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Taking A Look At The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Testing

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Genetic testing is the analysis of human DNA, RNA, chromosomes, or proteins used to detect abnormalities related to an inherited disorder, to identify increased risks of health problems, and to assess responses or choose treatments. A person may be offered testing if they have a family history of a specific disease, have symptoms of a genetic disorder, or are worried about passing down a genetic disorder to their children. More than 1,000 genetic tests are currently in use, and many more are being developed. Depending on the type of genetic testing, they can help to diagnose disease, identify gene changes that are responsible for an already diagnosed disease, to determine the severity of a disease, to help doctors decide the best treatment to be used on a specific individual, to identify gene changes increasing the risk to develop a disease, to identify gene changes that could possibly be passed on to a child, and screen newborn babies for certain treatable conditions. They are also used for screening embryos for disease and finding genetic diseases in unborn babies. …show more content…

These can be both medical, emotional, financial, and ethical. Genetic testing may be beneficial because of the fact that it serves as a relief; as it eliminates doubt and uncertainty surrounding an individual's health. These results may help doctors make recommendations for treatment also. Overall, it helps people make informed decisions about their future, such as whether or not to have a child with the risk of passing on a genetic mutation/disease. However, the limitation of genetic testing is the fact that even though you have a positive result does not mean that you will develop the

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