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.
What are the pros and cons of a genetic test?
- Treatment of Disease. …
- Lifestyle Changes for Disease Prevention. …
- Stress Release from Lack of Genetic Variants. …
- A Negative Test Could Mask Additional Causes. …
- A Positive Test Could Unnecessarily Increase Stress. …
- Genetic Purgatory. …
- Cost. …
- Privacy Concerns.
Why is genetic testing a good thing?
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.
What does genetic testing tell you?
Genetic testing is a type of medical test that
identifies changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins
. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder.
What are the benefits of genetics?
- Family history of cancer.
- Family history of diseases that can be hereditary (e.g., cancer, heart problems, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease)
Why genetic testing is bad?
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
.
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
.
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.
Is it worth getting genetic testing?
Although genetic testing can provide important information for diagnosing, treating and preventing illness, there are
limitations
. For example, if you’re a healthy person, a positive result from genetic testing doesn’t always mean you will develop a disease.
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 diseases does genetic testing look for?
- Intro. (Image credit: Danil Chepko | Dreamstime) …
- Breast and ovarian cancer. …
- Celiac disease. …
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) …
- Bipolar disorder. …
- Obesity. …
- Parkinson’s disease. …
- Psoriasis.
What are the three types of genetic testing?
The following information describes the three main types of genetic testing:
chromosome studies, DNA studies, and biochemical genetic studies
. Tests for cancer susceptibility genes are usually done by DNA studies.
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).
How genetics affect my life?
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 signs of good genetics?
Good gene indicators are hypothesized to include
masculinity, physical attractiveness, muscularity, symmetry, intelligence, and “confrontativeness
” (Gangestad, Garver-Apgar, and Simpson, 2007).
How can learning genetics benefit you?
Taking time to learn about genetics can
help you understand your own health and make healthy choices
. Genes that do not work correctly can cause problems. A group of rare diseases are caused when a single gene stops working normally.
