There’s no one exactly like you.
You know this is true, but it’s actually scientifically accurate. There is no one who has the exact same DNA as you do, though everyone in the world comes close. In fact, research shows that human beings share a genetic makeup that is 99.9% identical.
While that 0.1% difference might not sound like a lot, there are millions of various locations within the genome where a variation can occur. As a result, there are billions of different DNA sequences. Understanding these sequences is the goal behind gene sequencing.
Why is gene sequencing important? In short, it allows us inside access to human biology. The more we discover about our genetic design, the better we can care for our bodies throughout our lifetime.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at how this process works and the ways you can benefit from it.
What is Gene Sequencing?
Everyone’s genome includes more than three billion letters of code. This is the blueprint that decided your hair color, disposition, height, and every other characteristic that sets you apart from anyone else.
Gene sequencing is the process of reading every single letter in this code. In all, there are four types of nucleotides (bases) found in a genome. These include:
- Adenine (A)
- Cytosine (C)
- Guanine (G)
- Thymine (T)
In the DNA double helix design, “A” always pairs with “T”, and “C” always pairs with “G”.
However, the unique way in which these bases are ordered is what differentiates your DNA from your neighbor’s.
When you perform whole gene sequencing, you capture every detail. This is what sets this process apart from similar methods, including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and exome sequencing. While these can deliver helpful insights, they do not cover the full scope of your DNA.
Why is Gene Sequencing Important?
Despite your physical changes, your genome will remain constant throughout your life. As such, you only need to undergo genome sequencing, or gene sequencing one time.
Yet, why should you consider this process in the first place? Let’s take a look at a few of the ways it can help you understand and treat your body.
Closer Look at Genetic Makeup
In short, sequencing genomes gives doctors access to valuable information concerning your genetic makeup and medical needs. Your unique genome sequence informs scientists on the kind of genetic information carried in a certain segment of your DNA.
For instance, they can use this data to discern which DNA stretches contain genes that code for important proteins. Or, they can find out which stretches are responsible for carrying regulatory data, controlling your genes and turning them on or off.
Understanding Disease Risk
While all of these functions are helpful, gene sequencing plays an even bigger role in preventative health. By studying and keeping a close eye on your sequence data, physicians can quickly and more easily identify any changes in your genes that could lead to disease down the road.
As you learn this information, it’s important to keep in mind that there are other factors that can help influence and determine your health risks. These include contact with the general population, lifestyle choices, and more. Still, knowing the issues to look out for can help guide and influence your next steps.
Medication Use Suggestions
Your DNA contributed to much more than your outward appearance. It also determines a few key internal factors, such as how your body will react when you take a certain type of medication.
Why does this matter? In some people, a particular kind of drug could trigger a negative or even deadly reaction. When you undergo gene sequencing, you can discover if you have any genes that don’t play well with some prescriptions.
Clearer Answers for Rare Conditions
Another reason why gene sequencing is important? Studies reveal that rare diseases affect between 6% to 8% of the global population.
If this includes you or someone you love, you can use the sequencing method to help your physician better understand and treat your condition. Then, if you discover you carry the gene, you can even choose to have it removed before it develops into a condition.
For instance, some women choose to undergo a mastectomy upon discovering, through genetic testing, that they have a mutation in their BRCA gene. Linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, this gene helps repair cancer-causing DNA breaks and helps control tumor growth. When it’s altered or mutated in any way, it becomes ineffective in both DNA repair and breast cancer prevention.
Accurate Reproductive Health Forecasting
When you understand the genetic variants that exist for both you and your partner, you can make a more-informed decision on your child’s care. Is there a chance that your newborn might inherit a genetic disease?
With these risks in mind, you can make more informed decisions on your reproductive journey.
Improvements and Innovations in the Sequencing Process
In April 2003, researchers completed the Human Genome Project.
Through the 13-year course of this project, they were able to sequence all 3.2 billion base pairs that make up the human genome. Though it was slated to take 15 years, this chromosome map was completed before schedule and paved the way for continued study into dynamic gene sequencing.
In addition, it also ushered in a new, better-informed era of modern medicine, along with continued technological developments for this niche. While there might never be a more ambitious project, it’s now infinitely simpler to sequence individual genes on a routine basis.
Today, the process isn’t as laborious, time-consuming, and expensive as before. There are even future-focused tools, such as Rosalind, that allow researchers to analyze and interpret DNA data sets without a robust knowledge of bioinformatics. To learn more about how this software works, visit https://www.onramp.bio/rna-seq-data-analysis.
Gene Sequencing is Paving the Way
In addition to personal uses, there are also larger-scale commercial applications for this process. Why is gene sequencing important in this realm? Consider how it could change the course of pharmaceutical drug development for the better.
Detailed genomic data can help researchers produce more effective drugs that specifically target certain human conditions. As we look toward the future, it appears that this process will only get easier, more economical, and more beneficial with time.
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