Researchers develop new tool to improve accuracy of genetic testing

Summary: Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have created a new tool to make genetic testing much more accurate. In the past, genetic databases grouped people into large, general categories. This old method could hide important details, especially for people with mixed backgrounds like African Americans or Latinos.

The new tool is called Local Ancestry Inference (LAI). Instead of looking at your DNA as one big average, it breaks your genome down into smaller pieces based on your specific ancestors. This helps doctors easily tell if a genetic change is totally normal or an actual sign of disease. By using this new tool, doctors can prevent healthy people from getting the wrong diagnosis!

Source: rssapp-bcm-edu-news URL: bcm.edu/news/researchers-develop-new-tool-to-improve-accuracy-of-genetic-testing (opens in new tab)