The Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Testing

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Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies the changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a genetic condition and if it can be passed on. I feel that genetic testing’s pros outweigh the cons. The physical risks of the genetic testing are very small. A positive result of genetic testing can help a person maintain prevention, and treatment options. Some test results can also help people make decisions about having children. Newborn genetic screenings can help identify genetic disorders early in life so treatment can be started as early as possible so that the unwanted gene will not pass on. Most of the opinions in the genetic testing seminar were on the positive side, choosing that it should be used more often. The generic testing can help better prepare people for what they can pass down if they choose to have children. For example, if someone has the high risk of diabetes running in their family their most likely to have it passed down to their children and even getting it themselves. I think the majority of people want to know what their genes carry, because it can have a huge impact on their life. Technological advances in genetic testing lend parents new insight about their children's risk factors for developing diseases later in life. The issue has been the subject of heated debate as parents grapple with the pros and cons of testing themselves and their children. Genetic testing can help people determine why they get cancer or other diseases. Genetic testing is recommended to people who have a family history of a genetic disease, have children who are born with genetic defects, and have gone through more than one miscarriage in the past. Though these te... ... middle of paper ... ... idea to take part in. Genetic testing can lead to a global preparation for parents to look out for their children. The genetic test results can determine so much for the children and what they might get passed down to them whether its diabetes, cancer, or any other illness or disease. For example, if someone is of Jewish descent have a higher prevalence of harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations than people in the general population. Other ethnic and geographic populations around the world, such as the Norwegian, Dutch, and Icelandic peoples, also have higher prevalences of specific harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. In addition, limited data indicate that the prevalence of specific harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations may vary among individual racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and non-Hispanic white.

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