FAQ
Questions before you use Genome
A compact decision guide for data choice, privacy, local analysis and report interpretation.
Primary recommendation
Start with WGS when you can.
Whole genome sequencing gives Genome the broadest foundation for local analysis. SNP tests and WES can still be useful, but they answer narrower questions.
Private by design. Built for local analysis on macOS.
Main decisions
Use these topics when you want to decide which data to buy, keep or analyse first.
01 · Data choice
WGS, WES, SNP tests and provider exports
01 Why does PJ Labs usually recommend WGS?
WGS keeps the most options open. Genome can use one broad dataset for SNPs, PGx, HLA context, reports and future reinterpretation.
Read more: Compare WGS, SNP and WES02 Are 23andMe or Ancestry raw files enough?
They can answer selected marker questions, but they are not the best primary dataset for genomic local analysis.
Read more: Understand SNP raw files03 When is WES useful?
WES can be useful for focused exome questions. WGS is broader because it includes coding and non-coding regions in one dataset.
Read more: Open the comparison guide04 Which provider files should I keep?
Keep the most complete exports available, especially FASTQ, BAM or CRAM and VCF. They preserve more future analysis options.
05 What if I only have a small SNP export today?
You can still use it for narrow marker context. Treat it as a limited starting point, not as a replacement for a broader genome dataset.
02 · Privacy
Local analysis, no telemetry and no DNA cloud
01 Does Genome upload my DNA data?
No. Genome is designed for local macOS analysis without a DNA cloud or telemetry pipeline.
Read more: See the Genome overview02 Do I need an account to use Genome?
No account is required for the local analysis workflow. Your files stay on your Mac unless you deliberately move or share them yourself.
03 Can I prepare questions without uploading raw data?
Yes. The Wiki and FAQ explain data types, reports and limitations without asking you to upload genetic files.
Read more: Open the Wiki03 · Analysis
What Genome can and cannot extract
01 What can Genome do with WGS data?
Depending on file quality and available references, Genome can support variant context, PGx, HLA and KIR context, repeat and report workflows.
Read more: Open Genome help02 Can Genome analyse every medical question automatically?
No. Genome structures local data and reports, but it does not turn raw DNA into a complete diagnosis or treatment plan.
03 Why do reference genome builds matter?
Coordinates and variant calls depend on the reference build. A GRCh37 file and a GRCh38 file can describe positions differently, so the build must be known.
Read more: Read about reference builds04 Can old data be reinterpreted later?
Yes, if the source files are complete enough. Keeping FASTQ, BAM, CRAM and VCF makes future reanalysis more realistic than keeping only a tiny export.
04 · Reports
How to read findings and prepare conversations
01 Does a Genome report replace medical advice?
No. A report can structure the next conversation, but medical decisions belong with qualified professionals.
02 How should I read a Genome report?
Separate measurement, quality, interpretation and next step. A finding is not the same thing as a diagnosis.
Read more: Read the report guide03 What should I bring to a medical conversation?
Bring the report section, the source file context, quality notes, open questions and the reason you want the finding discussed.
04 What does a no-call or missing value mean?
It usually means the data or quality was not sufficient for that specific marker or region. It should not be read as a negative finding.
PJ Labs
Need the next step?
If you already have raw data, start in Genome. If you are still choosing a test, begin with the WGS guide and keep all provider exports.