Genetic testing has potential benefits whether the results are positive or negative for a
gene mutation
. Test results can provide a sense of relief from uncertainty and help people make informed decisions about managing their health care.
Why is genetics important in the society?
Genes can also increase the risk in a family for getting certain health conditions
. Families also share habits, diet, and environment. These influence how healthy we are later in life. You share a lot with your family—including what can make you sick.
What are some benefits of genetic testing?
- A sense of relief from uncertainty.
- A greater understanding of your health and your cancer risk.
- Information to help make informed medical and lifestyle decisions.
- Opportunity to help educate other family members about the potential risk.
What diseases can be detected through genetic testing?
- Intro. (Image credit: Danil Chepko | Dreamstime) …
- Breast and ovarian cancer. …
- Celiac disease. …
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) …
- Bipolar disorder. …
- Obesity. …
- Parkinson’s disease. …
- Psoriasis.
Why you shouldn’t do genetic testing?
Some disadvantages, or risks, that come from genetic testing can include:
Testing may increase anxiety and stress for some individuals
.
Testing does not eliminate a person’s risk for cancer
.
Results in some cases may return inconclusive or uncertain
.
Why would a doctor order genetic testing?
Genetic testing is useful in many areas of medicine and
can change the medical care you or your family member receives
. For example, genetic testing can provide a diagnosis for a genetic condition such as Fragile X or information about your risk to develop cancer. There are many different kinds of genetic tests.
What are the risks of genetic testing?
Some disadvantages, or risks, that come from genetic testing can include:
Testing may increase your stress and anxiety
.
Results in some cases may return inconclusive or uncertain
.
Negative impact on family and personal relationships
.
How many diseases can genetic testing detect?
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first home DNA tests Thursday that let people find out if they have a genetic risk for certain diseases. The FDA decision allows home DNA test company 23andMe to directly market its gene tests for
10 diseases
, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and some rare blood diseases.
Can genetic testing be used against you?
Beyond policing, it’s possible DNA test results could be used against you or
your relatives
in other ways. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prevents health care companies and employers from using genetic data to deny you employment or coverage.
How accurate is Invitae genetic testing?
Invitae’s extensive validation of its whole-genome sequencing, non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) approach shows
≥99% accuracy
for common aneuploidies, microdeletions, and fetal sex prediction, offering a comprehensive and accurate NIPS option as early as 10 weeks.
What are the three possible results of a genetic test?
Genetic testing can give several possible results:
positive, negative, true negative, uninformative negative, variant of uncertain significance
, or benign (harmless) variant. Positive result.
What does abnormal genetic testing mean?
Genetic abnormalities occur
when there is an abnormality in one or more genes
. Some genetic disorders are passed down from parents to children through their genes. Sometimes there are sporadic changes in the DNA of a gene that cause the developing baby to be affected without a prior family history.
When is genetic testing recommended?
Why Do Doctors Recommend Genetic Testing? A doctor may recommend genetic counseling or testing for any of these reasons: The
pregnant woman is over age 34
. A pregnant woman’s chances of having a child with a chromosomal problem (such as trisomy) increase if she is older than 34.
How long does genetic testing take?
How long does it take to get genetic test results? Commercial labs often give faster results (
usually within 2 to 4 weeks
) than research centers (a minimum of 4 weeks, often longer).
What does genetic testing reveal?
Genetic testing involves examining your DNA, the chemical database that carries instructions for your body’s functions. Genetic testing can reveal
changes (mutations) in your genes that
may cause illness or disease.
Is genetic testing expensive?
The cost of genetic testing can range
from under $100 to more than $2,000
, depending on the nature and complexity of the test. The cost increases if more than one test is necessary or if multiple family members must be tested to obtain a meaningful result. For newborn screening, costs vary by state.
