So here’s how it all started. I was sitting on my couch, watching one of those crime
shows where they say, “We ran the DNA and boom! We got the killer.” And I thought
to myself, “Wow, DNA is so powerful… but also, I don’t think it has anything to do
with me.”
Fast-forward to a few weeks later, I’m at lunch with my friend Wanjiru, and out of
nowhere she says, “I spoke to a genetic counselor last week.” I almost choked on my
mandazi. A what now? Is that like a therapist for your chromosomes?
She laughed and said, “No, like, someone who explains what’s in your DNA and how
it might affect your health.” I blinked. “Wait, is that a real job?” Apparently, yes. Not
only is it real, but it turns out people like me, completely normal
(okay, mostly normal), non-sciencey, semi-confused humans can actually benefit
from it.
She told me about this thing called GeneTrans. And let me just say, it sounded like
some spaceship going through your genes. But no, it’s actually a virtual platform
(yes, like Zoom but more science-y) where you can talk to a real human being who
helps you understand what your genes are up to behind the scenes.
At first I thought, ehh this is for people who are seriously sick or, you know, rich folks
in lab coats. But then she asked me, “Has anyone in your family had cancer?” I
nodded. “Diabetes?” I nodded again. “Sickle cell, high blood pressure, something
weird you can’t explain?” I was just nodding at this point like a dashboard
bobblehead.
That’s when it hit me, maybe there’s more to my family’s health story than vibes and
village remedies.
So I decided to check out GeneTrans. I booked a virtual session (yes, in my
pajamas) and honestly, it felt like talking to a super-smart cousin who’s studied
medicine but actually knows how to explain things without using ten-syllable words.
She broke down what a gene is, what traits I might be carrying (even without
symptoms), and what that could mean if I ever want kids. She even explained why

I’m more likely to nap after lunch than my brother. Apparently, even my laziness
might be in my DNA.
The best part? No needles. No hospital queues. Just a conversation—and suddenly,
I understood more about myself than I did after five years of Googling random
symptoms at 2 a.m.
And now here I am, writing this story, because I think everyone should have a
chance to know their genes like I did. Not just people in lab coats. Not just people
with problems. Just anyone who’s ever wondered why their body does what it
does… or what might run in the family other than stubbornness and big foreheads.
This is just the beginning. Your DNA has stories. We’re just here to help you read
them.
Stay tuned for the next one, where I try to figure out if my gene for sweet tooth
addiction is real (spoiler: science has thoughts).
With love and a little genetic curiosity,
The GeneTrans Team