It took 13years of international effort to map the human biological blueprint of all the genes that make us different people.
It
took
13years
of
international
effort
to
map
the
human
biological
blueprint
of
all
the
genes
that
make
us
different
people
.
The first rough draft was made in 2000.
The
first
rough
draft
was
made
in
2000
.
The last of our 23chromosomes was clearly described in 2006.
The
last
of
our
23chromosomes
was
clearly
described
in
2006
.
Ever since then, the age of personal genetic testing has been upon us.
Ever
since
then
,
the
age
of
personal
genetic
testing
has
been
upon
us
.
Since that time, a growing number of private companies have come on the market mostly through the Internet, offering to scan your personal DNA and compare it to some disease markers of the blueprint, called DTC genetic tests.
Since
that
time
,
a
growing
number
of
private
companies
have
come
on
the
market
mostly
through
the
Internet
,
offering
to
scan
your
personal
DNA
and
compare
it
to
some
disease
markers
of
the
blueprint
,
called
DTC
genetic
tests
.
But over the last five years the medical world has been discussing excitedly about whether these DTC tests are helpful or harmful, scientifically believable or completely useless.
But
over
the
last
five
years
the
medical
world
has
been
discussing
excitedly
about
whether
these
DTC
tests
are
helpful
or
harmful
,
scientifically
believable
or
completely
useless
.
One of the usual criticisms is that the science is so new that no one really knows yet how to explain the information.
One
of
the
usual
criticisms
is
that
the
science
is
so
new
that
no
one
really
knows
yet
how
to
explain
the
information
.
"At present they largely remain in the period of research studies," notes Dr Greg Feero, special advisor to the director of genomic medicine at the US National Human Genome Research Institute.
``
At
present
they
largely
remain
in
the
period
of
research
studies
,
''
notes
Dr
Greg
Feero
,
special
advisor
to
the
director
of
genomic
medicine
at
the
US
National
Human
Genome
Research
Institute
.
Feero says there are two reasons.
Feero
says
there
are
two
reasons
.
"The first is that when they offer a test, are they really checking what they should check? And then the next is that even if it is believable, does what the test is checking really mean anything to your health?"
``
The
first
is
that
when
they
offer
a
test
,
are
they
really
checking
what
they
should
check
?
And
then
the
next
is
that
even
if
it
is
believable
,
does
what
the
test
is
checking
really
mean
anything
to
your
health
?
''
Other worries include the privacy of the results and how your personal genetic information might be used by insurance companies to refuse your insurance or your boss to dismiss you.
Other
worries
include
the
privacy
of
the
results
and
how
your
personal
genetic
information
might
be
used
by
insurance
companies
to
refuse
your
insurance
or
your
boss
to
dismiss
you
.
Or you could learn information with a huge social or personal impact, such as finding out that genetically you cannot possibly be the father of your child.
Or
you
could
learn
information
with
a
huge
social
or
personal
impact
,
such
as
finding
out
that
genetically
you
can
not
possibly
be
the
father
of
your
child
.
It can also give you risks that may break your life, such as whether you are at high risk of cancer, Parkinson or other terrible diseases.
It
can
also
give
you
risks
that
may
break
your
life
,
such
as
whether
you
are
at
high
risk
of
cancer
,
Parkinson
or
other
terrible
diseases
.
Criticisms over the tests are such that some countries, such as Germany, have banned them.
Criticisms
over
the
tests
are
such
that
some
countries
,
such
as
Germany
,
have
banned
them
.
In 2011, some scientists advised the US government that most tests should be done under the guidance of medical professionals.
In
2011
,
some
scientists
advised
the
US
government
that
most
tests
should
be
done
under
the
guidance
of
medical
professionals
.
The UK government also expressed its worries about DTC genetic tests and in August 2010made a set of rules to guide the development of genetic tests.
The
UK
government
also
expressed
its
worries
about
DTC
genetic
tests
and
in
August
2010made
a
set
of
rules
to
guide
the
development
of
genetic
tests
.
In 2011, three medical researchers published a review article in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, saying that such tests offered more risks than benefits.
In
2011
,
three
medical
researchers
published
a
review
article
in
the
International
Journal
of
Clinical
Practice
,
saying
that
such
tests
offered
more
risks
than
benefits
.
The most important reason is that the tests might create worries or unreal results or drive unnecessary medical treatments.
The
most
important
reason
is
that
the
tests
might
create
worries
or
unreal
results
or
drive
unnecessary
medical
treatments
.
They also noted some of the genetic information the tests are based on at present is far from being perfect.
They
also
noted
some
of
the
genetic
information
the
tests
are
based
on
at
present
is
far
from
being
perfect
.
It took 13years of international effort to map the human biological blueprint of all the genes that make us different people. The first rough draft was made in 2000. The last of our 23chromosomes was clearly described in 2006. Ever since then, the age of personal genetic testing has been upon us. Since that time, a growing number of private companies have come on the market mostly through the Internet, offering to scan your personal DNA and compare it to some disease markers of the blueprint, called DTC genetic tests.  But over the last five years the medical world has been discussing excitedly about whether these DTC tests are helpful or harmful, scientifically believable or completely useless. One of the usual criticisms is that the science is so new that no one really knows yet how to explain the information.  "At present they largely remain in the period of research studies," notes Dr Greg Feero, special advisor to the director of genomic medicine at the US National Human Genome Research Institute. Feero says there are two reasons. "The first is that when they offer a test, are they really checking what they should check? And then the next is that even if it is believable, does what the test is checking really mean anything to your health?"  Other worries include the privacy of the results and how your personal genetic information might be used by insurance companies to refuse your insurance or your boss to dismiss you. Or you could learn information with a huge social or personal impact, such as finding out that genetically you cannot possibly be the father of your child. It can also give you risks that may break your life, such as whether you are at high risk of cancer, Parkinson or other terrible diseases.  Criticisms over the tests are such that some countries, such as Germany, have banned them. In 2011, some scientists advised the US government that most tests should be done under the guidance of medical professionals. The UK government also expressed its worries about DTC genetic tests and in August 2010made a set of rules to guide the development of genetic tests.  In 2011, three medical researchers published a review article in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, saying that such tests offered more risks than benefits. The most important reason is that the tests might create worries or unreal results or drive unnecessary medical treatments. They also noted some of the genetic information the tests are based on at present is far from being perfect.