The FAM107B gene gives cells instructions for a small protein. This gene plays an important role in supporting normal cell growth and cell structure. If it does not work as it should, cells may have more trouble keeping growth and their response to stress in balance. Research has linked lower activity of the FAM107B gene to some cancers, and it is mostly known in research rather than public culture.
What is a gene?
Genes are stretches of DNA that carry instructions your cells use to make molecules or direct processes in the body. Some genes hold the information needed to make proteins, which are the working parts of cells. Others mainly help regulate when certain processes happen, where they take place, and how strongly they operate. As a group, genes affect how the body develops and works, and they can also influence how you respond to food, stress, or medications. For a deeper look at this topic, you can find more in the LearnHub.
Overview
FAM107BGene function
What if the gene works
The FAM107B gene gives cells instructions for a small protein that may help regulate cell growth and how cells respond to stress. This supports steady cell function in several tissues.
Risk
What if the gene does not work
Changes in the FAM107B gene may reduce how well its protein supports normal cell signaling and growth control. Milder variants may have little effect, while more severe variants can more clearly disrupt the protein's activity inside cells.
Treatment
What does that mean for your treatment
For pathogenic or loss-of-function variants in the FAM107B gene, no gene-specific treatment or management approach is currently established.
Gene function
What if the gene works
Healthy tissues depend on cells that grow in a controlled way and stay organized. The FAM107B gene appears to support that balance by helping cells respond to everyday strain and maintain normal structure. This gives a practical picture of what the FAM107B gene does in the body.
The FAM107B gene helps keep normal cell growth more balanced. This supports orderly tissue upkeep during routine cell renewal.
FAM107B activity can rise when cells are under strain, including exposure to higher temperatures. This points to a role in helping cells adjust during short periods of stress.
Its protein appears to interact with the cell's inner framework, which helps cells keep their shape. This may support steady attachment and movement.
What is a variant?
A genetic variant is a small change in the DNA sequence of a gene. These changes are common and form part of normal human diversity, including differences in appearance, metabolism, or how the body responds to environmental influences. Many variants have no noticeable effect and simply represent natural genetic variation. In some situations, however, a variant can change how a gene functions more substantially and may contribute to or cause a genetic condition.
Genetic variants
What if the gene does not work
Variants in the FAM107B gene may change how much protein a cell makes, how stable that protein is, or how well it connects with other cell proteins. In practical terms, how FAM107B gene variants affect protein function can range from a small drop in activity to a major loss of protein production. Milder variants may slightly alter the protein’s shape, while more disruptive variants, such as some stop or splice changes, can sharply reduce or eliminate its cellular activity.
How variants are linked to conditions
Current evidence does not yet show a broadly confirmed link between variants in the FAM107B gene and a specific health condition, and links between FAM107B gene variants and health conditions remain an active area of research. If you have a confirmed change in this gene, your doctor or genetic counselor can explain what it may mean in the context of your personal and family history.
A variant is not necessarily a diagnosis
Genetic variants are a common, normal feature of human biology. Most do not directly affect health and simply contribute to the natural variation seen among people. For many genes, having a variant associated with a condition points to a possible link rather than a certain diagnosis, particularly when more than one gene and environmental influences play a role. Still, in some situations, one well characterized variant in a particular gene is enough to confirm the diagnosis.
Are there things that can increase or change my risk?
There is not yet broadly confirmed evidence on specific factors that increase or reduce health risk related to the FAM107B gene. If a test report mentions FAM107B, a doctor or genetic counselor can help explain what it may mean in the context of your personal and family history.
Inheritance of FAM107B variants
There is not yet a broadly confirmed disease inheritance pattern for FAM107B, so how FAM107B variants are inherited in relation to a specific condition is still being clarified. FAM107B is located on chromosome 10, which is an autosome rather than a sex chromosome. That means each person has two copies of the FAM107B gene, with one copy inherited from each parent.
What does my FAM107B result mean for my family?
There isn't yet a broadly confirmed inheritance pattern tied to a specific health condition for FAM107B, though this understanding can change as research develops. If you have a specific FAM107B result and questions about what it could mean for your family, a doctor or genetic counselor can help explain it in the context of your personal and family history.
Genetic information
Genetic testing
How you find out about variants
FAM107B genetic testing looks for changes in the FAM107B gene using DNA from blood, saliva, or a cheek swab. A lab reads the gene’s sequence and compares it with the usual pattern, then reports whether a variant was found and how strongly current evidence links it to health.
When should I consider getting a genetic test?
There is not yet a broadly established, FAM107B-specific reason to get genetic testing in routine care. Testing decisions are usually based on your personal health history, family history, and the advice of a doctor or genetic counselor.
A genetic result is only one part of your health story
A genetic result can provide useful insight, but how much it reveals depends on the condition and the type of variant involved. Over time, many factors, including lifestyle, environment, age, and medical history, influence how the body works. For some conditions, especially those shaped by many genes, genetic information provides context rather than certainty and is most useful when considered alongside other parts of care. In other situations, a genetic result can give a clear answer. In areas such as medication response, genetic results can also help put individual experiences into context.
Pharmacogenetics
How variants shape your response to medicine
Genetic variation can affect how your body responds to medicines. Some people break down a drug more quickly or more slowly, while others may be more or less sensitive to its effects. This helps explain why the same treatment works well for one person but less well for another, or why side effects can differ from person to person.
What is Pharmacogenetics?
Pharmacogenetics examines how genetic differences affect the way people respond to medicines. It explores the relationship between genes and drugs to better understand why the same treatment can work differently from one person to another. For many medications, genes can influence how strongly a drug works or how the body processes it. This information can support more informed and more personalized treatment decisions. If you want to explore this topic further, you can learn more in the LearnHub.
Drugs influenced by the FAM107B gene
When should I seek medical advice?
There is no broadly confirmed role for this gene in guiding how medicines are chosen or adjusted at this time. Questions about side effects, new symptoms, or concerns about how a treatment is working are best discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.