Mimi Padmabandu

Contributor

Mimi Padmabandu

MA, BS, BA

Mimi Padmabandu is a scientific writer and Content Strategy at Embark Veterinary. She has over a decade of experience writing about science and genomics for leading biotechnology companies, including Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and more. Her published work covers technical topics in genomics, such as next-generation sequencing, prenatal testing, carrier screening, and more.

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

A small mixed-breed dog wearing a pink party hat.
Aging

Calculating Dog Age in Human Years

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You may have heard of the traditional idea that to calculate a dog’s age in human years, you multiply their age by seven. You might be surprised to find out that this rule is a myth.  As the American Veterinary Medical Association says, “Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not age at a rate of...

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A mixed-breed brown and white dog named Goudacris curls up asleep on the couch.
Customer Stories

Goudacris Beats Heartworm and Finds His Chicago Family

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A Chicago-based animal rescue recently helped a sweet, silly, mixed-breed dog named Goudacris survive a months-long battle with heartworm. One Tail at a Time took in this 82-pound gentle giant more than six months ago from a shelter in Tennessee.  In a true underdog story, Goudacris made a full recovery from this serious disease, took...

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A man wearing a blue shirt snuggles with his dog.
Bonding With Your Dog

Top 5 Most Cuddly Dog Breeds

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Just as we love our dogs, our dogs love us, too, and they show their love in different ways. Different dogs and dog breeds vary widely in how much they like to be curled up next to their human. It’s a quality that humans have encouraged and selected for, as we’ve domesticated dogs to be...

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An adult German Shepherd Dog on a white background.
About Our Research

Pannus in Dogs (Chronic Superficial Keratitis) Research Study

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Pannus is an immune-related eye disease in dogs that can cause vision impairment or even blindness if left untreated. Embark is partnering with Cornell University, a leading research institution, to gather samples for the study of the genetic factors involved in this disease. Keep reading to learn more about pannus in dogs and how you...

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A Corgi dog lying on the grass with brick buildings in the distant background.
News

Most Popular Dog Names of 2024

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Is your dog named Luna, Bella, or Charlie? If so, you might be a trendsetter. These names are among the top 10 most popular dog names right now. Keep reading to see trending dog names by breed and size, as well as head-to-head comparisons of dog names from pop culture. How did we find the...

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Bamm-Bamm, a black American Pit Bull Terrier puppy.
Customer Stories

“Bundle of Joy” Bamm-Bamm Finds His Home

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At just four months old, little Bamm-Bamm shares a few similarities with his namesake, Bamm-Bamm Rubble from The Flintstones. They’re both strong for their age and they were both adopted by loving parents. “As soon as we laid eyes on him, we knew he was our guy,” say Patrick and Kendra, Bamm-Bamm’s adoptive parents. “He...

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A German Shorthaired Pointer dog looks up, with his hind legs attached to a dog wheelchair.
Customer Stories

Lieutenant Dan is One in a Million

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Lieutenant Dan (Lt. Dan) was found on the side of the road in North Carolina in May 2017. Named after the character Lieutenant Dan Taylor from the film Forrest Gump, Lt. Dan the dog is paralyzed in both hind legs. But that doesn’t stop him from running and playing with the help of his wheelchair....

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A black mixed-breed dog named Vardis wears a seasonal autumn bandana while standing in a pile of leaves.
How Dog DNA Testing Works

How DNA Testing Helps Shelter Dogs Get Adopted

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Animal shelters across the country have told us that DNA testing can help rescue dogs get adopted. By providing important genetic information, dog DNA testing helps shelters give prospective adopters insights into a dog’s breed mix, characteristics they might have, and more. At Embark, we believe that everyone should get to spend the holidays with...

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A mixed-breed dog named Nelle next to Embark results showing her breed mix: 42.4% Australian Shepherd, 16.9% German Shepherd Dog, 8.5% Beagle, 8.4% Golden Retriever, 7.8% Collie, 7.6% Australian Cattle Dog, 4.3% Labrador Retriever, 4.1% Supermutt.
Understanding Results

What is a “Supermutt”?

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You might be surprised to receive your dog’s breed results and find that a percentage of their breed ancestry comes from “Supermutt.” But what exactly is Supermutt? We hear this question often at Embark. Here, we’ll explain what “Supermutt” means, how Embark scientists match your dog’s DNA to different breeds, and why a “Supermutt” result...

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A female veterinarian examines a mixed-breed dog using a stethoscope.
Understanding Results

A Veterinarian Explains What Your Dog’s Mast Cell Tumor Risk Means

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As part of our genetic health screening, Embark dog DNA tests can determine if some dogs are at increased risk of developing mast cell tumors (MCTs). This risk is based on genetic breed ancestry and other factors. This model offers a new way to estimate relative risk for MCTs, especially for mixed-breed dogs. We know...

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A Boxer dog sits outside on a pile of orange leaves.
Health Conditions

Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs

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Knowing how to recognize common signs of mast cell tumors in dogs can help you catch them early. At Embark, we’re committed to improving the life and longevity of all dogs by providing our customers with information about their dogs’ health.  With that goal in mind, we now offer a genetic risk estimate that indicates...

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Customer Stories

Vardis Reunites With His Long-Lost Sister, Brunch

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Vardis, a sweet-faced rescue pup, had spent most of his life in shelters and foster homes as he waited for his forever family. Along the way, with the help of an Embark dog DNA test, Vardis reunited with a special someone—his long-lost sister, Brunch. Their heartwarming reunion story appeared in The Dodo, People, and The...

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