Introduction to Genetic Testing
Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is the process of using medical tests used to look at one’s genes, inherited from one’s parents. These tests ranges from identifying a child’s biological parents, to ascertaining if there are any risks of having cancer or diseases.
Results of genetic testing may help access on how severe a disease might be and find the best solution to diagnose it. It will also help determine the chances of developing or passing on a disease to an offspring.
Genetic testing identifies changes in chromosomes, genes or proteins to determine the risk of developing more common diseases such as heart disease. Though these tests has expanded in variety throughout the years, …show more content…
The whole sequence of DNA is too enormous to decipher, thus the Lab tests only zoom-in at specific regions known as “Loci” as DNA information is too large to interpret. Loci are specific locations on a chromosome, which contain sufficient biological information to differentiate between two different persons.
Pros and Cons
The pros of gene testing are its possible benefits of their health care. Results can soothe one’s uncertainty and help people make better decisions like stopping unnecessary health checkups or point a person towards available treatments and preventions. Gene testing can also determine the biological parents of a child or the identity of natural disaster victims.
One the other hand, some tests are expensive and are not affordable for everyone. Prenatal testing has a small risk but could have miscarriages because it needs a sample requirement of amniotic fluid or tissue around the fetus. People may feel depressed or guilty about their results. It can also create tension in a family because one spreads the results to other family members. These tests could also provide false results, which will lead to parents aborting their child or going for treatments, which patients do not need, to purchasing unnecessary insurance …show more content…
Even though some tests might be expensive, they could help you make decisions in life. It might be cheaper to treat it early rather then later in life. It can also help save a life. Gene testing also helps uncover murders, alleged scandals and remains of natural disasters or a terrorist attack. Gene testing was used to ascertain the death of Osama Bin Laden. His DNA was used against his biological