Genetics: by the numbers

If you’re really curious about your own genetic makeup, you should consider a genetic carrier screening test, like CarrierMap from our partners at Recombine. CarrierMap will determine if you or your genetic partner are carriers of a genetic disease, which can help you make important decisions about your family planning.

The Basics

• 4: The number of “letters” in the “genetic alphabet.” The molecules cytosine (C), thymine (T), guanine (G) and adenine (A) write the instructions for your body to grow, function, and repair itself.
• 24,000: The approximate number of genes that a human has. Each gene is made up of A’s, C’s, T’s, and G’s, and provides specific instructions for your body.
• 67,000,000,000: If you uncoiled all of your DNA, the resulting strand would be 67 billion miles long!
• 99.9% All humans share practically the exact same DNA: just .1% of difference is what leads to all of our diversity. Our genes evolve gradually, and randomly, sometimes creating a change like blue eyes and other times introducing something like a genetic disease. It’s these small changes with such big consequences that makes understanding genetics so important.

Recent genetic discoveries

• 510: Scientists have identified over 500 human genes that have been lost during our evolution. Which will be next? Maybe the genes that make it so hard to wake up in the morning?
• 2008: The year College passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, protecting people from discrimination by their health insurance provider or employer based on genetic predispositions.
• 98%: That’s the percent of DNA that humans share with chimpanzees!

Genetic disorders

• 3-5: The average person is a carrier of around four disease-causing mutations. A carrier is someone who has one non-working copy of a gene and one healthy copy of a gene. Carriers are typically healthy, but are at increased risk of having a child with the disease they carry.
• 25%: If both parents are carriers of the same genetic disease, there is a one in four, or 25% chance, that their child will be affected with that condition.
• 1 in 300: The number of babies that are born with a genetic disease.
• 80%: The percent of babies born with a genetic disease that have no known family history of that condition.

CarrierMap from Recombine

• 311: CarrierMap determines whether you and your partner are a carrier for 311 different genetic disorders. This information can help you be prepared to treat, or possibly even prevent, genetic disease in your future children.
• 250: The number of appointments available every week for you to speak with a Recombine genetic counselor. They can answer questions, discuss your test results, and help you determine how to use your test results to make the best, most informed health decisions for yourself and your growing family.
• 2: When you request more information from Recombine, you’ll receive two documents: an information sheet for you, and another to share with your healthcare provider. Recombine’s CarrierMap will provide essential, and potentially life-changing information, so it’s important to have your healthcare provider involved in the process.

  If you’d like to learn more about your genes, then it’s a good idea to learn more about Recombine. Tap the button below to request an information kit.