GenoPalate: the startup that tells you what to eat based on your DNA

It is now possible to identify exactly what you should be eating thanks to a Wisconsin startup which can discover these results using nothing more than a little DNA. Everyone has different tastes and responses when it comes to food. Some might like a tall glass of milk before bed while others must avoid dairy like the plague. GenoPalate was founded by Yi (Sherry) Zhang, an assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. During her doctoral student days at Marquette University, she focused on obesity and metabolic syndrome, which entails a cluster of conditions, such as increased blood pressure, high blood sugar and excess body fat around the waist, as well as increases the risk of serious diseases. In addition to her own knowledge and experience, she also works alongside Paul Auer, an associate professor of biostatistics at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s School of Public Health. The GenoPalate lab works with a genotype by using micro-arrays, which are disc-like devices to analyze the variants in the genetics. Between two individuals, there are 3 million to 4 million potential nucleotide variants, and scientists have associated variants in genes with different traits from eye color to individual capacity to digest food. The full DNA analysis and nutrition package costs $299. Customers who already have genetic test results from another vendor, such as, 23andMe or Ancestry.com can receive just the nutrition insights for $89. In an age where consumers are growing increasingly aware of what they are consuming, which has led to a rise in organic food sales, it is no wonder that Americans will also be interested in consuming, not just the right food, but the right food for their bodies.