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The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Testing

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As a way to access one’s genetic information, genetic testing has been an option for those who desired to utilize the information to predict, assess, and evaluate the likelihood of their susceptibility to a disease or even gain knowledge of their ancestry. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (also known as DTC), provided by companies like 23 and Me, has made the service more accessible. With its prevalence in the realm of genetic testing, the lack of federal protection regarding direct access to testing results in DTC testing has become a primary issue. Along with direct access, the lack of a law regarding the requirement of a medical professional or a genetic counselor in genetic testing has also added concerns to the viability of DTC genetic testing. As such, while it is paramount that patients and consumers are guaranteed direct access to their genetic information, medical professionals or genetic counselors should be …show more content…

Even so, the absence of a medical professional may result in a misguided understanding of the results as the tested disease may be caused by other factors as well (i.e. choice of lifestyle). Take breast cancer: the risk of breast cancer not only involves genetics but also involves lack of physical activity and consumption of oral contraceptives and alcohol (CDC, 2017). Though it may provide references that other factors may influence results, DTC testing results alone may not always reflect the lifestyle of an individual. Especially with tests like the BRCA gene test, which are specific towards the identification of mutations in the BRCA genes known cause breast cancer, results may not reflect other factors such as one’s lifestyle. The addition of a professional in interpreting the results of the testing adds the cofactor of lifestyle into the equation, helping with a more accurate evaluation of the

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