Our Thinking

Thoughts on science, medicine, technology and design.

Pushing the Conversation: Shaping the Future of Healthcare

Pushing the Conversation: Shaping the Future of Healthcare

DATE PUBLISHEDNovember 26, 2019TOPIC AREAS Medicine Science Genomics Genetics Healthcare Precision Medicine HLTH xMed How we talk about science matters as much as science itself.It’s a statement we’ve made many times in the past and one we’ll likely make many times in...

Science Matters: The Importance of Experts in a Post-Truth World

Science Matters: The Importance of Experts in a Post-Truth World

DATE PUBLISHEDOctober 24, 2019TOPIC AREAS Fake News Post-truth Medicine Science Clinical Genomics Mayo Clinic Harvard Mit As “spin” gains ground, “alternative facts” replace actual facts, and feelings outweigh evidence, real science matters more than ever.Oxford...

Ask a Genetic Counselor: Do I Really Want to Know My Disease Risks?

Ask a Genetic Counselor: Do I Really Want to Know My Disease Risks?

AUTHORDATE PUBLISHEDSeptember 26, 2019TOPIC AREAS Genetic Testing DNA Test Health Family Disease Risk Longevity We understand that sequencing your genome can be scary.We often hear questions like, “Why would I want to know what I’m going to die from?” But, here’s the...

Movie Mutations: The Science (and Pseudoscience) of Genetics in Film

Movie Mutations: The Science (and Pseudoscience) of Genetics in Film

DATE PUBLISHEDMay 30, 2019TOPIC AREAS Genetics DNA Films Movies Summer blockbuster In case you haven't noticed, we really love science.More than that, we’re all about using science to help people. At Veritas, we empower you with actionable health insights that can...

Talking DNA: 8 Conversation Starters

Talking DNA: 8 Conversation Starters

DATE PUBLISHEDApril 13, 2019TOPIC AREAS DNA Genetics Genomics Synthetic biology Genetic engineering DNA and genetic testing are far-reaching, multi-layered topics.When you add misinformation, things can get murky. What we know for sure is how important and...

Next in the Genomics Revolution: The Era of the “Social Genome”

Next in the Genomics Revolution: The Era of the “Social Genome”

DATE PUBLISHEDMarch 6, 2019TOPIC AREAS Social genome Genomics revolution Genomics Technology Remember when personal computers, the Internet, and smartphones didn’t even exist? In reality, that wasn’t so long ago.Just think for a moment about the scope and pace of the...

Raising the Bar: New Products Offer Full Spectrum of Results

Raising the Bar: New Products Offer Full Spectrum of Results

DATE PUBLISHEDNovember 7, 2018TOPIC AREAS Disease Risk Whole Genome Genetics DNA Tests Health Genetic Tests “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”— Benjamin FranklinSo, you’re thinking of getting a genetic test. That’s great! But there are so many...

Veritas and Microsoft: A Growing Partner Network

Veritas and Microsoft: A Growing Partner Network

DATE PUBLISHEDOctober 15, 2018TOPIC AREAS Microsoft Arvados Genomics The world’s leading geneticists are converging in San Diego for the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting. This year’s event is showcasing some amazing new advances in genomics,...

List: 5 Reasons To Get Your Genome Sequenced

List: 5 Reasons To Get Your Genome Sequenced

DATE PUBLISHEDSeptember 6, 2018TOPIC AREAS Genetics Genomics DNA Test Whole Genome Sequencing Everyone has a different reason, or reasons, for getting sequenced.Although this list could have been much, much longer, we feel that five is a good starting point. Take a...

What’s the Difference Between Genetic Testing Technologies?

What’s the Difference Between Genetic Testing Technologies?

DATE PUBLISHEDJuly 30, 2018TOPIC AREAS Genetics Genotyping Sequencing "[Whole genome sequencing] gives us the opportunity to be proactive and make decisions to optimize our lives, avoid disease and hopefully, achieve longevity.” — Keith A, MD, Veritas...

Telling Tales: 5 Voices Writing The Book on Brand Storytelling

Telling Tales: 5 Voices Writing The Book on Brand Storytelling

DATE PUBLISHEDMarch 13, 2018TOPIC AREAS Brand Storytelling Science Veritas Co-founder Dr. George Church once said, “You can't just hoard your ideas inside the ivory tower. You have to get them out into the world.”Think about that for a second — what if Einstein kept...

Big Shoulders: Celebrating The Heroes of Genetics (Part 2)

Big Shoulders: Celebrating The Heroes of Genetics (Part 2)

DATE PUBLISHEDMarch 6, 2018TOPIC AREAS Genetics Genomics Scientists Research Our story started long before the $1000 genome.Genetics is a collaborative field, and each time we sequence a sample, deliver a report, provide health recommendations or offer counseling we...

Big Shoulders: Celebrating The Heroes of Genetics (Part 1)

Big Shoulders: Celebrating The Heroes of Genetics (Part 1)

DATE PUBLISHEDFebruary 9, 2018TOPIC AREAS Genetics Genomics Scientists Research Our story started long before the $1000 genome.Genetics is a collaborative field, and each time we sequence a sample, deliver a report, provide health recommendations or offer counseling...

First Comes Love: The Genetics of Attraction

First Comes Love: The Genetics of Attraction

DATE PUBLISHEDFebruary 9, 2018TOPIC AREAS Genetics Love Dating Fake holiday? Celebration of true love? Nefarious plot by the candy lobby to get us to buy chocolate?Whatever Valentine's Day is to you, the date remains a popular excuse for dinner reservations, bouquet...

Going Long: 6 Athletes With Lengthy Careers

Going Long: 6 Athletes With Lengthy Careers

PRESTON ESTEP III, PHDDATE PUBLISHEDJanuary 31, 2018TOPIC AREAS Genetics Athletics Longevity The amount of time, preparation and training that goes into a successful athletic career is colossal. In order to extend those careers into multiple decades, athletes need a...

Inspiration Activation

Inspiration Activation

DATE PUBLISHEDDecember 22, 2017TOPIC AREAS DNA Inspiration Storytelling Inspiration Activation: A Toolkit for Creativity Our Marketing & Design team recently gathered for an off-site meeting and, rather than jumping right into department and company business, we...

Size Matters: A Whole Genome is 6.4B Letters

Size Matters: A Whole Genome is 6.4B Letters

DATE PUBLISHEDJuly 28, 2017TOPIC AREAS Whole Genome DNA A Real Human Genome is 6.4 Billion Letters (base pairs) Long — Not 3.2 Billion “The universe is true for us all and dissimilar to each of us.” ― Marcel Proust, a la recherche du temps perdu  (In Search of Lost...

​Meet Three Supercentenarians

​Meet Three Supercentenarians

DATE PUBLISHEDApril 6, 2017TOPIC AREAS Longevity Nutrition We’re obsessed with the interaction of genes and diet. That interplay keeps us mentally and physically fit, right into old age. So we decided to spotlight three supercentenarians (age 110 or older), who are...

Spring Chicken

Spring Chicken

PRESTON ESTEP III, PHDDATE PUBLISHEDMarch 13, 2017TOPIC AREAS Genes Diet Aging The Interaction Between Genes and Diet In Healthy Aging Everybody knows or has heard of a remarkably long-lived person. Many have lived independently into their hundreds and passed away...

​Healthcare 2.0

​Healthcare 2.0

MIRZA CIFRICDATE PUBLISHEDApril 26, 2016TOPIC AREAS Personalized medicine Genetics We live in a complex modern world.Within this complex world lies another one that is most dear and personal to us, but also worries us. I’m talking about our present and future...

The future is here today

The future is here today

MIRZA CIFRICDATE PUBLISHEDFebruary 15, 2016TOPIC AREAS Future Technology Genome We are all hopeful for a better and brighter future.All too often, we are promised a future with new whiz-bang technologies that will make our lives easier, better, and more efficient....