Dictionary

family genetics test: A test to determine the genetic makeup of a family line.

gene: The basic unit of heredity in a living organism.

genetic counseling: A way of facilitating the exchange of information of a person's genetic legacy, including diagnosing disorders, discussing the risk of recurrence and providing support groups for those affected.

genetic counselor: A doctor who specializes in medical genetics.

genetic fingerprinting: A technique used to distinguish between individual family members using DNA samples.

genetic genealogy: The application of genetics to traditional genealogy, usually involving the use of genealogical DNA testing to determine the level of genetic relationship between individuals.

genetic marker: A gene or DNA sequence having a known location on a chromosome and associated with a particular gene or trait.

genetics: The study of the transmission of single genes within families and the analysis of more complex types of inheritance.

genetic testing: Tests done for clinical genetic purposes, including the diagnosis of genetic disease in children and adults, identification of future disease risks, prediction of drug responses and detection of risks of disease to future children.

genome: A component in the chromosomal nucleus that contains all the genetic information that is passed on from one organism to the other.

health privacy: The protected right of patients when it comes to their health records.