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Contributor
Mimi Padmabandu
MA, BS, BA
Mimi Padmabandu is a scientific writer and Senior Content Strategist at Embark Veterinary. Her career includes a decade of experience writing about science and genomics for leading biotechnology companies, including Illumina and Thermo Fisher Scientific, between 2012 and 2020. Her published work covers technical topics in genomics, such as next-generation sequencing. She has also covered large genomics conferences, including the Plant and Animal Genome Conference and the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting.
She worked with genetic counselors and scientists to create scientific posters at Progenity (now Biora Therapeutics) from 2020 to 2021, where she also wrote about the company’s innovation in preeclampsia testing, gastrointestinal health, and oral biotherapeutics.
At Embark Veterinary, Mimi covers the company's ongoing research. She has written about the technology behind dog DNA testing, genetics, Embark's published discoveries, and more.
Mimi earned a master's degree in Early Modern English Literature from King's College London. She also holds bachelor’s degrees in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and English from the University of California, Los Angeles.
All work
All About Body Condition Score in Dogs
Wondering if your dog may be under- or overweight? Every dog’s ideal weight is different. A body condition score is a tool that you can use in between vet visits to monitor your dog’s weight and help them stay in a healthy range. What is a body condition score in dogs? A body condition score...
How Restoring Rave’s Gut Health Helped Her Love Mealtime
Most dogs love their food. So when puppy Rave refused to eat, Liz Burke was worried. Liz has three dogs: Rave, a three-year-old Border Collie; Wasabi, a two-year-old Border Collie; and Bishop, a nine-year-old mixed-breed dog. Liz’s family includes three domestic shorthair cats: Cyril Figgis, Archer, and Owen. After years of trying new diets—none of...
Decoding Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas
This holiday season, we’re decoding Max, the beloved fictional dog from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Max joins Clifford and Scooby-Doo in our Embark Decoded series. If we ran an Embark dog DNA test on Max, what would we find? What type of dog is Max from The Grinch? Max is a true mystery mutt—no...
Patterns of Inbreeding and Overlap with Recessive Disease Genotypes in Dogs
In 2019, Embark scientists Adam Boyko, PhD and Aaron Sams, PhD published a study in the scientific journal G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics investigating the genetic effects of inbreeding in domestic dogs. They found that runs of homozygosity (especially longer ones) are associated with higher levels of known recessive disease alleles. Genetic hallmarks of inbreeding “Inbreeding is the...
Embark vs Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Tests
When comparing dog DNA tests, we know the choice can be overwhelming. Here, we explore some of the differences between Embark vs Wisdom Panel dog DNA tests, and explain why Embark is the best choice for your dog. Jump to: Why Embark? | For dog owners | For breeders | For veterinarians Embark vs...
How Dog DNA Testing Helps Willie Nelson Prevent Kidney Stones
When Julana and her husband adopted Willie Nelson, they suspected he was 100% German Shepherd Dog, due to his black and tan coat pattern. But as he got older, they noticed that his size was smaller than they expected for a German Shepherd. They decided to use an Embark dog DNA test to find out...
Top 10 Most Common Breeds in Embark-Tested Dogs
Can you guess the top 10 most common breeds in mixed-breed dogs? If you’ve tested your dog with Embark, you may know that breed ancestry doesn’t always dictate appearance, leading to some surprises. We often receive questions from customers about the breeds in their dog’s genetic ancestry—especially the unexpected ones. We analyzed genetic data from...
Complex Disease and Phenotype Mapping in Dogs
Dogs aren’t only humankind’s best friend; they’re also a valuable model species for medical genetics research. Led by Adam Boyko, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Embark, a team of researchers from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, China Agricultural University, and La Sierra University conducted a genetic study of over 4,200 dogs....
Inbreeding Depression and Reduced Fecundity in Golden Retrievers
Known for their sunny coat and disposition, Golden Retrievers are widely recognized as one of the most popular dog breeds in America. Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers are also overrepresented for certain diseases, with more documented mortalities due to cancer than nearly any other breed (Kent et al. 2018; Dobson 2013). The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study by...
10 Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian About Senior Dog Care
We know it’s never easy to think about your dog getting older. You might have received Embark Age Test results for your dog that were older than you expected. Perhaps you recently adopted an older dog, and you might be wondering what type of senior dog care is appropriate for them. Whatever the case may be,...
Dogs May Have Originated in Central Asia
Though it is well accepted that dogs were the first domesticated animals, the question of where dogs came from is still a heated debate among scientists. Over the past decade, various studies pointed to Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia as the likely origin for dogs, depending on what samples the researchers had and...
The Science Behind the Embark Dog Age Test
As of October 4, 2022, the Embark Dog Age Test is available to order. The Age Test uses a dog’s DNA to measure their calendar age. Specifically, it uses a type of DNA marker called methylation. Here, we explore the science behind the Age Test and explain how DNA methylation can be used to calculate...