Sequence MD

There are four areas where genetics can make a real difference for patients across their lifespan.

#1: Managing Medications and Side Effects
In pharmacogenomics, scientists study how our genetic makeup affects our response to medication. It is a rapidly growing field, with ongoing research into the genetic basis of drug response in various populations. Essentially, researchers have found that your genes influence how you respond to different drugs. Genetic variations affect the way you absorb, distribute, metabolize, and eliminate medicine from your body. These variations impact medication effectiveness and safety.

By collaborating with a geneticist to obtain pharmacogenomic information, healthcare providers can tailor the dosage and choice of medication to your DNA. This can help to optimize treatment plans and overall outcomes.

To learn where adult genetics matters most, read our latest blog post: https://sequencemd.com/4-areas-where-genetics-matters-most-in-primary-care/

Muscle weakness is common. But when it follows certain patterns — affecting both sides of the body symmetrically, progressing slowly over years, appearing before age 50 without a clear cause — it may have a genetic origin.

In our latest blog post, we break down how neurogenetic conditions affect different parts of the nervous system and muscle, what red flags to look for and why early whole genome sequencing can shorten the diagnostic odyssey dramatically for patients who've been searching for answers.

If you’re a clinician seeing patients with unexplained weakness or a patient who’s been told “we just don't know,” this is worth a read: https://sequencemd.com/when-muscle-weakness-has-a-neurogenetic-cause/

Happy National Doctors’ Day to the physicians who never stop asking why.

To the primary care doctors who trust their instincts when something doesn’t add up. To the neurologists, cardiologists and oncologists who push further when answers are elusive. To every physician who sits with a family navigating the unknown and refuses to give up.

At SequenceMD, we have the privilege of working with you every day — partnering to unravel unresolved symptoms, undiagnosed conditions, and complex genetic and metabolic diagnoses for patients of all ages.

Your dedication is what drives better outcomes. Today, we thank you for the work that changes everything for families searching for answers.

Polygenic Risk Scoring (PRS) looks at hundreds to thousands of genetic variants to help predict your susceptibility to complex diseases like cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and certain cancers. Unlike single-gene testing, PRS paints a broader picture of risk that exists from the moment you’re born. But here’s the key: genetic risk is just one layer. Family history, lifestyle and clinical data all shape your overall picture — and that’s exactly how we use it at SequenceMD.

Knowing your risk early means you can act early. Read our latest blog post to learn how PRS works, what it can (and can’t) tell you and how it fits into a complete prevention plan: https://sequencemd.com/polygenic-risk-scoring-learn-about-your-disease-risk/