionally grown foods affect people differently. Some people carry genetic variants that decrease their ability to detoxify specific pesticides, others may be more resilient....
• Should you eat organic? Detoxifying Organophosphates- Is buying organic worth the extra cost? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Pesticides that are sprayed on conventionally grown foods affect people differently. Some people carry genetic variants that decrease their ability to detoxify specific pesticides, others may be more resilient....
• ACTN3: Your ‘muscle type’ gene- When you look at a marathon runner next to a powerlifter you can’t help but think that there must be a fundamental difference between them. And at the most elite level, there sometimes is a genetic difference in the type of muscles in a...
• Should you eat organic? Detoxifying Neonicotinoids- Is buying organic worth the extra cost? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Pesticides that are sprayed on conventionally grown foods affect people differently. Some people carry genetic variants that decrease their ability to detoxify specific pesticides, others may be more resilient....
• BChE – Pesticides, Parkinson’s, and Potatoes- The BCHE gene codes for the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme. The BChE enzyme is found in the plasma of the blood, and it is a cholinesterase which breaks apart choline esters, such as acetylcholine. Acetylcholinesterase is a similar enzyme that is responsible for breaking down the...
• Using your genetic data to solve sleep problems- A good night’s sleep is invaluable, literally priceless — but so many people know the frustration of not being able to regularly sleep well. And not getting enough sleep can lead to many chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, dementia, and heart disease. Sleep...
• Problems with IBS? Personalized solutions based on your genes- We tend to take happy bowels for granted — until something goes awry!  For many people, a daily battle seems to wage in their intestines. Pain, discomfort, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation — known as IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. There are multiple causes of...
• Wine Tasting Genes: How your genetic variants influence the way that wine tastes to you- When you think of wine, do you wax poetically about the subtle notes of springtime apple blossoms with hints or truffles — or do you just hope that all your friends can’t tell that you secretly like “Two-Buck Chuck” the best? If you aren’t...
• The genetics of high triglycerides- Triglycerides are the main type of fat in your blood. Triglyceride is a general term for a type of lipid-containing three fatty acids (tri) bound to a glycerol.  Triglycerides are used by the body as energy. They are also stored in fat cells. Most...
• Genetic links to infertility for women.- The statistics on infertility are astounding. The CDC estimates that 12% of women overall in the US have impaired fertility. For women over age 30, that statistic rises to 25%! [ref][ref] Some of the causes of infertility for women can be categorized as follows: hormonal...