Human genetics: Helping historically underserved communities of color
Get started on your path to precision health
Human genetics: Helping historically underserved communities of color
Get started on your path to precision health
Get started on your path to precision health
Get started on your path to precision health
Our Mission: To connect Blacks, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) historically known to be underserved and underrepresented in human genetic research, screening, diagnostic testing, and genetic counseling, with certified BIPOC genetic practitioners for access to culturally-conscious genetic services and evidence-based health resources.
Our Core Values: To meet the genetic health needs of BIPOC communities, who continually face health inequities, by serving BIPOC individuals and their families. We put their health needs first by providing culturally-conscious evidence-based health education and access to resources in the following domains: human genetics, nutrition, health promotion, disease prevention.
Our Commitment: We pledge to help educate you about the interplays between human genetics, nutrition and wellness, disease, and health to better equip you with making informed decisions about your health for improved health outcomes.
Our Goal: To ensure you have optimal health and quality of life. We achieve this by educating you about important health information that is culturally-conscious and evidence-based through access to genetic resources and services, administered by genetic practitioners. Our goal is simple—we want you to understand your risk for disease based on your genetics (genes, genetic variation, and heredity), nutrition and wellness, and health status.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, new analysis shows that younger Blacks (in their 20s, 30s, and 40s) are living with or dying of many diseases typically found in Whites at older ages.
Human genetic research has evolved to give meaning to the color of genes on the basis of genetic ancestry (defined as ethnic origin) and why certain diverse populations are more at risk for developing certain health conditions, including being at risk of premature death from diseases, compared to other populations.
We want to educate you to make sure you understand your genetic disease risks (and same for your family members) as simple as 1-2-3.
Connect with us at info@colorofgenes.com for questions and to access genetic services administered by culturally-conscious genetic practitioners and access to evidence-based health resources aimed to improve your health, nutrition, and wellness.
Human genetic research examines why we are at risk for developing a chronic inherited life-threatening disease(s), including who is at most risk for disease and death from disease based on our genes and ancestry, and what we can do to mitigate risks. This is done through methods called whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, or genotyping. Genetic testing, from these methods, can improve our chances of fighting a disease majorly.
During your usual wellness screening with your doctor, you may be screened for high blood pressure, for example. If so, your doctor will ask you to take a blood pressure test and collect a blood sample. Your doctor then sends your bloodwork to a genetic practitioner at a lab (or uses their lab if they are a genetic practitioner themself) to analyze your genome for health risks underlying in your DNA. You are contacted at a point by your doctor, who interprets your lab results to determine if you’re at high risk of developing heart disease (since it was determined that you have high blood pressure). If you are, your doctor may prescribe a medicine that treats high cholesterol to control your blood pressure to reduce your risk for heart disease. This medicine works specifically for you based on your genes from which genetic tests can determine (this is known as pharmacogenomics).
Our genes are made up of DNA and are a part of what we inherit from our parents. Genes are vital for discovering our risk(s) for developing a disease(s). Things like blood, spit, and urine are a part of our DNA.
Yes, several. This is because scientists like to keep track of genes by assigning them to different disease categories. For example, the gene named TCF7L2 (which means Transcription Factor 7-Like 2) is strongly associated with Type 2 Diabetes risk, especially among Blacks.
We have anywhere from 20,000 to 25,000 genes. But of these, 81 genes are known to be actionable, meaning that one should take action to determine if the genes you carry (inherited from birth) are life-threatening, according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. To avoid onset or severe clinical outcomes, you should get a genetic test to find out if you are at risk and develop a mitigation plan for your health.
You can do one or several things immediately. First, relax and take a deep breath. You are not going to die anytime soon just because of your genetic makeup. Next, get a genetic test to determine your disease susceptibility (also known as your disease risk).
A genetic test provides you with information about your risk for developing a chronic inherited life-threatening disease like cancer, even when symptoms are not apparent. Genetic tests vary because there are different kinds. You can take a genetic test at home or with a health care professional, for example, by using your blood, spit, or urine for analysis. Your results can be given to you in as early as a few weeks.
Contact us at info@colorofgenes.com to get access to the best genetic testing and counseling resources and information about which genetic practitioner, of your preference, to speak to.
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