The mystery of Variants of Uncertain Significance
Science's honest answer: we don't know yet.
What is a VUS?
When a lab sequences your DNA and finds a variant they've never seen before, or one that hasn't been studied enough, they often classify it as a Variant of Uncertain Significance. It's not benign. It's not pathogenic. It's the scientific equivalent of "we need more data." For many genes, VUS is the most common result in ClinVar.
Why so many?
Genetic testing has exploded in the last decade. We're finding variants faster than we can study them. Each new variant requires functional studies, population data, and clinical follow-up before we can confidently say what it means. That takes time. In the meantime, the honest answer is uncertainty.
What it means for you
A VUS result doesn't mean your variant is dangerous. It doesn't mean it's harmless. It means we don't know yet. Some VUS get reclassified as pathogenic or benign as evidence accumulates. If you have a VUS, ask your provider about reanalysis timelines and whether your variant has been seen in other families.