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Not All Genetic Tests are Created Equal

Our DNA helps determine what we look like, how we behave, and what we like to eat. It also contains information about our ancestry and our risks for disease. Until recently, we could only guess at the secrets contained in our DNA. We are now in an age when many of us have access to technologies that can uncover some of the variations in our genetic code that help make us who we are, and that can also put us at greater or lesser risk of disease. It is no surprise that people are having genetic testing in record numbers. But as we enter this new world of DNA exploration, it’s important to understand that not all genetic testing is created equal. The type of genetic test you should choose depends…

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Featured

 Gene Tests Are Quite Telling – Should You Get One?

Genetic carrier screenings and similar prenatal screenings were the first type of genetic test to become widespread. Expectant parents can test their genes to see which diseases they risk passing on to their child and plan pregnancies accordingly; prenatal screenings are conducted when a mother is already pregnant, often in the early stages of pregnancy, to test the fetus for those mutations. For the handful of diseases that medical professionals check for in these tests, the gene variants tend to be highly “penetrant,” says David Mittelman, the chief scientific officer for biotech company Tute Genomics —if a baby receives one mutated gene from each parent, he’s very likely to have the disease associated with it. These diseases, which include Tay-Sachs disease and sickle cell anemia, are often very severe.

 There’s No Guarantee That Genetic Tests Are Accurate

Even those administered by doctors lack FDA oversight.

Articles of Interest

Genetic Tests Can Hurt Your Chances Of Getting Some Types Of Insurance

Taking a genetic test in your 20s or 30s could, indeed, affect your ability to get long-term-care insurance later — or at least the price you'll pay. And people who are considering enrolling in Medicare after age 65 would do well to read the fine print of the sign-up rules. R

How Genetic Tests Could Help Parents Better Understand Their Child's Autism

Newer tests may provide greater insights into why autism develops.

Regulation of Genetic Tests

As the field of genomics advances, genetic and genomic tests are becoming more common in, and out of, the clinic. Yet most genetic tests today are not regulated, meaning that they go to market without any independent analysis to verify the claims of the seller.

The Different Types of Genetic Tests

Some say that the human genome is the only data set in healthcare that does not change, and that helps explain the recent popularity of genetic testing with more than 77,000 genetic tests currently in use and an average of 10 new tests entering the market daily. “The human genome was mapped only fifteen years ago, but since then the adoption of genetic testing has skyrocketed. Much of this trend is explained by the critical role genetic testing plays in precision medicine (an approach to disease treatment and prevention that seeks to maximize effectiveness by taking into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle) as well as by advances in next-generation sequencing methods and concurrent reductions in sequencing costs,

What are the Types of Genetic Tests?

Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. More than 1,000 genetic tests are currently in use, and more are being developed.

Ancestry genetic tests are making it extremely easy for cops to track all white people

So many white people have bought into consumer genetic testing that it’s now possible for law enforcement agencies to use genetic data to hunt down virtually anyone of European descent — even if they’ve never spit in a trendy tube themselves — by tracking their distant relatives who have already shared their results from companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com.

DNA Test for Rare Disorders Becomes More Routine

The test is beginning to transform life for patients and families who have often spent years searching for answers. They can now start the grueling process with DNA sequencing, says Dr. Wendy K. Chung, professor of pediatrics and medicine at Columbia University. “Most people originally thought of using it as a court of last resort,” Dr. Chung said. “Now we can think of it as a first-line test.”

F.D.A. Wants to Regulate Prenatal Tests That Have Misled Parents

A booming industry has recently come under scrutiny for some of its testing, including a high rate of false positive results.

Genetic testing is an inexact science with real consequences

How flawed genetic testing could be used for more than screwing up your race.

Illumina, the Google of Genetic Testing, Has Plans for World Domination

YOU COULD SAY that Illumina is to DNA sequencing is what Google is to Internet search, but that would be underselling the San Diego-based biotech company. Illumina’s machines, the best and cheapest on the market, generate 90 percent of all DNA sequence data today. Illumina is, as they say, crushing it.

Many of us are taking genetic tests, but how much are we really learning?

Sixteen years ago, scientists sequenced almost all the human genome. Today, there are 32 companies that will read your DNA like tea leaves. How much can they really tell us?

The Results of Your Genetic Test Are Reassuring. But That Can Change

Laboratories frequently “reclassify” genetic mutations. But there is no reliable system for telling patients or doctors that the results of their genetic tests are no longer valid.

The Rise of DIY Genetic Testing

Some people are skipping the doctor’s office and using the internet to order and interpret their own DNA tests.

The Uncertain Future of Genetic Testing

Bringing genetics into medicine leads to more accuracy, better diagnosis, and personalized treatment—but for some, gene testing has only resulted in unanswered questions.

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing

In recent years, the field of genetic testing has risen in both prominence and popularity. Through advances in research, science and medical technology, physicians now offer robust genetic screenings to their patients.

We Don’t Want to Know What Will Kill Us

Years of data on genetic testing reveal that when given the option, most people want less information, not more.

What can genetic testing really tell you?

For now, just enjoy your life, because you can’t predict death. And if you decide to unlock the secrets of your DNA with an at-home test, don't take those results for more than their worth.

When They Warn of Rare Disorders, These Prenatal Tests Are Usually Wrong

Some said the blood screenings that look for the rarest conditions are good for little more than bolstering testing companies’ bottom lines.

You Can Learn a Lot About Yourself From a DNA Test. Here’s What Your Genes Cannot Tell You

While the lion’s share of DNA-testing companies cater to questions of ancestry, health, paternity and relatedness, much of the emerging consumer genomics market falls into lifestyle and fitness categories, encompassing products The Atlantic’s Sarah Zhang has likened to horoscopes: “vague, occasionally informative, sometimes amusing.” Their claims, and the science used to back them up, are of varying quality.