One element that made and continues to make the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus difficult was and is the appearance of its mutations. Beta, Delta, Omicron… all variants involve differences in the genetic material of a single virus, an abiotic cellular “parasite”, so simple in its structure.
Imagine, then, what is true when we talk about a complex organism like man, a living being, with genetic material that numbers more than 25,000 protein-coding genes and is unique to each of us. How many “variations” can we talk about? Thanks to their unique genetic material, every person on our planet is unique.
“Today, each person’s health care can now be just as unique, thanks to the Personalized Gene Approach. This is an analysis that became possible after the complete mapping of the human genome in 2003, and consists of recording the genetic sequence of the examinee, with the aim of preventing, diagnosing and treating the various diseases that threaten his health based on the genetic information that it gives us” he points out Mr. Nikolaos SpanakisDirector General of A-lab, its Center for Molecular Biology and Genomics HHG Group & Associate Professor of Microbiology at EKPA”.
“In short,” he adds, “this means that today a doctor can tell you what to do based on who you are. No, just a human, but a human with a specific genetic identity.”

Personalized Prevention

“By looking at a person’s genome, we can see exactly what they have inherited from their parents. This allows him to know in advance his predisposition to a disease before it makes its appearance and to schedule its preventive screening or receive therapeutic care before the appearance of symptoms. If, for example, someone has a genetic predisposition to develop diabetes mellitus, they can effectively manage the manifestation of the disease through the appropriate preventive and therapeutic treatment by their attending physician,” explains Mr. Spanakis.

Personalized diagnosis

“Today” he notes “it is known that some damage to specific genes increases the chances of some form of cancer. Furthermore, taking into account how important early diagnosis is in the treatment of cancer, a personalized gene analysis enables knowledge to become a “weapon” and not fear in the fight against the disease. With the appropriate Genetic Counseling, from a specialized team of doctors and geneticists, both the examinee and his family can receive the necessary preventive instructions that will lead to an early diagnosis of a possible disease, and to its best treatment”.

Personalized treatment

“Now, oncology and other patients can now undergo treatments that are tailored to their genome. Cancer and other diseases are not treated based on their general characteristics, but based on the genetic “identity” of the patient and the cells affected by the disease,” says the expert, among other things.

Personalized nutritional plan

Nutritional genetic testing in an examinee analyzes the way genes are expressed that determine the response and metabolism of substances (traces, vitamins, etc.) included in their diet, and provides the necessary genetic information to follow an individualized nutrition plan, adapted to the own unique needs.
In this way the prevention and management of diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, diabetes) is achieved, the achievement of a personal goal such as e.g. weight loss, but also overall optimal health based on the individual needs of each person.

Where is the genetic analysis done?

“Personalized Genomic Analysis (or whole genome analysis) require very advanced technology and knowledge of genetics. That is why what the candidates for examination must check is whether the center to which they will apply has high medical technological equipment and specialized human resources” concludes Mr. Spanakis.