The Benefits of Genetic Testing For Your Child
When you were little and did something that drove your mother up the wall, there was a good chance you heard her say that the real culprit was not you, but your father's genes.
Happy as you may have been to be absolved, you possibly wondered- what are genes, and why were they responsible for your behavior? Well, your genes are your biological inheritance, and they are responsible for a lot more than whether or not you talk back to mom.
Genes and Genetic Testing
Your DNA is inherited from your parents, who inherited DNA from their parents, and so on. Your DNA is made up of genes, and genetic makeup determines an individual’s traits and characteristics, propensity for certain diseases, and ancestry, among other things.
Genetic testing is a revolutionary field developed from scientists' ability to unlock the secrets of the human genome. Among other uses, the tests determine ancestry and assess vulnerability to inherited diseases and conditions.
There are more than 900 different genetic tests available, including pre-natal genetic testing, which can give you crucial health information on your unborn child.
Cystic fibrosis, breast cancer and many birth defects are detectable with human genetic testing and therapy. You should be aware that many tests assess your vulnerability to disease, not whether you actually have one. Therefore, genetic tests are not conclusive – they simply provide you with information about diseases you may inherit over time.
How Genetic Testing Is Done
Many people know about genetic testing, but worry that a since a genetic test can provide so much information, the process much be painful or invasive. That’s not necessarily the case, however. So, how is genetic testing done? A genetic test is a painless and surprisingly easy when you consider the complexity of the human genome.
A sample of hair, or a swab of the inside surface of the cheek (called a buccal smear) is usually all that is needed to determine an individual’s genetic makeup. For newborns, a heel prick (which is relatively painless for a baby) is used.
Prenatal genetic testing is done using a sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus. A needle is used to extract a small amount of the fluid for testing.
The tests are sent to laboratories, where technicians study the results and search for signs of a genetic mutation that is linked to a particular disorder. Results go to the doctor or genetic counselor, and then to you.
Types of Genetic Testing
Since different tests are given for different reasons, scientists have broken down the tests into several broad categories. Here are a few key types of genetic testing:
- Carrier Testing identifies people who do not develop a genetic condition or disease, but have a chance to pass it on to children of their own.
- Diagnostic tests are used to rule out specific inherited conditions. This can be done any time (even before birth), and is often used to confirm or rule out specific diagnoses.
- Newborn screening is used just after birth to identify disorders that can be treated early in life.
- Prenatal Testing is done before birth to determine if the fetus is at risk for birth defects.
- Predictive Testing detects gene mutations that may appear later in life. It's used primarily for people that have no symptoms of a genetic disorder but are susceptible through heredity.
Molecular Genetic Testing and Children
A person's genetic makeup is the same from birth to death. Therefore,
genetic test results can be as useful to the parents of a newborn as they are to that child when she reaches adulthood.
There are two schools of thought on testing children. Some parents want to know what is in store for their child as soon as possible, so they can prepare and give their child the best and most comprehensive health care possible. Others may not wish to burden themselves or the child with knowledge of an inherited imperfection, wishing instead to wait until the child is old enough to opt for testing on his or her own.
A Legal Motion For Genetic Marker Testing
Another common reason to have a child take a DNA test is to determine paternity. This often happens when a paternity or divorce case goes to trial. A child can take a blood test to determine paternity. In civil court, a party may make a motion for genetic marker testing for establishing or invalidate paternity.
Finding the Next Michael Jordan
One of the latest and arguably the most controversial tests to roll off the genome assembly line is testing for the so-called "sports gene."
Athletics-crazed parents are now swabbing the inside of their child's cheeks in search of the ACTN3 gene, which researchers claim is a gene that separates elite athletes from the rest of us.
Experts differ on the validity of the test, which is offered by a Boulder, Colorado company. But whether testing your 2-year-old for greatness is a joke or the best invention since the lighbulb, it illustrates how unlocking the human genome affects us all.
Resources
Access Excellence @ The National Health Museum. (n.d.). Understanding gene testing. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from The National Health Museum Web site: http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/NIH/.
Genetics Home Reference. (n.d.). What are the types of genetic tests? Retrieved December 6, 2008, from the Genetics Home Reference Web site: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/testing/uses.
Macur. (2008). Born to run? Little ones get test for sports gene. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from New York Times Web site: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/30genetics.html?scp=2&sq=gene%20testing&st=cse.
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