Your child's neurology is a question worth asking — not a label to accept without evidence.
Whole genome sequencing identifies the specific genetic basis for autism and neurodevelopmental differences, enabling targeted intervention and family planning with precision.
Autism Spectrum & Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent differences in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The genetic architecture is profoundly complex — heritability is estimated at 50–80%, but no single gene accounts for more than 1% of cases. Over 100 genes have been implicated, with de novo mutations playing a prominent role. Most genetic forms follow autosomal dominant inheritance, though recessive, X-linked, and polygenic models also contribute.
ASD prevalence is approximately 1 in 36 children, with males affected approximately 4:1 compared to females. The genetic landscape is highly heterogeneous across populations and ancestries — no two genetic forms of ASD are identical. Key genes like SHANK3 (involved in synaptic scaffolding), CHD8 (chromatin remodeling), and DYRK1A (neuronal cell signaling) exemplify converging biological pathways that disrupt neurodevelopment through different mechanisms.
Understanding the genetic basis of ASD transforms clinical care: it provides a definitive etiological explanation that ends the diagnostic odyssey, enables prognostic information about developmental trajectories, guides medical surveillance (many ASD-associated syndromes carry risks for epilepsy or cardiac defects), opens access to gene-specific clinical trials, and provides accurate recurrence risk for family planning. A genetic diagnosis also connects families to gene-specific support communities and research registries.
Over 100 genes contribute to autism with distinct inheritance patterns, clinical presentations, and developmental progressions — genetic subtyping is essential for prognosis and intervention planning.
Chromosomal microarray detects only 10–15% of genetic causes. Even comprehensive panels identify only 5–15% — whole genome sequencing reaches 40–50%.
Standard panels cannot capture genetic diversity in autism
ASD genetic testing faces a unique challenge: extreme genetic heterogeneity across over 100 implicated genes. Targeted gene panels vary enormously in size but no single panel can capture all causative genes, novel candidate genes, or complex structural variants (inversions, translocations, repeat expansions) that contribute to autism. Whole genome sequencing reads every gene across the full genome, enabling detection of de novo mutations, copy number variants, and structural variants in a single test — achieving diagnostic yield of 40–50% compared to 5–15% for panels.
A genetic diagnosis enables precision intervention from early childhood
When a genetic cause is identified, it transforms management: specific developmental trajectories inform realistic expectations and intervention goals; knowledge of associated medical risks (epilepsy, cardiac defects, growth abnormalities) enables targeted medical surveillance; some gene-specific findings are now eligible for emerging gene-targeted therapies in clinical trials; and family members can be tested to determine if they carry the same variant. The answer connects families to gene-specific research networks and support communities that accelerate understanding of prognosis and optimal care.
Your full DNA (not just a part of it)
Traditional genetic testing looks at narrow sets of genes, missing most parts of your genome. We sequence your full genome — every gene and every region between genes.
Comprehensive insights and specialized reports
Easy to read and with answers you and your doctor can act on. Not a file to interpret — 200+ clinical reports, organized by category.
Your test becomes more valuable every year
Your DNA does not change, but genome science is accelerating. Every month, new variant-disease associations are discovered. We validate these findings and update your reports automatically. Your test becomes more valuable every year.
The results doctors bring to their hardest cases.
Forty years of uncertainty. One test.
A patient had spent decades in the UK healthcare system without a diagnosis. Dante data, accepted by NHS clinical teams at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, identified Noonan Syndrome and a RUNX1 leukemia-associated variant that had gone undetected. After 40 years, they finally had an answer.
A complete read delivers a complete picture.
A patient came to Dante to investigate periodic paralysis. Reading the complete genome identified a concurrent hereditary cardiac finding — Brugada syndrome — that their doctor confirmed with an ECG. The result also explained a family member's unresolved cardiac history. One test. Every answer in it.
Sequenced in 2019. The data worked in 2021.
Jennifer sequenced her genome with Dante two years before her breast cancer diagnosis. When treatment began, Dante's pharmacogenomics data showed her prescribed chemotherapy would cause serious adverse effects. Her doctor selected an alternative — and she started effective treatment from day one.
Every genetic question deserves a complete answer.
Whether you are searching for answers today or protecting your health for tomorrow, a complete read of your entire genome is the only place to start.
It runs in your family. Now you can know if it runs in your genes.
Your genome contains inherited variants associated with medical conditions like cardiac, cancer, and neurological. We read all of them — with the clinical depth to give the result meaning.
Learn more →When traditional lab tests say you're fine. And you know you're not.
Standard diagnostic tests check for a pre-selected set of answers. We sequence your full DNA — including parts that no test was designed to check. If the answer is in your genome, we will help you find it.
Learn more →Your diagnosis may be right. Your treatment plan may be incomplete.
Your genes determine which treatments are most likely to work — and which are not. We give your doctor the tools and insights to inform your treatment plan.
Learn more →You want to know before something forces the question.
Some people don't wait for a diagnosis or a family history to act. Whole genome sequencing gives you the complete genetic picture now — so you and your doctor can make informed decisions before anything becomes urgent.
Learn more →You already took a DNA test. Here's what it couldn't tell you.
Most consumer DNA tests read less than 0.1% of your genome. We read all of it.
Learn more →Clinical-grade results. Chosen by individuals, trusted by doctors for their most complex cases.
Dante Genome Test helped specialists at a UK national acute hospital in the identification of Noonan Syndrome and a rare leukemia-associated genetic variant that had gone undetected. That result changed the medical care of the patient.
Accredited by & published in
Common questions about whole genome sequencing.
What is the difference between whole genome sequencing and a targeted genetic test?
Targeted genetic tests — including standard hereditary cancer panels — read a pre-defined list of known variants in a specific set of genes. They are designed to find what they already know to look for. Whole genome sequencing reads your entire genome: all 6 billion base pairs, every gene, every region between genes. A Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Oncology found that standard testing guidelines missed more than half of patients with inherited cancer mutations. Genome Test does not have a fixed list.
What will I receive when my results are ready?
Your Dante Genome delivers 200+ physician-ready reports organized by clinical category — hereditary cancer, cardiac conditions, rare diseases, pharmacogenomics, carrier status, and more. Reports are delivered to your secure Genome Manager and are formatted for direct clinical use. Your genome data is permanently retained and re-analyzed automatically as science advances.
What happens if a clinically significant variant is found?
If a pathogenic or likely-pathogenic variant is identified, it will be clearly flagged in your physician-ready report with clinical context, published evidence, and recommended next steps. We recommend sharing any clinically significant finding with your physician or a genetic counselor, who can guide decisions about surveillance, risk reduction, or cascade testing for family members.
How is this different from a consumer DNA test like 23andMe or AncestryDNA?
Consumer DNA tests use genotyping chips that read less than 0.1% of your genome — a tiny pre-selected set of common variants. They are optimized for ancestry and population-level traits, not clinical genetic findings. The Dante Genome Test sequences 100% of your genome at 30X coverage, the same standard used in clinical diagnostic settings. The two tests are not comparable in scope, methodology, or clinical utility.
How long does it take to get results, and how are they delivered?
Your collection kit ships within 48 hours of ordering. Once your sample arrives at our CLIA-certified laboratory, sequencing and analysis takes 6–8 weeks. Results are delivered securely to your Genome Manager, where you can access your reports, share them with your physician, and receive automatic updates as new findings are validated against your genome.
We work with patient advocacy groups worldwide.
Dante Labs works with patient advocacy groups of any size — for Autism Spectrum & Neurodevelopmental Disorders and other conditions, rare and common. We support groups in any country, including virtual patient advocacy groups.
We can provide customized reports, group discounts, and packages tailored for your members. Please reach out using the form and we'll be in touch within two business days.
- Custom genomic reports for your members
- Group discounts and tailored packages
- Any country — including virtual groups
- Rare and common conditions covered
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We’ll be in touch within 2 business days. To follow up directly: hello@dantelabs.com
One test.
A lifetime of answers.
One kit, sent to your home. Your entire genome sequenced at the clinical standard used for diagnostic decisions. 200+ physician-ready reports delivered to your Genome Manager in 6–8 weeks — permanent and updated as science advances.
Ships within 48 hours · Results in 6–8 weeks
