Within chromosomes, DNA is arranged into genes, sections of DNA that span in length from a few hundred letters or bases to more than 2 million. Like chromosomes, each person has two copies of most of their genes, one from their mother, and one from their father. It is estimated that the human genome contains between 20,000 and 25,000 genes. Many genes represent instructions to create proteins. Variants in a gene can impact things like how the protein is made, how much is made, if it is made, or what protein is made. In certain cases, the variant might significantly impact the function of the gene such that it leads to a condition or disease. It is these types of variants that we aim to look for with our Probably Genetic Test.
What are genes and what is their function?
