Pallister Genetics

09/09/2026

Infertility is more common and more complex than many people realize.

When a couple is having difficulty conceiving, there isn’t always one obvious explanation. Causes can be related to the female partner, male partner, both partners, or remain unexplained.

🧬 Genetics can be an important part of the infertility evaluation, particularly when there is a history of recurrent pregnancy loss, very early menopause, abnormal semen analysis, certain reproductive conditions, or a personal or family history suggesting an underlying genetic condition.

09/03/2026

I recently attended a genetics conference, and as I listened to brilliant talks on cardiovascular disease, cancer prevention, pharmacogenetics, early prenatal screening, in-utero therapies, and the many ways genetics is changing medicine, I kept noticing the same theme:

Genetics is changing the game. But access to genetics expertise hasn’t caught up.

Patients often know genetics could be relevant to their health, but don’t know where to turn—or face long waits to see a genetics specialist.

And I hear from healthcare providers who want to incorporate genetic testing into their practice, but don’t feel they have the time, staff, or genetics expertise needed to appropriately select tests, interpret results, and help patients understand what those results actually mean.

That’s exactly why Pallister Genetics exists! 👋

Pallister Genetics is a private genetic counseling practice built to make genetics expertise more accessible.

🧬 Patients: You can self-refer. You don’t have to wait years for someone to recognize that genetics may be relevant to you.

🩺 Healthcare providers & clinics: We can serve as an extension of your team—helping with genetic risk assessment, test selection, result interpretation, and patient counseling.

Genetics is moving quickly. There are no excuses for you, me, or any of us not to have access to genetics care.

Genetics shouldn’t be an extra layer of medicine that you have to know to ask for or wait years to access.

It should be embedded in healthcare.

07/03/2026

Happy 4th of July from Pallister Genetics! 🇺🇸❤️💙🤍

None of us gets to choose the DNA we’re born with.

But we do get to choose what we do with the information it provides.

This Independence Day, we’re grateful for the freedom to advance genetic medicine, empower informed healthcare decisions, and help individuals and families better understand their genetic story.

And while genetics may explain a lot, it still can’t explain why Uncle Gus has to BBQ a Brontosaurus Burger (if you get this reference you’re my new friend😉)

Wishing our patients, provider partners, and community a safe, happy, and healthy Fourth of July. May your celebrations be memorable for all the right reasons!

06/23/2026

If your family structure includes chosen family, blended households, or non-biological relationships, we got you. Here's what you deserve to know:

Your family structure- biological or not- matters. Genetic counselors trained in cultural competency understand that your health history isn't confined to a traditional family tree. They adapt their assessment to capture the relationships and health patterns that actually shape your risk.

LGBTQ+ health disparities are real and documented. Research shows higher rates of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and mental health conditions in LGBTQ+ populations-often due to systemic barriers, stress, and healthcare gaps. Your counselor should address these directly, not ignore them.

You deserve affirming, bias-free care. Genetic counseling should feel safe. No assumptions. No judgment. Just expert guidance tailored to *your* life and *your* family.

Your genetics are unique. Your counseling should be too.

Photo Cred 📸: My sister and sister-in-law!

06/22/2026

One of the most interesting things genetics teaches us is that biology is rarely as simple as the diagrams we learned in school. While most people have XX or XY chromosomes, s*x development is influenced by many interacting factors, including genes, hormones, receptors, and fetal development. We see real biological variation in conditions such as androgen insensitivity syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and differences of s*x development, where chromosomes, anatomy, and hormone responses may not align in expected ways.

At the same time, it’s important to distinguish between biological s*x and gender, which are related but not identical concepts. Biology helps explain the diversity of human bodies, while psychology, neuroscience, culture, and personal experience all contribute to how people understand and experience gender.

What science consistently teaches us is humility: human development is extraordinarily complex, and simplistic explanations rarely capture the full picture. The existence of variation doesn’t erase biological realities—it reminds us that nature is more nuanced than the binary models many of us first learned.

People love to yell “biology” when what they really mean is the best they have to argue with is the simplified version they learned before they were old enough to drive—yeah, middle school.

XX and XY are part of the story, but they are not the whole story.

Human development involves chromosomes, hormones, receptors, genes, anatomy, fetal development, puberty, and variations that do not fit neatly into the two boxes people keep trying to force everyone into.

And when people say everything outside of XX or XY, “those are just genetic disorders” or “freakish anomalies,” they are not making the point they think they are. Those “disorders” are more common than people with red hair.

A genetic disorder is still biology. A rare variation is still biology. A body that develops differently is still a human body.

The point is not that most people are XX or XY. The point is that XX and XY do not explain every human body.

So when someone calls LGBTQ people “mentally ill,” “delusional,” or “freaks,” they are not defending science. They are exposing the personal limits of what they understand—and know.

Rare does not mean unreal. Medical classification does not mean moral defect. And “disorder” does not mean someone’s existence can be dismissed.

The real world is more complicated than middle school biology.

That does not make people broken.

It means the your lessons (and knowledge) about biology and the miracles of the human body are wildly incomplete.

06/18/2026

One of the most common things I hear from patients is, "I've been waiting months for this appointment."

Unfortunately, that's not unusual. Across the country, genetics clinics are facing staffing shortages, increasing referral volumes, and growing demand for specialized care. Many patients—especially those in rural communities—wait months or even years to access genetic services.

That's why I started Pallister Genetics.

Genetics shouldn't be available only to people who live near major medical centers or who can wait months for an appointment.

Everyone deserves timely access to expert genetic care, no matter where they live.

That's the mission behind Pallister Genetics, and it's what motivates me every day.

06/03/2026

New Research Spotlight: Predictive Genetic Testing in ALS 🧬

A recent study in the Journal of Genetic Counseling explores how individuals at risk for ALS navigate the complex decision to pursue predictive genetic testing.

Key insights from UK participants:
✨ Decision-making is deeply personal and emotionally complex
✨ Counseling experiences varied widely—some felt supported, others needed more guidance
✨ Many expressed unmet information needs and uncertainty about next steps
✨ Post-test support is crucial for those living with genetic risk

This research highlights the importance of clear, compassionate genetic counseling that respects individual values, family considerations, and emotional needs. The findings directly informed the development of a new patient decision aid to help families make confident, informed choices.

At Pallister Genetics, we're committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate guidance for families facing inherited neurodegenerative conditions—ensuring that no one navigates these decisions alone.

📄 Read the full article: PMCID: PMC12920051 | PMID: 41714091

05/20/2026

May is PWS Awareness Month. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is one of the most well-known examples of genomic imprinting in human disease, where gene expression depends on whether a gene is inherited from the mother or father.

In PWS, genes in the 15q11-q13 region that should be active on the paternal chromosome are missing or not expressed, while the maternal copies are normally silenced for these genes. This disruption leads to a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting growth, metabolism, and behavior.

Early diagnosis is critical to support feeding, development, and long-term metabolic health, and genetic testing plays a key role in confirming the diagnosis and guiding care.

At Pallister Genetics, we’re committed to helping families and providers understand the “why” behind genetic conditions—so care can be more informed, proactive, and supportive.

05/13/2026

Huntington Disease Awareness Month is a time to reflect on where we are—and where we’re headed—in the care of Huntington’s disease.

While there is currently no cure or disease-modifying therapy, there are approved treatments like Deutetrabenazine and Valbenazine that help manage symptoms such as chorea.

At the same time, research is rapidly evolving—from huntingtin-lowering strategies to gene editing approaches like CRISPR-Cas9. While progress has included setbacks, each trial is helping refine the path forward.

If you have questions about Huntington’s disease, genetic testing, or emerging research, Pallister Genetics is here as a resource. 💙

ClinicalTrials GeneticsMatter BrainHealth PrecisionMedicine

05/13/2026

Huntington Disease Awareness Month is a time to reflect on where we are—and where we’re headed—in the care of Huntington's disease.

While there is currently no cure or disease-modifying therapy, there are approved treatments like Deutetrabenazine and Valbenazine that help manage symptoms such as chorea.

At the same time, research is rapidly evolving—from huntingtin-lowering strategies to gene editing approaches like CRISPR-Cas9. While progress has included setbacks, each trial is helping refine the path forward.

If you have questions about Huntington’s disease, genetic testing, or emerging research, Pallister Genetics is here as a resource. 💙