Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing by Vic Nguyen

Pros

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-06 16:24:07 UTC

-Knowing if you are at a high risk for a disease based

on your family background.

-Allows you to find out more about your background

-Adjust lifestyle to prevent getting a terminal illness.

-Personalize health care.

-Tests are fairly accurate (99.9%)

- Can participate in clinical research trials in which a

complete knowledge of your DNA is needed

-Easier access to genetic information (it's online)

-Test only costs 99 dollars and only takes 10 minutes

-Could potentially contribute to more knowledge about

the disease because your results could help scientists

determine patterns

Cons

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-06 16:24:14 UTC

-Money spent on testing could be spent for living a better lifestyle.

-Upon learning something that is not favorable it will stick with you the rest of your life.

-Already know the most likely disease from past family history

-It could lead to higher insurance rates and more financial consequences.

-Could develop a false sense of security from either a misdiagnosis or not having a gene

for a disease that can be contracted from the environment

-Employers may get a hold of genetic information that may keep them from hiring you

-False assessment of the DNA could lead people to believe that they would contract a certain

disease and pay for unnecessary surgery or medicine.

-Who knows where your genome will end up? Who knows who will see it?

Personal Example

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-06 16:47:22 UTC

I Don't Know About Me, but we've all got 23 (chromosomes)

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-06 16:50:20 UTC

Here is a link to the possible benefits and drawbacks of genetic testing via 23andMe or other methods.

Megan Ishihara; What I think about getting tested.

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-09 03:03:17 UTC

My personal opinion is that if you get a test done and you find out that you are at a high rate

of getting a terminal disease then that fact would kill you slowly on the inside rather than

letting you live your life to the fullest.

Personal Example: Con

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-09 05:06:31 UTC

Victoria Nguyen: Why I Would Get Genetic Testing Done

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-09 05:08:35 UTC

You should only get genetic testing done if you have a family

background of the disease because that would higher your risk

of developing the disease. By getting genetic testing done, you can

find out if you have that increased risk or not. If it turns out that

you do NOT have an increased risk, then you will be relieved and

will not have to spend your life worrying about it. If you DO have a

higher risk, then you can take preventive measures so that you will

not get the disease, which could potentially save your life. You could

adjust your life style or get surgeries. For me personally, I would take

the test because I have a family history of breast cancer, which greatly

increases my risk for getting the disease, so a genetic test would be

very beneficial in my case.

Matthew Iida: Why Genetic Testing Isn't For Me

victoria_n97 — 2013-12-09 05:31:23 UTC

It really does seem like a great idea, but I don't think me

or my family would be able to handle the results if

they didn't turn out the way we would want them to. If you

are ready for life changing news, then by all means, go for it.

I have nothing against it personally and I would in a heartbeat if

I knew my results would be pleasant, but there is no way I would be

willing to take the risk. The permanent mental repercussions from learning

this info could be detrimental to me and my family. Sometimes, ignorance is

bliss.