Elizabeth Hale- DNA Testing

Elizabeth Hale- DNA Testing

by Deleted user -
Number of replies: 4

Within the last decade, companies like 23 & me, Veritas and Genos have been emerging and becoming more popular for analyzing DNA. The concept is pretty neat and simple actually. People start by getting a package in the mail with everything they need in order to obtain a sample. It is done by swabbing the inside of their cheek to get salivary DNA and send it back to the company where the company analyzes it (Genos). 23 & me claims, “Our CLIA-certified lab extracts DNA from cells in your saliva sample. Then the lab processes the DNA on a genotyping chip that reads hundreds of thousands of variants in your genome” (23 & me). With the DNA sample that was sent, people can find out their risk for certain diseases and ancestry lines (Genos). Along with test results, they also look at methods on how to reduce the likelihood of getting that said disease. 


23 & me, Veritas and Genos do something a little different from each other. Genos performs an exome analysis and claims that it provides 50 times more data to comparable services (Genos). 23 & me looks at specific locations in the DNA and identifies variations (23 & me). Veritas can determine the carrier status of a particular gene and can tell if someone is a carrier for an autosomal recessive gene (Veritas).


While these companies seem very cool and beneficial, they also seem a little scary. Although they look pretty reliable, we don’t know for sure how accurate they are. I have mixed feelings on whether or not I would want to do this. I would love to know about my ancestry and my risks for certain diseases but also I know myself and I know that I would live my life comp;eteley differently. For example, If i found out that I have alzheimers in my genes or I am at risk for cancer, I would live my life in fear trying everything possible to prevent the disease. I would be so caught up in not getting the disease that I would forget my passions and the true joy of life. There is some benefit to the unknown. It also doesn’t sit well with me if I send over my genetic information not knowing what could happen. If there is a security breach in the system, then all my genetic DNA could be sold. In regards to personal medical care, I believe that this system of DNA analyzing could be very useful in the future. 


23andMe. (n.d.). DNA Genetic Testing & Analysis. Retrieved from: 

https://www.23andme.com/?new=true. 


Genos. (n.d.). Crowdsourcing Cures on your terms. Retrieved from: https://genos.co/. 


Veritas. (n.d.) Whole Genome Sequencing Company. Retrieved from: 

https://www.veritasgenetics.com/. 




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In reply to Deleted user

Re: Elizabeth Hale- DNA Testing

by Deleted user -
Hey Elizabeth! I really resonated with your post. At the end of your post, you talked about how you have mixed emotions about genetic testing and I totally agree. Especially when it comes to finding out the results of the test, I would definitely be so anxious if I found out I was at risk for a disease. I also fear that these companies don’t have secure enough databases to keep our genetic information secure. But like you said, systems of DNA analyzing from these companies could be a major hit and very useful in the future. But do the benefits really outweigh the consequences?

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In reply to Deleted user

Re: Elizabeth Hale- DNA Testing

by Deleted user -
Hey Elizabeth! I really enjoyed reading your post and all the different points you discussed. I really thought your opinion about DNA testing was very interesting, because we have such different outlooks about the matter. Personally, I would feel comfortable with discovering what diseases I was more prone to have so I could change my lifestyle to improve my chances of not getting the disease or not having it as severely. My grandmother struggles with Alzheimer’s and it has been difficult to watch her forget so much about her life. Therefore, if I am more prone to have it maybe I would be more intentional about journaling, videoing, and taking pictures of my life. Those are just the few thoughts I have about the matter.

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In reply to Deleted user

Re: Elizabeth Hale- DNA Testing

by Deleted user -
Hey Elizabeth,
I am right there with you about the genetic testing. I am kind of on the fence. I think it can be used for some cool stuff like you mentioned, ancestry and risks for certain diseases. At the same time though I am not one hundred percent sure that I would want to know all those things because it would affect the way I lived my everyday life. I did not think about how I would live if I knew I was at risk for having Alzheimers. I feel like I would probably try to write down literally every single thing throughout the day and video things to make sure I did not forget them. Or if I did forget something because I was busy and life happens, I would think that I was developing the disease make a big deal out of it. I like how you said you feel like you would be so caught up in trying to prevent yourself from getting the disease that you would not be able to live to the fullest because I think that is exactly how I would be as well.

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In reply to Deleted user

Re: Elizabeth Hale- DNA Testing

by Deleted user -
I really liked that you explained that there are so many benefits to this type of genetic testing even if it isnt for specific disorder testing. I also would live my life in so much fear if I found out that I had a genetic disorder. I wouldn't want to know either because I wouldn't be able to make connections because I would not want to hurt or anyone and make them have to lose me early. I think that this would keep me from having or wanting children and that would make me really sad but I would not want to give another person a genetic disorder.

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