There are negative aspects to using DNA testing kits. ScienceDaily, “Does Genetic Testing Pose Psychosocial Risks?” Well, to come up with a well-informed decision, it is important to understand what this procedure is all about and review the pros and cons that come with it. Genetic testing, when appropriate, is a powerful tool to gauge a patient’s risk for disease. The results of genetic testing may impact your ability to obtain life, disability, or long-term care insurance. Not everyone is eligible: To get tested, a loved one must already have been affected by a disease or disorder — and been genetically tested, too. The result is more efficient planting for farmers, along with better quality food for consumers. Interested in resolving depression and anxiety naturally?Check out Dr Janelle’s online course Real Relief Foundations. For additional insight regarding genetic testing and family history, consider: Genetic testing can also help agriculturalists practice selective breeding, pairing different types of seeds or mating varied types of animals with certain genetic characteristics in mind. What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Animals For Commercial Testing. That’s why, determine who else in the family is at risk, Should You Get At-Home Genetic Testing? Others are also concerned that although this data could be helpful, some patients will not heed it at all, and continue o… Ethical concerns, health concerns and legal concerns have surfaced with regard to genetic tests. Meanwhile, “Biological siblings and half-siblings often forge bonds that are relatively uncomplicated by the baggage that can dog biological parents and offspring.”. Some additional resources on this topic include: Genetic testing also helps individuals trace their family lines, not just to learn more about their own ancestry and heritage, but to identify and forge new relationships with relatives. Blood tests and cheek swabs have virtually no risk whatsoever. Genetic Testing Research: Pros and Cons. To learn more, check out these resources: Weighing the pros and cons of genetic testing means considering important ethical, legal, and medical issues. Many are also worried about the fact that many of these companies provide this information without any sort of medical context for the samples that they are testing when it comes to each individual patient. That’s why several anti-discrimination laws protect recipients, notably the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, which prohibits employers using that data to hire, fire or promote and health insurance companies from using it as a pre-existing condition. “The kind of tests we have today weren’t even possible 20 years ago.”. Inside each cell lies the genetic material or the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). You can take action: A clearer portrait of risk can guide medical care. MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter. There are a number of applications for genetic testing, including prenatal testing. Your doctor may order a genetic test for any number of reasons related to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. You inherit 50% of this DNA from your mother, and 50% from your father. One is that it may impede on individual personal freedom. However, it's important to realize that genetic testing is beneficial for EVERYONE. UIC, Master of Science in Health Informatics & Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Informatics, Understanding the Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing, and Gynecologists, “Prenatal Genetic Screening Tests.”, WebMD, “Pregnant? For example, if genetic testing reveals a patient to have an inherited risk of obesity, their medical provider might make pre-emptive recommendations on diet and nutrition, or counsel vigilance concerning certain risk factors. No matter how much you intellectualize it, you can’t ever discount that the feeling of responsibility or guilt won’t affect you.”. Genetic testing should be encouraged only when there is effective therapy available to prevent or treat the condition tested for. That, she notes, involves reading a DNA sequence from start to finish to see if there are any “interruptions/disruptions” — mutations associated with the disease in question — that stop the gene from making normal proteins. From simple applications like commercial genetic origin testing to determining risk factors and the probability of diseases for unborn babies, the breadth of uses is very wide, and here are some pros and cons of genetic testing, on the whole. For example, the National Human Genome Research Institute has invested heavily in projects that allow the results of genetic testing to be included in electronic health records (EHRs), so that they can be more widely available in clinical research programs. This is an important method where medical treatment is highly personalized to the patient. “Most people, once they’ve understood that, want to do it,” says Aatre, who explained some of the pros and cons of genetic testing she discusses with patients: It offers insight: With genetic testing, “we’re targeting the coding part of the gene that is relevant to your particular disease,” Aatre says. Read about Michigan Medicine’s latest research and medical breakthroughs on our science-driven sister blog. Now, people have been wondering whether they should consider themselves undergoing genetic testing. Genetic tests offered by companies like 23andMe only analyze a small segment of your DNA. Results may trigger emotions: Finding out that a gene mutation is absent can offer a deep sense of relief. DTC Genetics: Pros and Cons. Ancestry tests are taken either in a medical practice or at home; the latter is an incredibly popular option. For example, what if genetic testing reveals an individual who is at acute medical risk and requires immediate treatment, yet that individual does not have the insurance or the funds to pay for the best treatment? ... A pair of expert clinician-scientists discussed the benefits and the potential drawbacks of universal genetic testing during a Virtual SABCS debate on Friday, Dec. 11. Dorothy Pomerantz vividly remembers the email that changed her life. Pros and cons . If testing reveals a baby with health risks or abnormalities, the mother may feel familial or societal pressure to terminate the pregnancy when this may not be what she truly wants. U.S. National Library of Medicine, What Is Genetic Testing? This prompted her to see her doctor, who spotted a small indication of cancer and immediately started treatment. Genetic testing is used to identify genetic disorders, and involves a detailed study of the DNA molecule. Genetic Testing Pros and Cons While predictive genetic testing is certainly a medical breakthrough, there are those who get excited at the opportunity to look into their genetic makeup and those who aren’t. The pros and cons of genetic testing for breast cancer are good to consider. Some People with Obsess about Potential Health Risks. 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