Being a carrier of the POLG gene variant

Question

I received Genetic testing results back and I’m a carrier of two POLG variants. The genoc counseling is six months out and I don’t even have a basic understanding of what it is.

In: 2

Answer 1

POLG is a gene for DNA polymerase y, the polymerase that is specifically responsible for repairing DNA damage in your mitochondria (yes, your mitochondria has its own DNA). You’re carrying a variant of that gene, but you don’t have anything to worry about unless that variant encodes for a non-functional version of the POLG gene.