Mumbo Jumbo and Genetic Gumbo
Ever wonder what’s in your DNA? What secrets lie embedded in the strands of nucleotides coiled up to resemble gummy worms? Are you at risk for diabetes or cancer? Are you prone to sunburns or allergies? What ailments and benefits might you pass on to your children? For the low price of only $400 you too can decode your genome – the key to your entire genetic profile. The Company 23andMe markets such tests and is considering offering a wholesale version to medical providers in hopes that they too will see the profit incentive in commercializing genetic information.
While mail-order genetics may seem like a harmless waste of $400 – there are consequences to consider. Until recently, such tests were aimed at satisfying a curiosity about ancestry and family trees. The bulk of these DNA kits now, however, are aimed at more serious subjects – disease vulnerabilities and health forecasting.
Skepticism is prevalent in the science and medical communities, but 23andMe’s continues to earn average customers seeking out its genotyping service. That service examines 550,000 of the 6 billion letters in the human genome for variants and mutations known to affect the chances of developing 116 diseases and traits. Want to know if you might be bald one day – this is the company to talk to.
While the results may be accurate, they represent a small snapshot of a person’s genetic makeup. Environmental factors can influence the onset or prevention of various conditions and the limited information offered by these tests exists in a vacuum, with little consideration paid to external and internal influences.
Moreover, if this service becomes yet another test that doctors can offer, those who do not perform it may see an increase in malpractice insurance premiums while those who do offer such services may reap the consequences if the information is incorrect or incomplete. It’s a double-edged sword.
As the New York Times points out, this is a situation of Buyer Beware – for both patient and doctor alike.
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