By Russell Browne (Dip. Adv. Nut.) · Specialist in Genetic Nutrition & Methylation Protocols
Bad Genes – The Genetic Advantage is a plain-English tour of the common gene variants that most influence everyday health — written for people who want to understand their own genetics without a science degree. It is the natural starting point in the Genetic Advantage series, and the ideal companion to your variant report.
What the book covers
In one accessible read, Bad Genes walks through the key genes that come up again and again in genetic nutrition — including MTHFR, COMT, MAO, MTR and MTRR, CBS, VDR, DHFR, PEMT, FUT2, DAO, APOE, the clotting variants (FVL & F2), and the wider methylation cycle — and explains, in everyday language, what each one does and why it matters. Rather than a gene-by-gene textbook, it gives you the big picture: how these common variants fit together, and how understanding them can help you have a more informed conversation about your health.
Who it’s for
It’s written for the curious reader who has done a DNA test (or is about to) and wants to make sense of the results, and for anyone who wants an approachable overview before diving into individual genes. If you’ve read one of our gene pages and want the whole map in one place, this is it.
A note on how to use it
Bad Genes is an educational resource, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Common gene variants shift relative likelihoods rather than determining your health, and many people who carry them are perfectly well. The book is best used to build understanding — and then to bring anything meaningful to a qualified practitioner who can consider your individual picture. It pairs naturally with a variant report: the report shows what you carry, and the book helps you understand the landscape.
Explore the genes on our site
Prefer to browse first? Each of the genes covered in the book has its own plain-English page: see MTHFR, COMT, the methylation genes map, and the full list under Genes & Symptoms.
Get your own variant report
Your existing 23andMe or AncestryDNA raw data file already contains these markers — no new test needed. Pair the book with your own results:
Order or view your report · Find a practitioner
About the Author
Russell Browne (Dip. Adv. Nut.)
Specialist in Genetic Nutrition & Methylation Protocols
Russell Browne is a qualified practitioner of Advanced Nutrition, Advanced Herbalism, and Homeopathy, with a specialized clinical focus on genetic nutrition, methylation pathways, and detoxification. With years of dedicated clinical experience helping patients decode complex chronic health issues, Russell is the author of the Genetic Advantage series — ten books on genetic wellness — and is committed to bridging the gap between complex genetic data and practical, root-cause clinical care.
Read Russell’s Full Professional Profile & Clinical Credentials
View the full Genetic Advantage book series






