Orbit Genomics’ AI-powered OrbiSeq™ platform analyzes repetitive DNA sequences known as short tandem repeats, STRs. STRs are highly informative regions of the human genome that capture genetic variation with exceptional sensitivity. Long used for human identification, STRs are dynamic elements that influence gene regulation, protein function, genomic stability, DNA repair, and disease state—including cancer. They reflect inherited risk, acquired disease biology, and biological aging.

OrbiSeq enables accurate, genome-wide analysis of STRs, unlocking a powerful class of disease- and aging-relevant genomic signals that standard sequencing cannot access. Standard DNA sequencing algorithms are optimized for Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and do not correctly assemble STRs. OrbiSeq accurately assembles STRs, enabling the discovery of informative in data that would be seen as noise by other technologies.

The OrbiSeq technology platform is applicable to many diseases and conditions beyond cancer. It can be applied to other complex diseases, including heart disease and neurological diseases. STRs mutate rapidly and reflect overall genome stability, making them ideal regions of interest for age related diseases and conditions. We’ve demonstrated the ability to diagnose diseases early and predict drug efficacy in individuals (CDx). OrbiSeq can also identify therapeutic targets for diseases.

What are Short Tandem Repeats, STRs?

Short tandem repeats, STRs, are DNA sequences made up of repeating units one to six base pairs in length. They are pervasive throughout the human genome in both coding and non-coding regions. For example, the DNA sequence “CAGCAGCAGCAGCAG” contains a “CAG” motif that is repeated 5 times. There are approximately one million STRs in the human genome.

STRs are most well-known for their role in forensic and paternity testing. About 20 STRs that are known to vary among individuals are measured for all forensic and paternity testing. Telomeres are another example of genomic regions containing STRs.  They are located at the end of chromosomes and are known to play a role in longevity.

Orbit Genomics explores STRs throughout the entire genome, providing a very different approach from other platforms. Standard DNA sequencing algorithms are optimized for single base genetic mutation (SNP) analysis and don’t accurately analyze STRs. OrbiSeq’s proprietary algorithms incorporate AI and accurately analyze STRs throughout the genome.

How are they different from other DNA sequence variations in the human genome?

For decades, genetic research has focused primarily on single-nucleotide polymorphisms. SNPs, — defined by substitution of one DNA base for another. While SNPs have helped identify disease-associated genes, they explain only a fraction of genetic risk. This gap is especially evident in complex diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. More than 50 hereditary cancer syndromes have been identified, yet inherited mutations account for only 5–10% of all cancers. The vast majority of complex disease risk arises from the interplay between genetics and environmental influences—biology that traditional SNP-based approaches struggle to capture.

STRs address this gap. Governed by fundamentally different biological processes than SNPs, their repeat-based structure makes them more mutable and responsive to cellular stress, genomic instability, and environmental influences. As a result, STRs provide a more sensitive readout of cellular and organismal health, capturing biological changes that static DNA variants miss. While SNPs primarily estimate population-level genetic risk, STRs reveal individualized disease risk—representing a critical, missing layer of genomic information.