The Benefits of Genetic Testing for Parentssubmitted on 8 September 2019
Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times for you or your partner. The anticipation of having a child, and the changes one can bring may fill you with strong, positive feelings. However, you may also have some concerns over the baby, including whether they will inherent some sort of genetic disorder, such as cancer or cystic fibrosis. One method you may have heard from that can predict these conditions is genetic testing. Performed at specialized labs such as Harry Stylli's Progenity, genetic testing involves doctors checking your and your partner's DNA for diseased genes and the probability of carrying or having genetic disorders.
This method is not for everyone, but it does have a great number of advantages for expectant parents. Learn more about how genetic testing can help you prepare for your child's arrival.
The Discovery of Family History
One of the major advantages of genetic testing for families is discovering their risk factor for several genetic conditions. In general, it takes for bad genes on both sides of the family for the child to have the condition. If only one side has the gene, the child becomes a carrier instead. Not everyone knows their complete family history, and if you or your partner are unaware, there is a risk one of you is a carrier. Genetic testing will allow you to determine which of the two are carriers of the defective gene. It also provides useful information about the rest of the respective families.
Preparation for Unknown Conditions
Some of the faulty genes found in tests such as these are passed down and connected to familial relations, race or ethnicity. There is a chance that some of these conditions are not linked to these factors. This means you or your partner could carry a disorder without knowing. A genetic test can put any doubts to rest and help you make the right decisions for your child well in advance.
The simplicity of the Process
Another major benefit of genetic testing is how easy it is for you and your partner to take. Most of the time, testing requires a sample of DNA, and it can come from numerous sources, such as a small bit of blood, saliva, skin or any other tissue. After the sample is sent to professionals, they can go through the DNA samples and try to find any genes associated with these conditions. There are also more advanced testing options, such as amniocentesis, where doctors take amniotic fluid from the uterus to test the cells.
Findings for Multiple Potential Conditions
The nature of these tests allows doctors to seek and possibly detect numerous conditions at once. A few of these genetic disorders and diseases include:
• Sickle cell disease
• Age-related muscular degeneration
• Tay-Sachs disease
• Celiac disease
• Fragile X syndrome
These tests can cover a large variety of possible diseases you might fear. Newer, expanded versions of these tests can find even more diseases and predispositions.
Genetic tests can help you and your partner learn about the child's potential future. You can weigh the benefits and decide if this is the right decision for you or not.
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