DNA Genotek's Blog - The Genetic Link

A discussion of challenges and solutions for global shortages of materials for COVID-19 testing

The world is talking about the coronavirus pandemic and global health crisis we find ourselves living in. Healthcare professionals and researchers are scrambling for solutions ...

3 reasons why you should stabilize your DNA sample correctly

By: Katherine Lawless on 09/23/20 12:04

From sample collection to data analysis, it takes a lot of work to perform a successful genetics study. The quality of your DNA samples will affect the quality of your data. To ...

How to obtain enough DNA from saliva with difficult to collect donors

By: Katherine Lawless on 08/20/20 15:15

The amount of DNA yielded from oral samples can be variable since the amount of DNA collected highly depends on the donor’s biology. Total DNA yield from a saliva, sponge or ...

Identifying genes that influence the risk of disease

By: Jayden Hess on 08/18/20 13:30

The risk of developing a life-changing disease is affected by both an individual’s external environment and by their genes. Many common diseases are called complex, because of ...

Overcoming the challenges of sample collection for COVID-19

By: Katherine Lawless on 07/29/20 13:45

“From sample collection through testing, we are working to help in the fight against COVID-19.” – Scott Rabuka, Senior Director of Molecular Products at DNA GenotekTM.

Advantages of using targeted exome sequencing for high throughput labs

By: Katherine Lawless on 07/14/20 11:00

The genomic direct-to-consumer, pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine markets are dramatically increasing the number of genomic samples being collected and analyzed. Now ...

Revitalizing at-home-health with first-void urine sampling

By: Charles Harkness on 06/16/20 10:15

Major shifts in health care procedures have begun as health facilities adapt at-home telehealth-visits to supplement in-person clinic visits. At-home health care improves by ...

Laboratory safety and sample collection devices for SARS-CoV-2

By: Scott Rabuka on 06/10/20 9:15

On June 4, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter to clinical laboratory staff and health care providers reminding them to use appropriate transport ...

Saliva sample to sequencer in under 8 hours

By: Elizabeth Firth on 05/26/20 13:15

A new solution to a workflow challenge with Twist Bioscience It's no secret that the global genomics market has grown in recent years. Growth is often accompanied by new ...

While social distancing, reaching donors shouldn’t be an issue

By: Katherine Lawless on 04/28/20 13:30

Governments and public health experts have advised almost everyone to stay home. The majority of the population is now working from home, while businesses and institutions are ...

A faster and more affordable path to FDA clearance

By: Jayden Hess on 04/13/20 13:30

DNA Genotek’s Oragene•Dx family of products are the first and only devices with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) general use 510(k) clearance for collection and ...

First-void urine: A new standard for liquid biopsies and cervical cancer screening

By: Charles Harkness on 04/06/20 13:15

Preparing for a clinic visit can often mean preparing for a liquid biopsy – biological fluid samples taken for diagnostic analyses. Most commonly, liquid biopsies are blood ...

How to ensure the best sequencing results from saliva samples

By: Katherine Lawless on 03/27/20 10:00

Dr. Carolyn Compton, former director of the OBBR National Cancer Institute, once said

SPARK project provides evidence for autism risk genes

By: Shauna White on 02/25/20 10:45

The latest episode of Molecules, microbes and multiomics features an interview with Pamela Feliciano, Ph.D. who is the Scientific Director for SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering ...

4 must read genomics studies from 2019

By: Katherine Lawless on 02/05/20 11:00

2019 was a big year for genomics research. Topics like pharmacogenomics, mental health, population studies and multiomics dominated the discussion of most genetic conferences. ...

The Oragene·Dx family of products now has FDA general use clearance

By: Shauna White on 01/31/20 10:30

DNA Genotek is pleased to share the news that that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a general use 510(k) clearance for its Oragene®•Dx family of ...

Genetic testing companies and health care providers partner to drive better health outcomes

By: Katherine Lawless on 01/28/20 13:00

Innovations in scientific discovery have changed the way we look at healthcare. This landscape is shifting in the direction of preventative health, with more clinicians and ...

DNA Genotek’s top 10 list for the decade

By: Kathleen Weber on 01/14/20 9:45

Ten years ago this week, we published DNA Genotek’s first annual top 10 list. In that year, an international group of scientists published the first draft of the Neanderthal ...

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DNA methylation with saliva: A strong predictor of major depressive disorder

By: Katherine Lawless on 12/16/19 13:30

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects more than 300 million people globally, is the leading cause of disability and is a major contributor to the overall burden of disease. ...

Podcast: Multiomics methods investigate aging process in man's best friend

By: Shauna White on 12/11/19 10:15

A team of researchers is hoping old dogs can teach us some new tricks. The scientists, with the backing of the U.S National Institute on Aging, have launched a project in which ...

Highlights from ASHG 2019: beyond DNA

By: Scott Rabuka on 11/12/19 13:30

DNA Genotek has long been an active participant at the American Society for Human Genomics (ASHG) annual meeting. Each year, we witness new industry trends and the evolution of ...

Oh, the places you’ll go…to collect saliva samples

By: Katherine Lawless on 10/01/19 13:32

Around the world, genetic research continues to highlight new discoveries. Many of these discoveries are possible through the use of technologies that allow easy, non-invasive ...

Do you need an FDA cleared DNA collection device for your laboratory developed genetic test (LDT)?

By: Kathleen Weber on 09/18/19 9:51

If you are developing a genetic test that provides diagnostic information as part of a laboratory developed test (LDT) for use in the United States and were asked if you had to ...

The Mito-FIND project: Unlocking the secrets to mitochondrial disease with DNA from saliva

By: Katherine Lawless on 08/16/19 10:25

“Mitochondria are essential for life. Mitochondrial diseases interfere with the body’s ability to make energy and affect more than 2 million people in the world” - Mito-FIND ...

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Is genetic testing with saliva the best method for risk-based breast cancer screening?

By: Katherine Lawless on 08/07/19 10:50

For decades, breast cancer prevention programs followed the traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach where each patient would receive the same type of screening. Only recently ...

The art of innovation: How DNA Genotek delivers game-changing products and services

By: Shauna White on 07/16/19 10:17

As a reader of The Genetic Link blog, you are likely aware that DNA Genotek (and our sister companies Diversgien and Novosanis) are subsidiaries of OraSure Technologies Inc., a ...

Air pollution and cognitive dysfunction: uncovering the TRAP

By: Katherine Lawless on 07/12/19 10:23

When you are on your morning commute to work, whether you drive or ride the bus, you might not realize that you are exposed to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). When people ...

Is the speed gene the key to athletic performance? The answer is only a spit away

By: Katherine Lawless on 06/19/19 13:24

It is widely accepted that genetic factors are strongly linked with athletic performance.[1] After receiving my own 23andMe wellness results, I learned that I was a carrier of ...

Saliva as a sample type for genomic applications

By: Shauna White on 06/07/19 13:20

This week, I interviewed Scott Rabuka, Director of the Genomics Program at DNA Genotek for our podcast, Molecules, Microbes and Multiomics. Scott joined DNA Genotek in 2008 as ...

DNA saliva kits or traditional blood collection: which is more cost effective?

By: Scott Rabuka on 05/22/19 13:26

Many researchers have asked the question: can saliva replace blood for DNA collection and analysis? Research studies confirm that DNA from saliva is equivalent to DNA from ...

Urine as a liquid biopsy for cancer detection – Could yellow be the new red?

By: Kerry Chatburn on 04/24/19 13:38

I recently had the opportunity to visit our new sister company, Novosanis+ in Antwerp, Belgium, to talk about urine as a sample type. Novosanis is dedicated to solving urine ...

Vitamin D deficiency: the new link to type 2 diabetes mellitus in United Arab Emirates

By: Katherine Lawless on 04/11/19 14:00

“Diabetes is the fastest growing debilitating disease in the world”. Dr. Al-Anouti and Dr. Al-Safar In 2015, statistics showed that 415 million people suffer from diabetes ...

Genome-wide DNA methylation comparison: Brain tissue vs. blood, saliva and buccal cells

By: Katherine Lawless on 04/03/19 13:30

DNA methylation (DNAm) has become increasingly widespread in the study of psychiatric disorders.[1] Many psychiatric epigenetic studies began to work with peripheral tissues ...

Considering adding microbiome to your research? Thoughts from Dr. Dan Knights

By: Shauna White on 03/27/19 13:32

UPDATE: On May 12, 2020, CoreBiome rebranded as Diversigen Inc. We recently introduced readers of The Microbiome Snapshot to our sister company, CoreBiome, a privately-held, ...

Celebrating influential women in genetics - International women's day

By: Katherine Lawless on 03/08/19 8:58

Throughout history, women have influenced and shaped our views and knowledge of science from all disciplines, including human genomics. The research of radioactivity by Dr. ...

Is whole genome sequencing the new first-line test for children with genetic diseases?

By: Katherine Lawless on 02/19/19 13:41

Congenital anomalies and genetic disorders are the leading cause of death in children less than ten years old and affect about six percent of live births. For children with ...

Oral swabs for pharmacogenomics: A comparative study of DNA quality and performance

By: Katherine Lawless on 02/05/19 13:30

Pharmacogenomics is a growing field that tailors dosage and drug choices based on patient genetic profiles with the potential to benefit millions of patients with personalized ...

8 facts most people don’t know about DNA from saliva

By: Scott Rabuka on 02/01/19 10:25

Since the launch of this blog, The Genetic Link, in 2009, we have published numerous articles, interviews, technical information and infographics to share what we know about ...

DNA Genotek’s top 10 list for 2018

By: Brian Smith on 01/21/19 13:13

Every year since 2009 we’ve picked our top 10 list for the year. People often ask, what does it take to get on this list? It’s a reasonable question — some of our previous ...

Exciting discoveries from Spit for Science & a sneak-peak at Spit for Science II

By: Erin Carpenter on 01/08/19 13:42

Russell Schachar, MD, FRCP(C), gave an engaging and inspiring talk at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) conference this year titled: ADHD and OCD genetics: ...

Reproductive health and genetic testing: What sample types work best?

By: Erin Carpenter on 12/05/18 13:38

In this blog, we want to discuss the various genetic testing options available with respect to fertility and reproductive health; highlighting the sample collection methods ...

3 trends within high-impact genomics you may not know about

By: Katherine Lawless on 11/28/18 13:46

Our knowledge of science is constantly changing and improving as new discoveries drive us forward in the modern world. Genomics is no exception. We witness these trends all ...

Science and Social Media: Harnessing the power of global conversation

By: Erin Carpenter on 10/31/18 14:03

Every second over 8000 tweets are sent out on Twitter1 and, in the United States, 90% of adolescents and 65% of adults use some form of social media to curate, share and/or ...

Top 5 considerations when selecting a saliva-based DNA collection method

By: Kerry Chatburn on 10/10/18 10:09

The past decade of genetic advancements has proven DNA from saliva is reliable and effective for both research and diagnostics applications. The benefits of collecting DNA ...

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