Genetic Tests

Question: genetic tests? What do you think about genetic test?I am in favor of genetic testing for the child of future parents.

Answer: Genetic testing allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and can also be used to determine a person's ancestry. Every person carries two copies of every gene, one inherited from their mother, one inherited from their father. The human genome is believed to contain around 25,000 - 35,000 genes. In addition to studying chromosomes to the level of individual genes, genetic testing in a broader sense includes biochemical tests for the possible presence of genetic diseases, or mutant forms of genes associated with increased risk of developing genetic disorders. Genetic testing identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. Most of the time, testing is used to find changes that are associated with inherited disorders. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. Several hundred genetic tests are currently in use, and more are being developed. Now with this being said I am all for it, my BIL has Down's and knowing how that may or may not affect my potential children is all the encouragement I need. It can answer sooo many Q's for you, ease your doubts and fears. Good luck to you and if there is something in your family history that concerns you, I would go for it. I mean what do you really have to lose....

Question: What genetic tests can be done before 20 weeks? I am booked for a nuchal translucency but I am wondering what other genetic tests for disabilities or abnormalities can be done before 20 weeks? I am willing to pay for the tests myself. I want to do every test possible. Could you tell me the names of any you know so I can ask my doctor? PS: I am fully aware of false positives.

Answer: Chorionic Villus sampling and amniocentesis. However, both are invasive procedures that carry a risk of miscarriage, or at the very least, damage to your babies limbs, and they are not carried out routinely or by request. Doctors will only carry out these procedures if it is deemed medically necessary (ie - your blood work shows potential for an increased risk of certain birth defects)

Question: Do you think it is important to have in depth genetic tests done on your dogs before breeding them? Do you think that if the breed or breeds (if mixing) have a predisposition for hip dysplasia that they should be x-rayed? Or do you think it is OK to breed if your dog doesn't show any signs of it? Do you think that you should run tests to verify that your animal does not carry and genetic defects? Or not? Why or why not? My mistake in wording "makeup2more"! I meant in depth testing to make sure that there aren't any genetic issues. Sorry! ;-) Dogjudge, I was trying to be "politically correct" ....which is rare for me. There are a lot of "designer hybrid" (gag!) breeders that I thought should see this question and the answers.

Answer: My dog Logan is an AKC champion. He has OFA hips - excellent He has OFA elbows - normal He has OFA patella normal He has CERF and gonioscopy normal He sired 1 litter (16 months ago) - pups turned out very nice. Based on his pedigree, his accomplishments and his health clearances, I'd have no problem studding him out again. However, I may NEVER stud him out again. Even with all that, it's still a coin flip. He's still fairly young, and I'm not yet fully convinced that I will want to use him again. While all the health clearances are important (for breeding purposes), they really don't guarantee anything. I think it would help to see the health clearances of several generations in a dog's line, and perhaps their siblings, but that's not very do-able (or practical) for most breeders. Even then, a 50-50 chance would only turn into a 65-35 chance at producing nice puppies. From a puppy person's perspective however, I think I'd like to know that the breeder made some attempt to pair two quality dogs together before I put down a deposit. There was a time when I might have taken the health clearances to imply some sort of guarantee on the puppies, but I now I know better. ADDED: I wouldn't mind seeing health clearances on my dogs' get. I think it might help me better gague the quality pup that I'm producing. However, I believe asking pet people to do health clearances on spayed/neutered dogs is unreasonable.

Question: What are the monetary costs and an outline of genetic tests during pregnancy? Anyone have good links to info? I was wondering when is it typical to do genetic testing during a pregnancy, how much does it cost (does insurance ever cover?), what can be tested for, and what are the dangers of genetic testing during pregnancy.

Answer: i will try to answer ...........

Question: Are there any new genetic newborn baby tests available other than the ones routinely done? I wanted to know about new genetic disorder tests available in market other than the ones routinely done for a baby in ICU? My neighbor's son is in NICU since last night and doctors are saying he might be positive for some metabolic disorders. Are their any specific test which would tell us more about what is wrong with the baby?

Answer: Ask your Pediatrician to do Expanded Newborn screening for the baby to diagnose 100+ metabolic disorder which is usually confused with sepsis in newborn babies admitted in NICU with no known cause. PreventiNe offers Direct to Home Newborn Genetic Screening for newborn babies. You can be anywhere in the world and still get this test done. You can order the test online and send the sample by post. It is a urine based Non-invasive confirmatory test superior to regular newborn screening available in the market. Test results are highly reliable and usually helps in diagnosing any pathology in metabolism. Log on to their website for more info http://www.preventine.com/pnbs/order_online.html .

Question: Can genetic tests have a false negative result? My son was diagnosed in-utero with achondroplasia (dwarfism) and his testing was negative, but he looks like he has it? Other tests were negative, too. He sees nine doctors and they can't tell me anything. All I know is he has had 8 surgeries and is sick all the time. I just wanted to see if they were any personal experiences out there. He sees nine doctors and they can't tell me anything. All I know is he has had 8 surgeries and is sick all the time. I just wanted to see if they were any personal experiences out there.

Answer: Nothing is 100% aaccurate. A friend of mine was told her son would be born with Downs Syndrome. She refused to terminate the pregnancy. He was born perfectly normal.

Question: What genetic tests should be ran on Pomeranians? Was thinking about breeding my orangesable. I said thinking. She meets all standards and shows no signs of defaults. She is 2 yrs old and will be coming into her second heat soon.

Answer: Did you show her and earn her CH title to proove that she meets the standard? In my eyes, my Crested fits the standard.. another person may see minor faults and be able to point out why another dog is a better example of the breed. What health problems are common in the breed? OFA is for orthopedic problems.. they also keep record of things like epilepsy, thyroid problems and bleeding disorders (thyroid and blood disorders require blood test, while orthopedic problems require an x-ray) CERF is for eye problems.. this needs done yearly, since eyes change so much. This exam can only be done by a Canine Opthamalogist. Sometimes dog shows and kennel clubs hold CERF clinics. You can find a list of CERF clinics/vets on their website http://www.vmdb.org/cerf.html BAER is a hearing test. Optigen is a genetic test.. what they can check for, depends on the breed. In my breed they can see if a dog is a carrier for one type of PRA. http://www.optigen.com/ Some of the experienced, reputable breeders that are on here may be able to inform you more about the tests. I do not breed and only have speutered pets.. so I have never tested any of my pets.. no need to, since they are not reproducing!

Question: How do we go get one of those genetic tests that tells us our ancestery? Like the one Oprah took that told her shes12% asian? Does anyone know more about those?

Answer: I don't know which company Oprah used, but you might check out this one: http://www.familytreedna.com/ I gave them a DNA sample last year and they are tracing me back to my English ancestors.

Question: Can genetic tests only test your ancestry on a matrilineal line? I was curious about my royal family, but it's my grandmother's grandfather (a guy.) Why can't this connection show up in a test? So, how do people test ancestry then? I'm not imagining this! I know there are tests for males along a Y chromosome line. How about for women...can you only do the mitochondria testing along female lines?

Answer: Genetic testing is "the analysis of RNA, chromosomes (DNA), proteins, and certain metabolites in order to detect heritable disease-related genotypes, mutations, phenotypes, or karyotypes for clinical purposes."[4] It can provide information about a person's genes and chromosomes throughout life. Available types of testing include: Newborn screening: Newborn screening is used just after birth to identify genetic disorders that can be treated early in life. The routine testing of infants for certain disorders is the most widespread use of genetic testing—millions of babies are tested each year in the United States. All states currently test infants for phenylketonuria (a genetic disorder that causes mental illness if left untreated) and congenital hypothyroidism (a disorder of the thyroid gland). Diagnostic testing: Diagnostic testing is used to diagnose or rule out a specific genetic or chromosomal condition. In many cases, genetic testing is used to confirm a diagnosis when a particular condition is suspected based on physical mutations and symptoms. Diagnostic testing can be performed at any time during a person's life, but is not available for all genes or all genetic conditions. The results of a diagnostic test can influence a person's choices about health care and the management of the disease. Carrier testing: Carrier testing is used to identify people who carry one copy of a gene mutation that, when present in two copies, causes a genetic disorder. This type of testing is offered to individuals who have a family history of a genetic disorder and to people in ethnic groups with an increased risk of specific genetic conditions. If both parents are tested, the test can provide information about a couple's risk of having a child with a genetic condition. Prenatal testing: Prenatal testing is used to detect changes in a fetus's genes or chromosomes before birth. This type of testing is offered to couples with an increased risk of having a baby with a genetic or chromosomal disorder. In some cases, prenatal testing can lessen a couple's uncertainty or help them decide whether to abort the pregnancy. It cannot identify all possible inherited disorders and birth defects, however. Predictive and presymptomatic testing: Predictive and presymptomatic types of testing are used to detect gene mutations associated with disorders that appear after birth, often later in life. These tests can be helpful to people who have a family member with a genetic disorder, but who have no features of the disorder themselves at the time of testing. Predictive testing can identify mutations that increase a person's chances of developing disorders with a genetic basis, such as certain types of cancer. For example, an individual with a mutation in BRCA1 has a 65% cumulative risk of breast cancer [1]. Presymptomatic testing can determine whether a person will develop a genetic disorder, such as hemochromatosis (an iron overload disorder), before any signs or symptoms appear. The results of predictive and presymptomatic testing can provide information about a person’s risk of developing a specific disorder and help with making decisions about medical care. Forensic testing: Forensic testing uses DNA sequences to identify an individual for legal purposes. Unlike the tests described above, forensic testing is not used to detect gene mutations associated with disease. This type of testing can identify crime or catastrophe victims, rule out or implicate a crime suspect, or establish biological relationships between people (for example, paternity). Research testing: Research testing includes finding unknown genes, learning how genes work and advancing our understanding of genetic conditions. The results of testing done as part of a research study are usually not available to patients or their healthcare providers.

Question: Should insurance companies be allowed to request genetic tests? If they do that, they will be denying almost everyone and they will lose money that way. They'll have to determine what is worth the risk and what isn't.

Answer: No, because then they will insist that everyone undergo genetic testing before they give them an insurance policy. And then if you have anything in your genetic background, even if you don't actually have a particular illness and/or disease, they will use that genetic evidence as grounds to deny you insurance.

Question: Should genetic tests be required to verify race for affirmative action programs?

Answer: Yes cos you get people like Mariah Carey or Chris Hughton who you can't tell what ethnicity they are!

Question: Did they just discover an Alien in Siberia? Genetic tests from an old corpse shows not related to? neanderthals or modern humans. First Alien on Earth?

Answer: First alien....with human DNA? Please explain. Carl Sagan once remarked that alien life is likely so different we might no recognize it. Much less interact with it. Remains have been found with recognizable hominid DNA. The DNA is closely related to both humans and Neanderthals. Occam's Razor states that you don't need to add to an explaination.There's no reason to all "alien" to the find. It's most likely a variation of a know species or a new species. That's it. Were you to go (spooky music) "Oh alien!" then you'd also need to explain how the DNA is so incredibly similar (parallel evolution on a distant star with the same rare chain of accidents that lead to us? Naw) Then how the being got to earth (see Arthur C Clarke "Where's Everyone?) and finally where did the spaceship go. Oh yes. They found a pinky bone NOT a corpse.

Question: Are there any genetic tests available to verify Native American ancestry?

Answer: That is debatable. What the DNA testing facility can do is compare your DNA to samples of DNA they have in their database. If they have samples of Native DNA then they can tell you that you have a percentage of markers in common with their known Native DNA samples. They cannot tell you which Tribe or Nation your ancestor was part of. They cannot tell you any specifics other than the percentage of markers you have in common with their known native samples. And none of the Federally Recognized Tribes or Nations accept DNA testing as proof of Native American ancestry. And Mr Two Crows is correct when he says that none of them will do the research for you. It is up to you to prove your Native ancestry I have done a lot of research into DNA testing and posted the results on my website: http://www.coolrogue.net/genealogy/dnate…

Question: How accurate are the genetic genealogy tests? I looked at this one site, www.dnaancestryproject.com and im wondering, is this worth doing? How accurate can this really be and how much information can they provide me? Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated.

Answer: DNA testing can tell you in which areas of the world your ancestors have probably lived over periods of thousands of years. Your DNA results can also be used to connect you, if you are really lucky, to other people who may have different surnames to you, but who share the same DNA proving that you likely share a common ancestor. It can also prove a more recent connection to someone of the same, or even a different, surname in the event that you do not have a paper trail to prove that link. The results of a DNA test are generally extremely accurate, it is a new science which is evolving all the time, but for the purpose of genealogy it is really quite adequate. I have used Family Tree DNA and can thoroughly recommend them, they are also the largest and most experienced company in the field, their site will give you all the information you might need to make a decision. Good luck ! http://www.familytreedna.com

Question: I know that nowadays you can take genetic tests to find our your African/Ethnic lineage... I would like to take one of these tests one day. My mother is European/White and my father is African, although I've never met him, would I still be able to take one of these special genetic tests to find out my African lineage?

Answer: Here is a link to African Ancestry, inc., a company that does such testing. I think it csts about $349.: http://www.africanancestry.com/cmsdocume… I always wanted to do it but had put it off but now you've got me psyched again!

Question: How accuarate are genetic DNA tests done on cheek cells? I'm talking about the tests done to find ancestors & native origins by swabbing the cheek

Answer: Very accurate. Check with www.familytreedna.com for more information. That is the site I used...

Question: Are there genetic tests that can determine if a person is white?

Answer: You can use one's haplotypes and find a connection. That would tell you a recent part of your ancestry but it wouldn't be as simple as saying hes white.

Question: Are genetic DNA tests real/accurate? Has anyone tried these DNA genetic tests? How accurate are they? I want to know how much European, African, etc. I have in my history. Im debating about getting one but it ranges from $200 - $400. Anyone know the validity of these tests?

Answer: I did one of these DNA tests, and got interesting results. They said my fairly recent ancestory included English, Scots, Irish, Dutch, German, and Norman. Most of this mishmash clearly could not be concluded from my name, yet jibes perfectly with what I know of my family tree. They also, however, said that going back 1000 years or so I had one Jewish ancestor, several Mongol, and a cluster of Scandinavian. The Mongols make sense considering their invasion of Europe in the 13th Century, and I guess the Scands can come in through Vikings. In any case. it's amusing and not to be taken too seriously. But I tend to believe it is valid.

Question: How can I find people interested in performing genetic/psychological tests on me?

Answer: If you are of age, you can apply to be a test subject at a number of university studies. Ask the local Psychology departments if they know of any studies you might qualify for.

Question: How many genetic diseases can be tested for? I'm wondering how many genetic tests they are able to test for. I know there are already over 1300 different tests available, but how many diseases are there that can be tested for?

Answer: many genetic diseases can be tested. Here's the situation. I have cystic fibrosis. There are over 1600 DNA mutations for this illness, any of them can be a diagnosis of this illness. this is just chrome 7. there can be other mutations to chrome 7 for other illnesses, ie candida predisposition, something like that. most hosp/clinics will initially test for the most common mutations and are limited to the 32 most common mutations, pt can fall outside that area. I did. the 23/32 most common were negative. further testing proved that. It was expensive, $1150. out of pocket. took about a month. For amniotic screening, many genetic diseases can be tested, most common are tested for unless known family hx and specific testing is requested. Ambry genetics does mostly cystic fibrosis.