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You and your parents likely share the same wet or dry types of earwax because you both share the same ABCC11 gene sequence through heredity. Genes are parts of our DNA that have the instructions for a particular feature or trait. Your features are the way your genes display your uniqueness out in the open. […]

Variations in our genes contribute to the genetic diversity among us, allowing some people to better tolerate certain kinds of foods, endure changes in altitude, and fight off infection. If two master chefs follow the same recipe it is pretty likely that their final dish will be slightly different. The reasoning is the differences within […]

Proper diet, exercise and a healthful lifestyle are well-known benefactors to a long, healthy life. Who you are reflects both what you inherited from your parents (DNA/genes/genetics) and your environment (where you live, your lifestyle, your diet, etc.). Think of it this way: The humidity and temperature of a room may impact how made-from-scratch bread […]

One of the most powerful assets to your health care is already within you. Your DNA is a set of instructions, which influences many facets of your health. By diving further into what makes each person unique, we aim to help you make more precise health care decisions. “From person to person, there are a […]

Physicians and researchers at Sanford Health continue to find new, better ways to treat our heart stent patients. One promising method is genomic medicine, which is being incorporated into primary care for our patients. And for our heart patients, we’re bringing a new level of customized care. It started with a group of researchers led […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sanford Health hosted a ribbon cutting and open houses for employees and the public this week to mark the opening of the new Sanford Imagenetics building. It is the first program in the nation to embed the latest in genomic medicine with primary care. Sanford Health providers evaluate a patient’s family […]

“Before, it was kind of this far-fetched idea that we see in movies, but now it is actually at our front door."

Sanford Health recently launched a clinical trial using a genetically engineered virus that aims to destroy therapy-resistant tumors. The Phase I immunotherapy trial is for those ages 18 and older with metastatic solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatments. The treatment injects a cancer-destroying virus into the tumor. The virus is engineered to […]

Once you’ve been through a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery, there’s one question that will always be on your mind: Will my cancer return? You may have heard about, or been asked by family or friends if breast cancer recurrence can be monitored by a blood test. This is a test for tumor markers, […]

Your immune system is your body’s defense. Its cells provide protection from ailments like colds and flu, chicken pox and tonsillitis — even cancer. But the protection isn’t perfect. Different types of cancers can “outsmart” the immune system, making it challenging to fight their dangerous cells. In these cases, the immune system needs a little […]