Genetic+Testing

[|**Genetic Testing**] Genetic Tests are usually done by taking and analyzing small samples of blood or body tissue. These tests are important because they determine whether or not you, you husband or wife, or you child could potentially be carrying certain genes that could possibly kill your child or grandchild. Genetic testing has been developed enough that doctors can use it to pinpoint missing or defective genes. The type of test needed depends on the particular diseases that the doctor may think that the person may have. If someone wants to get genetic testing for their baby before birth the couple may choose to get and amniocentesis. An amniocentesis is normally performed between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy. This can determine the sex of the baby or even whether or not it has a life threatening disease. Doctors recommend genetic testing in case a couple is planning to start a family, especially when one of them or a very close family member has an inherited illness. A doctor will determine whether or not you will need to be tested. But if you already have a child with a defect then you would get tested to determine whether or not your next child could be born with the same disorder. There are many, many factors that could contribute to a baby being born with a genetic issue such as Down syndrome. Even though there is a chance that the baby won’t be born with an illness the gene is passed on to the child though and it will carry it to adulthood. This means that it will possibly pass it on to his or her child and the child will have Down syndrome. Also another reason that you should get genetically tested is that the female has had one or more miscarriages, or she is over 34. If she has more than one miscarriage this means she has a severe chromosomal problems and if she is over 34 the chance of having a child with a chromosomal problem greatly increases. Although having advances in genetic testing have improved a doctor’s ability to find and treat illnesses there are still limits that can’t be crossed. Genetic tests can identify a //particular// problem gene but it won’t tell how severe the problem is.
 * 1995-2010**

March 10, 2010**
 * IThomas