Your thoughts on genetic testing?

* What king of illnesses/health disorders can be found through genetic testing?

* how accurate is it?

* What are the pros and cons of genetic testing?

* If your pregnant would you have genetic testing done on your baby to see if he/she is healthy

Thanks

During my pregnancy, the doctor offered me screening and testing. I only went for the screening, which tests blood for the likelihood of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and (not genetic) neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Nothing unusual popped up, so I didn't go for testing.

The testing examines the actual genetic material from fluid surrounding baby. It involves an ultrasound and a big needle, not worth it in my opinion unless you really want to find out if baby has something serious. Usually nothing serious is found anyway, but the very few mothers who did find out there was something wrong were grateful they did during pregnancy. They had time to arrange for special care when their babies were born.

Since the entire human genome has been mapped, I'm pretty sure every type of illness that is linked to genes can be found. However...

It's not always accurate. Many traits are coded for by multiple genes, and the combinations make testing 1 gene for 1 specific trait unreliable. Currently, most genetic tests don't test more than 1 gene though. Also, tests can only determine the likelihood of the trait. Just because a person has a trait encoded in their genes, it doesn't mean that trait will be expressed. The environment plays a huge rule in the expression of genes.

The biggest pro would be the ability to know whether you have a chance of passing a genetic illness to your children. I know someone who has chosen never to have children because he carries the gene for cystic fibrosis. Another pro is that if you knew you were more prone to diabetes, for example, you could modify your lifestyle to decrease the chances of it happening.

I think the cons outweigh the pros, so I'm against genetic testing. If insurance companies were able to get the results of genetic tests, you could be screwed out of life insurance. Employers could refuse to hire people if there were a chance they would ever need to take a medical leave. Furthermore, genetic identity theft could become a huge problem. You can always change your social, but your genes will never change. I will only be okay with genetic testing if more laws are passed to protect people from these things.

I would not want to have my unborn child tested. But after birth, if there were something wrong that couldn't be diagnosed, then yes, I would make an exception to get tested.

I am personally against it; you will only find out what will be found out through the natural course of time, and it would be a waste of money. If your child has a birth defect, you'll find out when he/she is born. The only reason people would want to do this is so that they can abort their child if it isn't "perfect", and I am absolutely against that. I cannot think of any "pros" to genetic testing. I would not do it if I was pregnant.