Existence Genetics
Encyclopedia
Existence Genetics is a genetic analysis and genetic reporting company that provides the healthcare industry and health & wellness organizations with access to affordable and easy-to-understand information about their client’s genes. The numerous genetic analysis and reporting technologies invented by Existence Genetics are currently patent-pending.
The company was founded in 2005 by Brandon Colby MD
, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
In April 2011, Existence Genetics was featured on the "How to Outsmart Your Genes" episode of the TV show The Doctors
. The company performed genetic testing on several of show’s guests and Colby discussed the results. The testing focused on male pattern baldness, sexual compatibility, preconception testing for couples and disease predisposition.
, and run in a CLIA-certified laboratory in the USA. The Nexus DNA Chip is purported to test for thousands of clinically-significant SNPs
, DIPs, and CNVs, and be able to assess a person’s risk of common diseases, such as many types of cancer and heart disease, as well as rare dominant diseases such as malignant hyperthermia
and sudden cardiac death due to long QT syndrome
, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
, dilated cardiomyopathy
, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
, as well as rare recessive (carrier) diseases such as cystic fibrosis
, sickle cell anemia, and tay-sachs disease. Testing is offered in a variety of different panels, such as Women’s Health Panel, Newborn Panel, and Full Genome Analysis Panel.
Founder Colby designed the Nexus DNA chip that screens for over 700 rare and common disease predispositions utilizing a single test, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on the personalized prevention of disease so that clients of Existence Genetics can take action against any disease they are found to carry or to which they may be predisposed.
In October 2011, Existence announced an upgrade to their genetic testing and analysis capabilities that now allows them to test for over 1,000 diseases, conditions, traits, and medication reactions. The company stated that their genetic testing is the most comprehensive in the world and gave the following two examples "while other genetic testing services may analyze melanoma risk based upon only one or two genetic markers, Existence Genetics tests for and analyzes 29 markers for melanoma risk. And while other genetic testing services analyze only from five to 15 genetic markers in assessing heart attack risk, Existence analyzes 48 markers."
Existence’s model of only providing services through healthcare providers, health and wellness organizations, and pharmaceutical companies separates it from the industry known as direct-to-consumer personal genomics (or DTC genetic testing).
is the founder and CEO / Medical Director at Existence Genetics. He is an American physician, geneticist and writer on topics of predictive medicine
and genetic testing.
In 2010, Penguin published Colby's Outsmart Your Genes
. This book is written for the lay reader and discusses the new field of predictive medicine and genetic testing from the perspective of a physician. The book provides specific examples of how genetic testing can be utilized to lower a person’s risk of a large number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, asthma and many others.
Colby was born with epidermolysis bullosa simplex
(EB), a rare disease which causes blisters to form when one's skin temperature rises above a certain level. This condition sparked his interest in genetics early in life and led to his lifelong commitment to make a difference in the world of medicine through the use of genetic technologies.
Colby holds a degree in Genetics from the University of Michigan Honors Program
, an MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine
, and an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business
.
Colby's predictive medical practice, Existence Health, is located in Los Angeles. The focus at Existence Health is on providing cutting-edge predictive medicine
services to its patients and personalizing healthcare based upon a person’s genes.
The company was founded in 2005 by Brandon Colby MD
Brandon Colby
Brandon Colby, MD, MBA is an American physician, geneticist, entrepreneur and writer on topics of predictive medicine and genetic testing.He's the author of Outsmart Your Genes and the founder and CEO/Medical Director of Existence Genetics, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California...
, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
In April 2011, Existence Genetics was featured on the "How to Outsmart Your Genes" episode of the TV show The Doctors
The Doctors (2008 TV series)
The Doctors is an American syndicated talk show airing daily in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Sweden and Finland. It debuted on September 8, 2008. The hour-long daytime program is produced by Phil McGraw and his son Jay McGraw and is distributed domestically and globally by CBS Television...
. The company performed genetic testing on several of show’s guests and Colby discussed the results. The testing focused on male pattern baldness, sexual compatibility, preconception testing for couples and disease predisposition.
Company
The company currently uses the Nexus DNA Chip, which was developed in-house, manufactured by IlluminaIllumina (company)
Illumina, Inc. is a company incorporated in April 1998 that develops, manufactures and markets integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using its technologies, the company provides a line of products and services that serve the sequencing, genotyping and...
, and run in a CLIA-certified laboratory in the USA. The Nexus DNA Chip is purported to test for thousands of clinically-significant SNPs
SNP array
In molecular biology and bioinformatics, a SNP array is a type of DNA microarray which is used to detect polymorphisms within a population. A single nucleotide polymorphism , a variation at a single site in DNA, is the most frequent type of variation in the genome. For example, there are around 10...
, DIPs, and CNVs, and be able to assess a person’s risk of common diseases, such as many types of cancer and heart disease, as well as rare dominant diseases such as malignant hyperthermia
Malignant hyperthermia
Malignant hyperthermia or malignant hyperpyrexia is a rare life-threatening condition that is usually triggered by exposure to certain drugs used for general anesthesia; specifically, the volatile anesthetic agents and the neuromuscular blocking agent, succinylcholine...
and sudden cardiac death due to long QT syndrome
Long QT syndrome
The long QT syndrome is a rare inborn heart condition in which delayed repolarization of the heart following a heartbeat increases the risk of episodes of torsade de pointes . These episodes may lead to palpitations, fainting and sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation...
, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied without any obvious cause...
, dilated cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems....
, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia , also called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy , is an inherited heart disease....
, as well as rare recessive (carrier) diseases such as cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
, sickle cell anemia, and tay-sachs disease. Testing is offered in a variety of different panels, such as Women’s Health Panel, Newborn Panel, and Full Genome Analysis Panel.
Founder Colby designed the Nexus DNA chip that screens for over 700 rare and common disease predispositions utilizing a single test, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on the personalized prevention of disease so that clients of Existence Genetics can take action against any disease they are found to carry or to which they may be predisposed.
In October 2011, Existence announced an upgrade to their genetic testing and analysis capabilities that now allows them to test for over 1,000 diseases, conditions, traits, and medication reactions. The company stated that their genetic testing is the most comprehensive in the world and gave the following two examples "while other genetic testing services may analyze melanoma risk based upon only one or two genetic markers, Existence Genetics tests for and analyzes 29 markers for melanoma risk. And while other genetic testing services analyze only from five to 15 genetic markers in assessing heart attack risk, Existence analyzes 48 markers."
Existence’s model of only providing services through healthcare providers, health and wellness organizations, and pharmaceutical companies separates it from the industry known as direct-to-consumer personal genomics (or DTC genetic testing).
Founder & CEO / Medical Director
Brandon Colby MD MBABrandon Colby
Brandon Colby, MD, MBA is an American physician, geneticist, entrepreneur and writer on topics of predictive medicine and genetic testing.He's the author of Outsmart Your Genes and the founder and CEO/Medical Director of Existence Genetics, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California...
is the founder and CEO / Medical Director at Existence Genetics. He is an American physician, geneticist and writer on topics of predictive medicine
Predictive medicine
Predictive medicine is a rapidly emerging field of medicine that entails predicting disease and instituting preventive measures in order to either prevent the disease altogether or significantly decrease its impact upon the patient...
and genetic testing.
In 2010, Penguin published Colby's Outsmart Your Genes
Outsmart Your Genes
In 2010, Penguin published the hardcover book Outsmart Your Genes by Brandon Colby MD. The paperback edition, which contained updated content and a new chapter on on a gene-based cure to HIV infection, was then published in 2011. This book is written for the lay reader and discusses the new field...
. This book is written for the lay reader and discusses the new field of predictive medicine and genetic testing from the perspective of a physician. The book provides specific examples of how genetic testing can be utilized to lower a person’s risk of a large number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, asthma and many others.
Colby was born with epidermolysis bullosa simplex
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex is a disorder resulting from mutations in the genes encoding keratin 5 or keratin 14.Blister formation of EBS occurs at the dermoepidermal junction. Sometimes EBS is called epidermolytic.-Subtypes:...
(EB), a rare disease which causes blisters to form when one's skin temperature rises above a certain level. This condition sparked his interest in genetics early in life and led to his lifelong commitment to make a difference in the world of medicine through the use of genetic technologies.
Colby holds a degree in Genetics from the University of Michigan Honors Program
University of Michigan Honors Program
The University of Michigan Honors Program is a four year program within the College of LS&A at the University of Michigan. Students are admitted as freshmen and complete their first two years in the program. The then may reapply to graduate with Honors, which entails writing a thesis....
, an MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine is an American medical school in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, currently ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the United States. It was chartered by Mount Sinai Hospital in 1963....
, and an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the professional schools of Stanford University, in Stanford, California and is broadly regarded as one of the best business schools in the world.The Stanford GSB offers a general management Master of Business Administration degree, the Sloan...
.
Colby's predictive medical practice, Existence Health, is located in Los Angeles. The focus at Existence Health is on providing cutting-edge predictive medicine
Predictive medicine
Predictive medicine is a rapidly emerging field of medicine that entails predicting disease and instituting preventive measures in order to either prevent the disease altogether or significantly decrease its impact upon the patient...
services to its patients and personalizing healthcare based upon a person’s genes.