It’s time to take genetic testing off the pedestal

For years, genetic testing has been treated as something rare and exceptional—a highly specialized tool ordered only by geneticists and often reserved for the end of a long diagnostic journey. Not surprisingly, medicine has changed. Science and technology have advanced and patients’ expectations have evolved. And yet, the way genomic testing is used in practice has struggled to keep up. Exome and genome sequencing should no longer sit on a pedestal in healthcare. It should be used far more broadly as part of everyday clinical care. The insights encoded in our DNA are foundational to understanding human health, yet too often genomic testing is still viewed as a last resort rather than as a starting point. To deliver better care, the healthcare system must rethink how genomic testing fits into modern medicine. PATIENTS ARE MOVING TOWARD A MOLECULAR VIEW OF HEALTH Across healthcare, people are increasingly seeking deeper insights into their biology. A new generation of companies is gaining traction by offering individuals a more comprehensive, molecular view of their health. Companies like Function Health and Prenuvo are resonating with consumers because they provide something traditional healthcare has often lacked: proactive insight. People want to understand their health before problems escalate. They want more data about how their bodies work and what risks they may face in the future. This shift reflects a broader change in how people think about healthcare. Patients no longer want a system that simply reacts to disease; they want one that helps them anticipate it. Genomics plays a critical role in that future. THE CLINICAL POWER OF GENOMIC INSIGHT DNA contains critical information about why disease happens and how it can be treated. For many children with neurological conditions, developmental delays, or unexplained medical challenges, genomic testing can uncover the underlying cause of illness. When clinicians identify a genetic diagnosis, it can fundamentally c