Info about Genetic Testing
Types of Genetic Testing
People that are from families that have a high risk factor for genetic diseases often have to face a lot of uncertainty about their health as well as the health of their children. Some people choose to have genetic testing done that can show an abnormality in the genes. This will help determine if there is a risk for certain genetic diseases. If a disorder is not found, it can provide a sense of relief for everyone involved.
However, the genetic testing can be beneficial if the person is shown to have the gene abnormality that causes a disease. There may be steps that a person can take to lower the risk of having a genetic disease. Preventative steps can be taken like being screened at an early age and with regular frequency. The person could make changes to their lifestyle like exercise and diet to lower their risk of certain diseases. The genetic test can reduce the uncertainty that a person feels and help them make wise choices about their future. These choices can include the choice of whether or not to have a baby.
Genetic testing is done for different reasons. Diagnostic tests are usually used when a person has symptoms of a genetic disease. The exact genetic test that is performed depends on which disease is being tested for. For example, the test for Down’s syndrome is a chromosomal test that detects if the person has an extra chromosome 21. The test for muscular dystrophy looks for missing parts of the dystrophin gene.
Some tests are used to predict if a person has a greater likelihood of getting certain diseases before they actually have symptoms. Some types of predictive genetic tests screen for gene abnormalities that make a person have a higher chance of having some types of cancers, like colon cancer or breast cancer that often do not develop until later in a person’s life. These test do not say for sure that a person will get the disease but it lets them know if their chances are higher and more frequent screening is needed.
If a disease is already present in your family presymptomatic tests can tell which family members are at risk for the disease. This kind of test is for people who do not already show symptoms of the disease. An example of this kind of test is the one that is used for Huntington’s disease. This kind of testing can indicate certain treatment or prevention options. For example, someone that has the genetic condition that causes Graves’ disease, which is a disease that leads to the thyroid gland becoming overactive, they can be offered different kinds of treatment including having their thyroid taken out.
These are just a few of the genetic tests that can be done for treatment or prevention of certain diseases. The information provided by these genetic tests can be beneficial. They can provide relief if no gene abnormalities are found and suggest solutions if there is a problem found.