Have you ever wondered what secrets your DNA hides? In episode 176 of our podcast “The live healthy with Laura podcast”, we had the pleasure of listening to Nora, Head of Customer Support at tellmeGen, breaking down the exciting world of personal genomics.
If you still have doubts about how a DNA test works, why you should take one, or what differentiates us from the rest of the market, we have compiled and adapted the best of this interview for you. Get ready to discover how science can empower you to live a longer and healthier life.
Who is behind your support at tellmeGen?
Nora is not just a customer service expert; her background is purely scientific. A biotechnologist specialising in molecular biomedicine, she decided to leave the path of an academic PhD to seek a more direct impact on people.
"I realised that what I really wanted was to apply science in a way that had a direct and immediate impact on people's lives. That realisation was what led me to tellmeGen." — Nora.
Today, she leads the team that helps you interpret your results, ensuring you don't feel alone when facing the data.
The Mission: Genetics for everyone, not just for a few
Founded in 2015 in Spain, tellmeGen was born with a clear premise: to democratise genetic information.
In the past, accessing your genetic map was expensive and complex. Our mission is to break down those barriers. We firmly believe that you have the right to access and understand your own biological information. It is not just about curiosity; it is about making informed decisions regarding your health, lifestyle and prevention.
Why should someone take a genetic test?
Nora is clear about it: "Genetics is not destiny, it is probability."
Taking a DNA test allows you to move from a "one size fits all" health approach to a completely personalised one. Knowing your risks allows you to:
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Prevent: Focus on early detection together with your doctor.
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Optimise: Adjust your diet, exercise and sleep according to your biology.
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Plan: Know if you are a carrier of hereditary diseases (vital for family planning).
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Medicate with precision: Thanks to pharmacogenetics, you can know which medicines your body processes best and which ones could cause you side effects.
Knowledge is power, and your DNA is your body's instruction manual.
What makes tellmeGen different from other brands?
This is the million-dollar question. According to Nora, our competitive advantage is based on two fundamental pillars:
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The "All-in-One" approach: We do not believe in selling you information in parts. While other companies charge you separately for the ancestry, health and traits tests, our Advanced Kit gives you everything from the start.
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Free lifetime updates: This is the jewel in the crown. Science advances quickly. What we know today about the genome is less than what we will know tomorrow.
"Your test is not a static product, it is a dynamic service that grows with science. When we find new validated findings, we update your results for free. Forever."
An option for every need: Starter, Advanced and ULTRA
During the interview, Nora broke down our three product ranges:
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Starter Kit: Ideal for the curious. Includes ethnic origins (ancestry), haplogroups, Neanderthal DNA and personal traits (Wellness).
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Advanced Kit: The most popular one. Includes all of the above plus the clinical part: disease predisposition, hereditary disease carrier status and pharmacogenetics.
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ULTRA Kit (Whole Genome Sequencing): The most cutting-edge technology. While the other kits read specific markers, the ULTRA reads your entire genome (the 3 billion base pairs) with a depth of 30x. It detects rare variants that other tests cannot see.
Nutrigenetics: Your diet written in your genes
Why does a diet work for your friend, but not for you? The answer usually lies in nutrigenetics.
All our kits include Wellness reports that explain how you metabolise vitamins, your sensitivity to gluten or how your body responds to exercise. But if you want to go a step further, Nora highlights our Personalised Nutrigenetic Report service: an extra consultation with expert nutritionists who design a plan based exclusively on your DNA, not on generic advice.
Privacy and Security: Your DNA is yours and no one else's
We know that privacy is the biggest concern when taking a DNA test. Being a European company, tellmeGen operates under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the strictest regulation in the world.
Nora explained our "bunker" security measures:
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SSL and AES-256 encryption: Your data travels and is stored illegible to third parties.
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Anonymity: The laboratory only sees an alphanumeric code, never your personal data.
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Sample destruction: Once analysed, your saliva is eliminated.
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No sales to third parties: We never sell or share your individual information without your explicit consent. You are the owner of your data.
Are you left wanting to know more? If you want to delve deeper into all the details and hear the full explanation from our experts, we invite you to listen to the episode. Hit play right here and clear up your doubts!
