Genetic Testing Persuasive Essay

   The Human Genome Project is the largest scientific endeavor undertaken since the Manhattan Project, and, as with the Manhattan Project, the completion of the Human Genome Project has brought to surface many moral and ethical issues concerning the use of the knowledge gained from the project. Although genetic tests for certain diseases have been available for 15 years (Ridley, 1999), the completion of the Human Genome Project will certainly lead to an exponential increase in the number of genetic tests available. Therefore, before genetic testing becomes a routine part of a visit to a doctor's office, the two main questions at the heart of the controversy surrounding genetic testing must be

Many medical advances are being made today in the area of genetics. One of the most talked about is prenatal genetic testing. The purpose of prenatal genetic testing is to obtain information on a baby's health before they are born. This new technology will definitely improve the quality of human life. Diseases will be diminished and through new advances some diseases might even be eliminated. Children will be at less risk to have major health problems in their lives adding positively to their life experience. Prenatal genetic testing will also affects society as a whole.

Here is a real life story of a woman who has been greatly affected by genetic testing and has seen both the good and the bad of genetic testing. This is a story that was posted in an article called “6 Moms Share Their Real Prenatal Testing Stories” on the website “What to Expect” from Courtney from Lake Stevens, Washington about how genetic testing has affected her life. So for Courtney, a few weeks after her 13 week ultrasound and her quad screen her doctors told her she had a positive screen for Down syndrome. So at 17 weeks she had to go back in for another ultrasound and genetic counseling which according to kids health.org is counseling that allows a genetic counselor to evaluate the results of a genetic test with the parents and helps the parents understand and reach decisions on what to do next. Her ultrasound looked great but still had a positive screen for Down syndrome. So she was was recommended for either an amnio or verifi test. Courtney then went to genetic counseling and choose to have the verifi test done over the amnio. A week later her results came back negative for Down syndrome and confirmed the baby was a girl. Courtney said “I am glad we opted to get the verifi test done especially after the stress of getting a positive screening before. I like how that if the NIPT did turn out positive for Down syndrome, I could have prepared ahead of time for the care of a special needs child would require, rather than feeling completely caught off-guard at birth.”

In Improvements in Prenatal Genetic Testing Raise Ethnic Issues, R. J. Crayton produced an article about prenatal testing and whether or not parents should be allowed to have these tests done. First the situation of a high risk baby who will have a disability or defect after birth, so the parents decide to abort the child is being viewed as an inequality to the disabled community. Secondly, certain adoptions are put on hold since the biological parents chose to not carry the unborn child through the entire pregnancy, however, the surrogate mother wants to carry the child through the entire term. Lastly, research shows that the results can be a false positive, so unintentionally the parents decide not to keep the unknown, but healthy baby.

The Goal of the Human Genome Project is to obtain genetic mapping information and to determine the complete sequence of all human DNA by the year of 2005. The project started in 1990 and 180 million dollars are being spent on it annually. This adds up to a total of over 2 billion dollars for the 15 year budget. Of this 2 billion dollars budgeted, 5% is spent annually on the ethical, legal and social issues. This report focused on some of these issues.

“When families get a diagnosis prenatally, they use the words ‘shock’, ‘sadness’, ‘disbelief’”, says Sarah Cullen of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. “ You feel like like the rug is pulled out from under you. You feel very heavy. You feel very, very alone” (Szabo 1). When parents receive the results of their prenatal test, many do not know what to do. They can feel very overwhelmed, because their baby is unhealthy and there may be nothing that they can do about it. Often the doctor does not know what to do either, because there may not be a cure for the disease.This kind of news alone is agonizing for parents. Mothers should not have genetic testing done to see if their baby has diseases because it causes unnecessary anxiety for the parents, tests may not always be accurate, and it is unethical.

There are many different options for pregnant women regarding screening for trisomy 21. There are two more common types of tests available, nuchal translucency ultrasound with biochemistry testing in the first trimester, and cell-free DNA testing starting at 10 weeks until delivery. With these options come many questions about which one is more accurate in

While there are several aspects which a couple needs to think about upon receiving information of the test results, one basic principle surrounds the entire decision. What will we do with our fetus? One of the most common options for

Breakthroughs in genetics have allowed parents to test their babies DNA in the womb for potential genetic diseases and disorders. The test is done by isolating the babies’ genetic material that is coursing through their mothers veins through a blood test on the mother. After the genetic material is found it is put under multiple diagnostics to determine if the baby has any of a wide variety of conditions such as Down’s syndrome, Tay-Sachs and cystic fibrosis. This Prenatal Genetic Screening can also tell many different traits on the developing baby such as its gender. Many believe that this procedure to be unethical but genetic screening can do more good than harm.

Deciding whether or not you want to know more about your genetic makeup is a very personal decision that may seem like an easy one, but it’s not. As direct-to-consumer genetic testing is growing as an industry, it is becoming easier and cheaper for people to learn unique personal things about themselves, like ancestry composition, food preferences, and physical features. However, these tests can also inform people of genetic predispositions to diseases. Although some people believe that knowing all of this genetic information can be dangerous, monitored DNC tests can be very informative and beneficial.

Ever heard of Genetic Testing? It’s a branch of Genetic Science (Genetic Science is pretty much characterizing the etiology of illness.) that involves testing the Genome to find mutations that cause disease or will cause disease, an example of this being the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, these genes can get a massive variety of genetic mutations that cause cancer. ("Genetic Testing for Cancer: A Complex Decision.") All in all it’s a slowly building advancement in science that’s slowly increasing to a field of massive size. “You know, every week, there’s a new company, there’s a new test, there’s a new competitor.” ("Will Sequencing Your Genes Change The Way You Live ? And Die?.") However it has a lot of controversy and quite a few ethical issues that come along with it, an example being the fact that people that already have defects tend to dislike these tests.(Middleton) However if human lives could be saved or even made better because of this, then why shouldn’t it be allowed to progress? Genetic Testing is definitely a good thing and the field should be allowed to advance. It could save thousands upon thousands of lives. The benefits that come from Genetic Testing far outweigh the risks that come with it.

Have You ever thought about genes,Tell me what it is You don’t know well here is a quote "Eugenics is the study of the agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations either physically or mentally."

1st trimester non-invasive genetic testing: Here at MWH all of our patients, regardless of age or risk factors, are offered cell-free fetal DNA testing during their initial prenatal visit (around 10 weeks). Cell-free DNA is the most advanced way to detect early fetal abnormalities through genetic material that is released by the placenta and into the maternal blood circulation. The results are very accurate, the test is non-invasive (blood draw for mom), and if you choose, you can also learn the sex of the baby by the end of the first trimester! Best yet, most insurance will cover the full cost of our

Science has enabled humanity to thrive in a world where change is a prerequisite that must be achieved if an organism aspires to live. It allowed for the human race to bend and twist to accommodate to our needs. Death’s touch became a mere gesture we can avoid - most of the time. Although we stand at the forefront of human advancement, we are still held back. Genetic engineering, the direct modification of DNA, is the solution to the problems we continuously encounter today. Particularly, it would benefit areas such as food production, elimination of disease and disorders, and the fate of mankind itself.

Loss of privacy, psychological disorders and testing errors are risks of genetic testing. However, certain genetic testing methods, such as carrier screening and preimplantatioin diagnostic testing can help parents prevent potential diseases their child may get. I would say it shoule not be implemented in healthcare today. At first, I found on the Internet that the cost of genetic testing can range from under $100 to more than $2000. As I tend to stereotype these types of advanced technology as expensive and hard to implement, I am wondering if the under $100 testing can get any effective results. Thus, people from higher socioeconomic status are more likely to be benefited from genetic testing, not lower SES people. Secondly, gene carriers