Generis

Creating an app that provides personalized, DNA-based recommendations

About
the Client

Generis is the industry-pioneering mobile-first solution that brings together DNA data with ongoing lifestyle plans to help users meet their goals through truly personalized solutions.

“GENERIS is on a mission to turn DNA data into action to empower our customers to make better lifestyle choices everyday. Our early read on the usage of GENERIS is positive and showing strong engagement with the platform, despite just a few days of content available in the MVP.

Lindsey Brassington

Generis

The challenge

Rootstrap was not tasked initially to perform any DNA data analysis but to build an app that would onboard users and present them with personalized recommendations.

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The project hit an obstacle when the original DNA imputation process had to be scaled.

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The goal was to allow users to upload their DNA file, which would then be analyzed to provide DNA-based recommendations. The three sets of recommendations (supplements, diet, exercise) not only had to work with one another, but also align with what the user was hoping to achieve.

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Most importantly, all of the recommendations and specifics available to the user had to make sense to someone who may or may not be interested in the details behind the genetics.

What we did

Through the GENERIS team, Rootstrap partnered with a PhD in Bioinformatics and was able to successfully integrate the DNA imputation software with the technical components of the GENERIS app.

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As part of the optimization of the back end architecture, a Rootstrap engineer learned R, a statistical programming language to make adjustments to the process flow.

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In partnership with the GENERIS Chief Science Partner and PhD in Human Genetics, Rootstrap built a complex algorithm to allow GENERIS to provide a high level food and activity plan, in addition to the individual reports based on genetic markers. This is a differentiator for GENERIS, who believes that taking a consumer driven approach to genetics is key to the mission of the company, which is to help users improve their lives by understanding more about their genes.

The Result

GENERIS has over 3,000 downloads and has been able to successfully convert users to its PREMIUM DNA based offering. Retention for those premium users is above industry averages, with optimizations underway with learnings from the MVP.
The recommendations users receive are easy to understand, offering not only the genetic marker but specific steps the user should take in response.