The DNA Company Takes Functional Genomics Beyond DNA Reports
What can a saliva sample actually tell one person about how their own body functions?
That's the question The DNA Company built its entire functional-genomics business around. Its newest report, DNA360, scans 4.7 billion data points from a single sample. But for CEO Tracy Wood, the test itself was never meant to be the whole story — it's the entry point.
The company pairs every report with scientific review, education for clients and practitioners, coaching, clinician consultations, and digital access. A scientific team groups related genetic findings by how biological systems work together, and trained practitioners interpret those findings alongside a client's health history, environment, and lab results.
The Question That Started It All
The DNA Company began in Canada in 2016. At the time, most DNA tests on the market reported ancestry or disease risk. Wood wanted to know something different.
"What if our DNA could tell us more than what diseases we might get or where our ancestors came from? What if it could actually help us understand how we function?" Tracy Wood, CEO of The DNA Company, asks.
That question shaped the company's systems-biology approach — grouping genetic findings by the biological processes they influence, rather than reading each variant as a standalone instruction. Today the reports span nutrient and hormone metabolism, inflammatory response, energy production, stress and gut function, and cellular maintenance and repair.
"Your genes are not diagnostic in a vacuum. They are not fatalistic," Wood says.
A Merger Brings Genetics Into a Wider Health Model
Before entering healthcare, Wood founded two telecommunications companies and led both through successful exits, then moved into telemedicine and health technology in 2009. In 2016, she joined the leadership team of ROLA HealthShare, which centered its work on prevention, education, lifestyle medicine, and access to care — a philosophy it called Reverse and Prevent.
The DNA Company's functional-genomics work added a genetics layer to that preventive model. The two businesses merged in 2022, prompting The DNA Company's move to California. Wood became chief operating officer in January 2023, helped build out a mobile primary-care and virtual-clinic strategy, and is credited with leading the company to its first profitable year before becoming CEO in July 2023.
Education Solves the Other Half of the Problem
As the reports grew more sophisticated, Wood saw a gap: practitioners needed deeper training to interpret them well.
"If nobody knows how to properly interpret it, you've solved only half the problem," Wood says.
That gap led her to found DNA University in 2023, teaching practitioners how the company's scientists organize genetic findings and explain their connections. Its programs cover functional genomics, genetics, epigenetics, and precision wellness, giving practitioners the tools to connect findings, ask sharper questions, and place genetic information in proper context.
Scientists Keep Human Judgment in the System
Dr. Krista Kostroman leads the company's science and research, drawing on a background in functional genomics, naturopathic medicine, and computer science. Her team translates complex genetic data into explanations for practitioners and clients, grounded in peer-reviewed scientific and clinical literature.
The company uses artificial intelligence to help find, organize, and explain information — but scientists review every interpretation and remain responsible for it.
"Confident and correct are not the same thing," Wood says.
Four Tests, Three Areas of Biology
- DNA180 — foundational functional-genomics reports on nutrition, hormones, sleep, and longevity
- DNA360 — released July 2026, organizing genetic associations across connected pathways involving metabolism, inflammation, energy, hormone processing, and cellular repair
- DNAging — examines epigenetic markers to estimate biological age
- DNA Gut360 — analyzes the gut microbiome
The company says DNA360 reports can receive new insights as research advances, and that it continues developing its testing portfolio.
Clients Control Access to Their Own Data
Clients view their reports through a personal account in the company's secure online portal or The DNA Way app, and may add coaching or a clinician consultation. A practitioner can only access a client's report once the client authorizes it — the company says it does not sell clients' identifiable personal or genetic data.
Once authorized, trained practitioners interpret the findings alongside a client's health history, lab results, and environment, helping the client frame better questions for further review.
One More Life Gives the Business Its Direction
Wood's ambition extends beyond testing — she wants functional genomics to help move healthcare toward prevention and a deeper understanding of the individual. That ambition comes from personal loss: in 2007, Wood's sister, Jackie Whittet, died unexpectedly after taking a combination of prescribed medications.
The loss redirected Wood into healthcare and left her asking, "What can I do right now to change this for the next person?" She later founded Hera Nurture, a nonprofit that supports women facing financial hardship.
Wood calls the mission One More Life. At The DNA Company, functional genomics serves that mission — helping one more practitioner ask a better question, and one more person understand their own biology.
Key Takeaway
Functional genomics at The DNA Company goes beyond the report — pairing advanced testing with scientific review, practitioner education, and a mission to help one more person understand their own biology.
Read the full feature on NewsBlaze → The DNA Company Takes Functional Genomics Beyond DNA Reports
Learn more about DNA360 at thednacompany.com.
Disclaimer: DNA360 is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate any disease or medical condition. Genetic insights provided by DNA360 should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individuals should consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any healthcare decisions.