The Genetic Revolution

Scientific research and technology has brought us to the brink of a genetic revolution. Specific genes, now identifiable, indicate higher risk of diseases and predisposition to any number of medical conditions. While the medical implications of genetic science are immense, the technology poses many political and philosophical dilemmas. Is it morally acceptable to alter the genetics of our unborn children? Should employers and heath insurance companies have access to our DNA? Genetics may force drastic changes in the health industry and the conception of privacy could take on a whole new meaning.

Not with a Bang...The Death of Personalized Medicine

THE GENE SHERPA - Genotyping is getting cheaper and cheaper. Less than a penny a base pair. So in turn genetic testing should get cheaper and cheaper. This is the idea of a 1000 USD whole-genome. Unfortunately some tests still remain in the thousands of dollars. Therefore, I assume (unless these companies are paying their workers millions), that there is some significant money being made here. There is a lack of healthcare specialists trained in the field of genetics. In fact the healthcare system fails all of us when it comes to genetics education and understanding. The alternative healthcare market...

To Offer Genetic Genealogy?

GENETIC GENEALOGIST - Although some of our personal SNPs are spontaneous, many of them came from either our mother or our father. Genetic genealogists have long taken advantage of SNP inheritance to identify our Y-DNA or mtDNA haplogroup, for example. SNP testing can potentially be one of the most interesting and most lucrative offerings in genetic genealogy, although the field is still in its infancy. Current SNP testing for genetic genealogy, known as “autosomal testing”, involves making conclusions based on a few hundred SNPs and don’t allow something I call “SNP tracking”, the ability to compare SNPs...

Newborn Genetic Screening vs Right to Privacy

EYE ON DNA - Every year, about 5,000 infants in the U.S. are diagnosed with a congenital disorder while an additional 1,000 children go undetected because genetic screening isn’t routine or incomplete in their state. The American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, and American College of Medical Genetics believe that all newborns should be screened for 29 genetic disorders. In the US, the comprehensiveness of newborn genetic screening varies from state to state. Genetic testing of newborns in Minnesota have been under debate. Laws stipulate that blood samples cannot be used for research or any other...

11.18.07

10:00 PM -

Playing God?

Anonymous - There's something not right about about changing your child before it's born. I guess the point is any number of diseases can be prevented..... but it just seems to contradict God's will.

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