Overview
Discover, Learn and Explore Your Genome
Genome Explorer is the world's first online browser and search engine for your genome.
Explore the association between your genetic data and diseases, conditions, traits and medication reactions.
Works with DNA data from any genetic testing including
- whole genome sequencing (Dante Labs, Nebula Genomics, GeneDx)
- exome sequencing (Ambry Genetics, LabCorp, Quest)
- arrays (23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, Living DNA, GSA, etc.)
Compatible with data aligned to any reference genome including GRCh38, hg19/GRCh37 and hg18/GRCh36.
The search engine for your DNA
With Genome Explorer, you can view and browse your DNA data. You can also easily sort, filter and search your data.
Use Genome Explorer to search your DNA by:
- gene
- rsid (ncbi SNP ID)
- chromosome
- position
- condition (diseases, syndromes, traits and medications)
- variant category (pathogenic, likely pathogenic, drug response, likely benign, benign, conflicting significance)
- review status (from half a star to four stars)
Enhanced compatibility supports all genetic data variations including
- SNPs / SNVs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms / Variants)
- INDELs (Insertion and Deletion Variants)
- CNVs (Copy Number Variations)
- SVs (Structural Variations)
- MITO (Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy)
Instructions for selecting Whole Genome Sequencing data files
Genome Explorer works great with most whole genome sequencing data files. When you receive your genome, however, it can be provided in many different file formats, which can make it a bit daunting to know which file is best to use with each DNA analysis app.
Our blog post How To Use Genome Sequencing Data provides clear guidance for which files are optimal to use not only with Genome Explorer but with all of the apps in our DNA App Store.
It's easy to use Genome Explorer. To get started, upload your raw DNA data or order a DNA test.
- Go to the Upload Center and choose one of the options to upload or import your raw DNA data into your Sequencing.com account.
- Skip this step if your genetic data is already stored in your account.
- Start this app by clicking the 'Start' button.
- Select the DNA data file that's now stored in your Sequencing.com account and click 'Submit'.
How To Use Genome Explorer
Please click on the 'Guide and FAQs' tab on this page to view helpful instructions and guidance about what the data provided by Genome Explorer means, and what it doesn't mean. We've also included answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Column Legend
Each row in Genome Explorer provides information on a position within your genome.
Each column provides additional information about that position. The information that appears in each column is described below.
Chr
Chromosome. This is the chromosome that the variant is located on. Each variant is located on only a single chromosome.
Position
The position of the variant on the chromosome.
- Some positions have a specific identifier in dbSNP called a rsid. Other positions do not. Genome Explorer will list all data from your file so even if a rsid isn't available, we'll still show you data for that variant.
- A rsid is a unique identifier for a specific genetic variation.
- dbSNP is a public database from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) that provides information on all known genetic variations.
- If the rsid for that variant exists, it will be listed in the 'Variant' column.
- You can correlate positions with rsIDs by searching for the rsid on dbSNP.
- We make this easy because you can simply click on the rsid number in the Variant column and you'll be taken directly to its dbSNP record.
Gene
The name of the gene that the variant is located within.
- Many variants are not located within genes. If a variant is located outside of a gene then that variant will not have a gene name.
- Examples of gene names are:
- MTHFR
- BRCA1
- APOE
- FTO
Variant
The rsID for the snp. This can be searched on dbSNP.
Ref
The value for this position in the human reference genome, GRCh38.
Alt
The alternative allele for this position.
-
If the snp is pathogenic, alternative alleles denote increased risk.
Your Data
This column contains the 'result' from your genetic test. It is obtained directly from your DNA data file.
- If you're looking for the column that contains your data, you've found it!
- Each row will show your genetic makeup at a specific coordinate within your genome. The coordinate is defined by the first two columns (chromosome and position on that chromosome).
Condition
The disease, trait, or medication reaction associated with the genetic variant.
Interpretation
An indication of whether all available scientific studies and clinical data support the association between the variant and the condition.
- 'Pathogenic' and 'Likely Pathogenic' indicate support for the association
- 'Benign' and 'Likely Benign' indicate that the variant may not be associated with the condition
Review Status
An indication of the amount of confidence for the Interpretation.
- Four stars = the highest confidence that the Interpretation is correct
- Half of one-star = lowest confidence that the Interpretation is correct
- This usually occurs when there is only one study about the association between the variant and the condition and therefore the Interpretation is based only on a single study.
References
Clickable link to each journal article that has been published about the association between the variant and the condition.
Links
Clickable links that take you directly to additional information for each variant.
- If the variant is found in ClinVar then this column will include a direct link to the variant's ClinVar record.
Guide & FAQs
What data can be viewed with Genome Explorer?
Do I have to convert my data into a specific format before using Genome Explorer?
Will I be able to understand the genetic data that appears in Genome Explorer and Genome Explorer Plus?
I'm female but my Genome Explorer shows a Y chromosome. Why is there a Y chromosome?
The image of chromosomes at the top of your Genome Explorer is the same image for everyone. It shows all of the chromosomes that can exist for a human and is not related to your specific DNA data.
The image of the Y chromosome (as well as the image of all other chromosomes) appears the same in everyone's Genome Explorer, including for all males and for all females.
If you are female, this doesn't mean you have a Y chromosome. You can explore this further by clicking on the image of the Y chromosome. For females, the column 'Your Data' will show all dashes "-", which means no data was detected. Having no data detected on the Y chromosome is consistent with there being no Y chromosome.
How can I ask questions and get help for understanding my data? Is there anyone I can ask?
What's the difference between Genome Explorer and Genome Explorer Plus?
Why are genes or genetic variants missing?
Why is there missing data for some genetic variants?
My data is from Sequencing.com's Ultimate Genome Sequencing service but when I search for a rsid, I can't find it. Shouldn't all rsid's be found in my whole genome?
If a rsid, such as rs74956615, is not detected then this means the chromosomal position for that rsid (the position within the genome) is located with a 'homozygous reference block.'
A block is two or more consecutive positions within the genome that are all homozygous reference. Homozygous reference means your result at that position is the same as the reference genome.
Some blocks can be ten of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of positions in length. When a rsid exists within a block, it won't be detected by searching for that rsid. Instead, please try searching by 'Position', which for rs74956615 is 10317045. You can determine the position of a rsid using the dbSNP database for rs74956615.
When searching the Position column for 10317045, the result should be the block that contains this position, which should list the start position, the end position, and the first letter of the sequence. We don't list the entire sequence of the block as it could be enormous in size.
Checking dbSNP for rs74956615 shows that the reference genome has a 'T' at position 10317045 on chromosome 19, so your result for rs74956615 will be TT.
When I search for a gene, why do the results show a different gene?
Most gene names have aliases (also known as synonyms). For example, the BRCA1 gene is also known as BRCC1, BROVCA1, FANCS, PNCA4, PSCP and RNF53. Each of those names is an alias for the same gene. This can get pretty confusing!
Genome Explorer takes this into consideration and makes it easy to search using any alias. Simply search for any alias the gene is known by and Genome Explorer will always know what gene you are referring to.
For example, if you search for FANCS, Genome Explorer will know this is the same as the BRCA1 gene. The search results will show all of your data that's associated with the BRCA1 gene.
It's also important to point out that if you search for FANCS, the results will not show 'FANCS' in the Gene column. Instead, BRCA1 will appear. This is because BRCA1 is the most widely used name for this gene. (The most widely used gene name is also known as the HGNC Approved Gene Symbol.)
So if you search for a gene and a different gene name appears, it's because each name is an alias for the same gene. You can verify gene aliases at HGNC's GeneNames.org.
Why does Genome Explorer show data that I can't find in my data file?
Some data files may not contain a rsid (also known as a rs#) for a variant. Instead, the file may identify the variant simply by it's chromosomal coordinate or the file may use an alternative identification system. Genome Explorer is very advanced and if a data file does not include a rsid for a variant, Genome Explorer will try to add this information.
For example, 23andMe files identify some variants by an i# instead of a rsid. While the i# is an ID system used only by 23andMe, the rsid is the ID used by all scientists throughout the world. Because the rsid is universally recognized as the standard nomenclature for variant identification, Genome Explorer will always try to indicate the rsid for a variant even if the original data file doesn't include the rsid.
While Genome Explorer always tries to assign a rsid to a variant, sometimes this is not possible. For example, a rsid may not appear for a variant because a rsid has not yet been established for that specific variant.
If I see a disease listed, does it mean I'm at risk for that disease?
When you see a condition (disease, trait, medication reaction, etc. ) in Genome Explorer Plus, it doesn't mean you have an increased risk for that condition.
When a condition appears in Genome Explorer, it means that the genetic variant listed in that row has been associated in scientific research with that condition. Whether your genetic data indicates that you are at risk of that condition will depend upon the interpretation of your raw genetic data. Your raw genetic data is located in the 'Genotype' column.
Example:
- If variant rs123 is associated with Cystic Fibrosis, anytime data contain genetic testing results for rs123, even if the results indicate no-risk, Genome Explorer will include rs123 and will show that this variant is associated with the condition 'Cystic Fibrosis.'
- On a technical level, if rs123 has reference allele C and alternative allele T then this means that Cystic Fibrosis risk is likely associated with the "T" allele. If the genetic testing results shown in the 'Genotype' column is 'CC' then there is no risk of Cystic Fibrosis due to variant rs123. But if the Genotype column is 'CT' or 'TT' then there may be a risk of Cystic Fibrosis.
Get help understanding your genetic data: Use the Genetic Counseling app to speak with a genetic counselor.
The word 'Pathogenic' appears in the 'Interpretation' column of my Genome Explorer. Does this mean I'm at risk for the condition?
Genome Explorer does not perform any analysis about whether you do or do not have a risk for a condition. Because of this, Genome Explorer will not state that you are or are not at risk for any condition. Only the apps in the 'Health' category of the App Market provide analysis as to whether you are likely to be at increased risk of a condition.
When it appears in Genome Explorer, the term 'Pathogenic' is determined only by the variant, not by your genetic data. Everyone's Genome Explorer that lists that same variant will always show the same data in the interpretation column.
For example, if person A and person B both take 23andMe's DNA test and then they both use Genome Explorer to explore their DNA data, they will have the same list of genetic variants (because 23andMe performs the same test for everyone). While the results for each genetic variant will be unique between person A and person B, the list of variants will be exactly the same.
Since person A and person B will have the same list of variants, they will also have the same information in the 'Interpretation' column of their Genome Explorer. This is because the information in the Interpretation column is associated with the variant.
If 'Pathogenic' appears in the Interpretation column, this is because researchers have identified the variant as being associated with the condition. This is why the term 'Pathogenic' is used. The term Pathogenic does not mean that you have the variant or that this variant is harmful to your health.
The word 'Interpretation' and all the terms in that column such as 'Pathogenic' are official terms obtained directly from the NIH's ClinVar database. Please see the table at the end of this section for more information about the meaning of the terms in the Interpretation column.
Have a question about your DNA data? Use the Genetic Counseling app to get answers.
Why is my SV (Structural Variations) VCF incompatible?
Why does my data sometimes reload when I access Genome Explorer again?
Definitions of the values in the 'Interpretation' column.
| Interpretation Value | Additional Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Benign | As recommended by ACMG/AMP for variants interpreted for Mendelian disorders. | |
| Likely benign | As recommended by ACMG/AMP for variants interpreted for Mendelian disorders. | |
| Uncertain significance | As recommended by ACMG/AMP for variants interpreted for Mendelian disorders. | |
| Likely pathogenic | As recommended by ACMG/AMP for variants interpreted for Mendelian disorders. | |
| Pathogenic |
As recommended by ACMG/AMP for variants interpreted for Mendelian disorders. Variants that have low penetrance may be submitted as "Pathogenic"; please also include information about the penetrance in a "Comment on clinical significance". |
|
| drug response | A general term for a variant that affects a drug response, not a disease. We anticipate adding more specific drug response terms based on a recommendation by CPIC. | |
| association | For variants identified in a GWAS study and further interpreted for their clinical significance. | |
| risk factor | For variants that are interpreted not to cause a disorder but to increase the risk. | |
| protective | For variants that decrease the risk of a disorder, including infections. | |
| Affects | For variants that cause a non-disease phenotype, such as lactose intolerance. | |
| conflicting data from submitters | Only for submissions from a consortium, where groups within the consortium have conflicting intepretations of a variant but provide a single submission to ClinVar. | |
| other | If ClinVar does not have the appropriate term for your submission, we ask that you submit "other" as clinical significance and contact us to discuss if there are other terms we should add. | |
|
not provided |
For submissions without an interpretation of clinical significance. The primary goal of ClinVar annotations within Genome Explorer Plus is to archive reports of the clinical significance of variants. Therefore submissions with a clinical significance of "not provided" should be limited to:
|
Getting Started
This app allows you to search and explore your DNA data.
Once your DNA data is stored in your Sequencing.com account, purchase this DNA report and then click the app's 'Start' button. You'll receive your report in about 30 minutes.
If your DNA data is not already stored in your account, you can either import your data from a DNA test you've already taken (such as from 23andMe or AncestryDNA) or you can order one of our DNA tests.
You've already taken a DNA test |
You need a DNA test |
|---|---|
 |
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| Our Universal DNA Compatibility enables this app to work with DNA data from almost any genetic test including 23andMe, Ancestry, MyHeritage, FTDNA, and genome sequencing. |
Free DNA Data Upload
Compatible with data from almost all DNA tests and genome sequencing services.
| Test Compatibility | Format Compatibility | Variant Compatibility | Reference Genome Compatibility | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Genome Sequencing | FASTQ and FQ | SNP / SNV (Single Nucleotide Variants) |
hg38 / GRCh38 | |||
| Exome Sequencing | FASTA and FA | INDEL (Insertion Deletion Variants) |
hg19 / GRCh37 | |||
| Ultimate DNA Test | BAM | SV (Structural Variations) |
hg18 / GRCh36 | |||
| 23andMe | SAM | CNV (Copy Number Variations) |
hg17 / GRCh35 | |||
| AncestryDNA | CRAM | MITO (Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy) |
||||
| MyHeritage | VCF | |||||
| Dante Labs | Genome VCF (gVCF and GVCF) | |||||
| Nebula Genomics | TXT | |||||
| Genes for Good | CSV | |||||
| Living DNA | TAB | |||||
| HomeDNA | gz and zip compressed files | |||||
| FTDNA | almost all other genetic data formats | |||||
| Silverberry Genomix | ||||||
| Toolbox Genomics | ||||||
| Full Genomes | ||||||
| Color | ||||||
| New Amsterdam Genomics | ||||||
| 24Genetics | ||||||
| Vitagene | ||||||
| Helix | ||||||
| Genos | ||||||
| tellmeGen | ||||||
| GSA | ||||||
| Axiom | ||||||
| almost all other genetic tests |
Plus and Ultimate Versions
Genome Explorer Plus provides additional information relating to diseases, conditions, traits, and medication reactions.
- After purchasing the upgrade to Plus for a file, you'll be able to use the Plus version with that file for the next 30 days.
- The plus version expires after 30 days. You can then upgrade again to the Plus version at any time.
Genome Explorer Ultimate
Genome Explorer Ultimate provides even more functionality than the Plus version. The Ultimate version is only available to Members.
Join our Membership Program to receive access to Genome Explorer Ultimate for all files in your account.
- Start this app (the free version of Genome Explorer)
- Once your data loads in your Genome Explorer, click the option to upgrade to the Plus version
Genome Explorer vs Genome Explorer Plus
Condition
the disease, trait or medication reaction associated with the genetic variant
Interpretation
an indication of whether all available scientific studies and clinical data support the association between the variant and the condition
'Pathogenic' and 'Likely Pathogenic' indicate support for the association
'Benign' and 'Likely Benign' indicate that the variant may not be associated with the condition
Review Status
an indication of the amount of confidence for the Interpretation
Four stars = highest confidence that the Interpretation is correct
Half of one star = lowest confidence that the Interpretation is correct
this usually occurs when there is only one study about the association between the variant and the condition and therefore the Interpretation is based only on a single study
References
clickable link to each journal article that has been published about the association between the variant and the condition
Links
clickable links that take you directly to additional information (ClinVar) for each variant
Ask an Expert
Have a question about your data? Ask an expert.
The new Genetic Counseling app ensures you always have access to an expert. The app works on any mobile device or computer and provides 30 days of unlimited, secure online chat with a licensed genetic counselor or geneticist.
When you use the app, with a single click you can provide the Genetic Counselor with secure access to your DNA data file stored in your Sequencing.com account. You can also easily provide access to any app results you want to discuss, including your Genome Explorer.
Citation
Landrum MJ, Lee JM, Benson M, Brown GR, Chao C, Chitipiralla S, Gu B, Hart J, Hoffman D, Jang W, Karapetyan K, Katz K, Liu C, Maddipatla Z, Malheiro A, McDaniel K, Ovetsky M, Riley G, Zhou G, Holmes JB, Kattman BL, Maglott DR. ClinVar: improving access to variant interpretations and supporting evidence. Nucleic Acids Res. 2018 Jan 4. PubMed PMID: 29165669.
Disclaimer
The genetic analysis and statements that appear in this app have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The Sequencing.com website and all software applications (Apps) that use Sequencing.com's website, as well as Sequencing.com's open Application Programming Interface (API), are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.