New reptile genetics testing company plans to fully map species genomes

A new reptile genetics testing company, Phenome, is working on fully mapping out the genomes of a number of reptile species for the first time. The company first made its debut this year at the North American Reptile Breeders Conference (NARBC), in Tinley Park, Illinois.

Phenome, which was started by a team of genetics and reptile experts as well as reptile enthusiasts. says it aims to improve understanding and information of the reptile industry to improve breeding outcomes while developing genetic testing solutions. The company is partnering with breeders and animal owners to simplify genetic testing submission, access, and management.¹

In the last decade, reptile ownership in North America has grown considerably. “There is a growing demand for reptile care in veterinary practice. As ownership rises, this increase in the amount of reptiles that are being owned by people, and as this younger generation is coming on, that number has grown exponentially, Jb Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, director of animal health and chief veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, said in an earlier dvm360 interview.²

Phenome builds on the work of SHEDTESTING.com, a small reptile genetic testing service founded by Charlie Williams. After SHEDTESTING grew, “Years ago, I saw Dr Hannah Seidel, [PhD], on a podcast talking about genetic testing on ball pythons and extracting DNA from sheds. That got my wheels turning, and I thought, I wonder if this is something I could possibly do,” Williams said in a Proper Royals podcast episode.³ “I spent the night researching on Google and YouTube, and it was very up in the air whether or not I’d be able to do it at that point. [Eventually] I got to the point where I thought I could do it so I bought some equipment and started talking to a few other scientists.”

According to Williams, who has a degree in computer science but breeds ball pythons as a hobby, the journey began with testing snake sheds that friends in the industry sent him. “Eventually, people pushed me to start offering it to the community, and I did. It started as a fun little thing to do on the side after my day job, but it kind of snowballed into what it is now,” he continued.

The SHEDTESTING expansion into Phenome will allow access to new technology, funding, and more research and developments, according to Phenome. Under Phenome, the team hopes to develop tests for different reptile species. The team is also using bioinformatics to identify potential mutations in reptiles’ genes, allowing breeders to predict traits and heterozygosity, which may help lower breeding time and improve outcomes.³

“We're excited to bring new, innovative solutions to the reptile community to grow our collective understanding and improve breeding outcomes," Josh Hanson, Phenome cofounder, said in a news release.¹ "We look forward to positively impacting the ethics and economics of the entire reptile community."

References

1. New Genetics Company "Phenome" Brings Industry Leading Testing and Innovation to the Reptile Industry and Beyond. News release. Phenome. October 8, 2025. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-genetics-company-phenome-brings-industry-leading-testing-and-innovation-to-the-reptile-industry-and-beyond-302578626.html
2. Minter J, Bautista-Alejandre A. Demand for reptile care in veterinary practice is rising. dvm360. May 12, 2025. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/demand-for-reptile-care-in-veterinary-practice-is-rising
3. Proper Royals YouTube page. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59JXWqKbTE