Pros And Cons Of Genetic Testing

While genetic testing may be a moral question in terms of preserving the unique advances homo sapiens have accomplished, it proves to be an undoubtable advantage in terms of evolutionary success and advancement. Genetic testing can be done in various forms and during various stages of human development, from an embryo to an elder. The U.S National Library of Medicine defines genetic testing as a medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes or proteins. They also define the test as one with many pros and cons, requiring a complex personal decision. This distinction between both scientific and humanistic approaches to testing mirrors the divide in which testing is regarded as a positive or negative tool for the human species. Genetic

The human species are a social species and thrive on the accomplishment and revelations of others, if we utilize genetic testing on all embryos before they reach development we risk losing a member of society that potentially could have influenced the species despite, or in some cases in light of, their disease. Figures such as Stephen Hawking, Beethoven and Albert Einstein are known to have faced challenges with their diseases but, all have influenced current day society with their work unrelated to their disability. Without these figures, we may not have transferred from classical to romantic style symphonies shaping culture and music, we may not understand black holes or the wave functions of the universe, and we may not understand the photoelectric effect or the function of relativity. Using cost benefit analysis, the rewards of not using embryotic testing are costlier to the population than the influence and impact of select individuals, outweighing the disadvantage of losing members of our society that have influenced and in some instances shaped society and science. While this is a distinguished disadvantage of embryotic testing, the resources, both physical and financial contribute to the benefit of using embryotic testing before insemination, saving countless couples on time and

This form of testing provides the individual with advanced notice of their potential risk, saving the individual from having to expend multiple resources at an unexpected time potentially depleting their resources, and taking them out of the mating pool completely. In terms of producing offspring and passing genes along, those with a genetic predisposition to a certain disease will be forced to copulate earlier in development then those without this genetic vulnerability. Some birds attract a mate via the intricacy of their bird song, the more intricate the song indicating a wiser and more resourceful mate with experience, typically later in development. This is comparable to human females who tend to prefer men with a higher intelligence and age, attributes that can be difficult to obtain when the male has minimal time to produce, and raise offspring, limiting mating potential and not attracting an optimal mate to copulate with. This is also a dilemma when the disease can be passed along to the offspring, presenting the individual with the challenge of risking the chance of passing along the disease and having their offspring but it may not live to reproduce, wasting the purpose of copulation. These two genetic scenarios provide difficult decisions for the individuals regarding whether to