Genetic Testing
By: Lou Ann Witte
Medina Valley Middle
School
Louann.witte@mvisd.com
What is Genetic Testing?
Genetic testing examines genetic
materials to find gene mutations
Direct examination of DNA
molecule detects genetic disorders
A DNA sample can be obtained from
any tissue
Topic Web
Genetic
Ancestry
Ethics
Laws
Cost
Genetic
Testing
Human
Genome
Project
Genetic
Counseling
Genetic
Engineering
Social
Issues
Prenatal
Gene
Therapy
Genetic Tests Used for:
Carrier Screening – identifying unaffected
individuals who carry one copy of a gene
for a disease
Screens genetic flaws among embryos used
in in vitro fertilization
Prenatal diagnostic testing
Newborn screening
GT Uses continued:
Presymptomatic testing for
predicting adult-onset disorders
Confirmation of diagnosis for
symptomatic individuals
Forensic/identity testing
Inside Cells
 Cells – working units of every
living system
 Cell Nucleus – contains chromosomes
 Chromosomes – 23 pairs in humans which
are made up of DNA
 DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - instructions needed to
direct all activities
 Genes – a section of DNA that is coded for a
specific trait
Inside a Cell
NUCLEUS
DNA
DNA base
pairs –
A pairs with T
G pairs with C
YouTube Genetics 101
Part 1: What
are genes?
Gene – a section of DNA
GENE
23 pairs of
Chromosomes
The Human
Genome Project
mapped every
gene on these
chromosomes.
There are
20,000-25,000
genes on the
chromosomes.
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
13 year project by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and
National Institutes of Health
Goals:
Identify 20,000 – 25,000 genes in the
human DNA
Store information in genome databases
Improve tools for data analysis
Transfer technology to private sector
Address ethical, legal and social issues that
arise from the project
Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing
Predictive tests will not give a yes/no
answer
Genetic tests can not guarantee the
disease will develop
Cannot predict how severely the person
carrying the gene will be affected
Many diseases are the result of interaction
between genes and environment
Negative test results may decrease
your quality of life
Pros and Cons continued:
Genetic testing is expensive – insurance
doesn’t cover most tests
Validity of tests questioned because of the
margin of error associated with tests
Normal test may lull you into a false sense of
security
Tests may reveal you are susceptible to heart
disease so you make changes to your lifestyle
Helps new parents make decisions about birth
of child with special needs
More Pros and Cons
An innocent person could be convicted of a
crime because of inaccurate DNA testing
A person cannot alter their DNA since DNA is
unaffected by outside contaminants
DNA can be used to identify family
members
DNA is the most precise method of
identifying criminals and victims
Trace amounts of DNA at a crime scene
can falsely implicate an innocent person
Trends of Genetic Testing
Genetic knowledge may be used to
deny:
employment
social services
insurance benefits (health and life)
drivers license
loans from banks
mortgages on houses
medical treatment
military service
More Trends
Pre marital genetic testing to determine
compatibility
Carrier screenings given to certain ethnic
groups at high risk for diseases (Tay Sachs –
Jewish, Sickle Cell – Blacks)
Fetal gene therapy to diseases or problems
found before a child is born
Cures for most of today’s common
diseases
Individuals alter their DNA to enhance
appearances, athletic abilities, and mental capacity
Future Olympian?
Is your unborn
child a future
Olympian?
Genetic testing
can hold the
answer!
Genetic Olympian
Corp. will test your
child and offer
gene therapy to
ensure exceptional
athletic abilities!!!
Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
 GINA is a federal law that protects
Americans from being treated unfairly
because of differences in their DNA
 Prevents discrimination from
health insurers and employers
on basis of DNA
 Does not cover life insurance,
disability insurance and long-term
care insurance
23andMe
A privately held personal genomics and
biotechnology company based in Mountain
View, Calif., 23andMe, claims to be
developing new methods and technologies
that will enable consumers to understand
their own genetic information.
Genetic Testing for Health, Disease & Ancestry; DNA
Test - 23andMe
Founders: Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki (married to
Sergey Brin the founder of Google)
Questions to Consider
1. Who should have access to personal genetic
information and how will it be used?
2. Who owns and controls genetic information?
3. What are the larger societal issues raised by new
reproductive technologies?
4. How do we prepare the public to make informed
choices?
5. Should testing be performed when no treatment is
available?
6. Should parents have the right to have their minor
children tested for adult-onset diseases?
More Questions
7. Do people’s genes make them behave in a
particular way?
8. Where is the line between medical treatment
and enhancement?
9. Are GM (genetically modified) foods and other
products safe to humans and the environment?
10.Who owns genes and other pieces of DNA?
11.Will patenting DNA sequences limit their
accessibility and development into useful
products?
Websites
www.genome.gov (has info for educators and students)
www.ndsu.edu/pubweb
www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/info
www.ehow.com/about_5397146_genetic-testing-pros-cons
www.cnn.com/HEALTH/bioethics/9808/genetics.part1/
www.allaboutpopularissues.org/human-genome-project.htm
www.genomics.energy.gov (ordered poster here- free)
www.23andme.com
MOVIE – “Gattaca” – featured a world where
children were genetically constructed for
perfection – there are two classes of humans:
those who are genetically perfect and those who
are genetically inferior