You are probably all familiar with the widely available genetic ancestry testing kits that are advertised frequently on TV and in social and print media like 23 and Me and AncestryDNA. You might not be aware that there are now over two dozen companies offering this kind of testing to the general population! This speaks to the widespread interest in learning more about our ancestry as well as potential health conditions that might be lurking in our genetic code! But these tests aren’t cheap and before shelling out the big bucks, it’s important to really understand what information they can provide and what your results might mean! I’ve posted a recent article from Science on The Science and Business of Genetic Ancestry Testing.

Part 1: Read that and then I want you to do your own internet search…find an article or site that discusses the pros and cons of these tests to share with the group. Consider some of the following questions when drafting your post: What do you think of these tests? Would you pay for one? Would you take one if they weren’t cost-prohibitive? What part of the information they can provide is most interesting to you? Do you think the average person understands these tests and their meaning? Can you think of any negatives to making this kind of testing widely available?

Part 2: Please place your initial post, respond to at least 2 of your peers’ posts

Peer 1:

After reading this article I feel that it is less likely that I would purpose a genetic ancestry test. I think they can be fun however, they might not be applicable in a medical setting. Purchasers of these products should take the information they learn with a grain of salt. Especially because they match with DNA within their database, these databases are for-profit, and their databases are not peer-reviewed. I think a danger of these tests is taking the information to heart especially when the genetic tests provide information on health, longevity, and athletic ability. The one positive a see in these tests is that individuals are able to gain access to scholarships, housing, and educational opportunities by finding out information about who their ancestors are. This can provide a considerable amount of comfort for some.

Considering there is some risk and uncertainty of current tests’ accuracy I wonder if the growing feeling of Epigenetics, which considers how our ancestor’s life (trauma, good and bad choices) and our lifestyle choices directly affect our DNA by switching on and off of genes. I think if they were to take epigenetic factors into consideration it might help to improve the accuracy.

I reviewed an article for the University of Michigan that also considered the pro and cons of genetic testing. Above I mention how genetic tests can be a comfort to individuals, however, they can also reveal mutation which could affect individuals in their lifetime or their children (Joy, 2017). Rajani Aatre, a genetic counselor at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center points out, “The science is easy to process; the emotional component is not” (2017).

Aatre points out that a lot of consideration should be put in before purchasing a genetic test kit, even a recommendation from a primary care physician she suggests should come first before purchasing. Some pros are finding any possible mutations or becoming aware that there is no or only a small amount of risk of contracting a certain disease, and it can help to determine which medications would work well for the patient, and what lifestyle changes might be supporting the individual and their family. Cons are that not everyone is eligible for testing unless indicated by red flags in their family history, screening is tailored to specific areas (they cannot receive testing for everything), and testing might uncover information that is emotional to process. Additionally, insurance may only cover newborns, mothers who are expecting, and patients that qualify based on their family history.