As its name suggests, it refers to knowing the exact sequence of the bases that make up our DNA: guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine. Genome sequencing is a specific and advanced type of genetic sequencing, and it has some key points that differentiate it from any other test on the market.
What does it mean to sequence the "whole" genome?
Whole genome sequencing is a type of analysis that seeks to determine the exact order of nucleotides in an individual's DNA. All of it.
Unlike standard or partial sequencing of a person's DNA, which can leave information gaps by focusing solely on specific fragments or concrete points of the genome, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) guarantees that the entirety of your genetic material—all 3 billion base pairs—has been processed.
Thanks to this technology, a simple epithelial cell from the inside of your cheek can give us an infinite amount of information about, for example, your predisposition to having green eyes. Although the genes responsible for dictating your eye colour are not "active" in your skin in the same way they are in your iris, they are present in the DNA of all the cells in your organism. Therefore, we can decode that information by reading the whole genome from any cell in the body.
What is it for? Beyond science fiction
Currently, there are many reasons to undergo whole genome sequencing. Any information obtained through partial sequencing methods is already included when using this technology (although working with this massive volume of data is much more laborious for laboratories).
These are some of the clinical and personal uses it offers us:
- Monogenic conditions: It allows for the highly reliable identification of predispositions to hereditary conditions caused by the alteration of a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis.
- Variants of uncertain significance (VUS): These are variants present in DNA whose possible effect on health is still being studied by science. With this methodology, they are recorded in your genetic data forever and can be consulted as science advances.
- Physical traits and wellness: A large part of what we see (phenotypic expression in a person) is conditioned by genes. Studying these associations can analyse your tendency towards multiple aspects, from your vitamin levels to your predisposition to baldness.
- Pharmacogenetics: Your compatibility with a multitude of medications, knowing in advance which drugs your body processes best and which could cause adverse side effects.
- Deep ancestry: Discover your ethnic origins, your haplogroups (maternal and paternal lineage), and even your percentage of Neanderthal DNA.
- Mitochondrial DNA: Many basic genetic tests omit it because it is located outside the cell nucleus, but whole genome sequencing always takes it into account.
In addition to all of the above, there are unknown genes and entire regions of non-coding DNA (which do not carry information to produce proteins) whose exact function is currently unknown. And that is the key: "currently". By sequencing your whole genome, your information is recorded and can be reinterpreted as science progresses without the need for further testing.
The definitive leap: tellmeGen's Ultra Kit (WGS 30x)
If you want to know your DNA to the fullest, this is the most highly recommended methodology. At tellmeGen, we have turned this perfect product, full of practical uses, into an accessible reality: the Ultra Kit (WGS 30x).
While other tests read specific markers, our Ultra DNA test uses WGS technology with a depth of 30x. What does this mean? That thanks to the latest technology and US patents, each nucleotide of your 3 billion genetic variants is read an average of 30 times. This minimises any margin of error, guaranteeing 99.99% reliability.
What does the Ultra Kit experience include?
- More than 600 genetic reports: Divided into 7 main blocks covering health, pharmacogenetics, wellness, personal traits, and ancestry.
- Constant updates: Your genome doesn't change, but science does. For this reason, the kit includes the first three months' subscription to tellmeGen+ for free. As new, validated scientific discoveries are made, we will update your results automatically.
- Access to your Raw Data: You will be able to download your raw genetic files (FASTQ and VCF) up to three times a year at no additional cost.
- Simple and painless extraction from home: This entire universe of information is obtained using only a saliva sample, without needles or travel. Furthermore, it is available in Individual, Duo, and Family formats so that you can map the genetics of the whole family at a highly competitive price.
Whole genome sequencing is the database of your life. If you are ready to stop guessing and start knowing the instruction manual for your own body, the tellmeGen Ultra Kit is the definitive step.
