Genetic testing is often also known as DNA tests. Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) is a nuclear acid that stores all the information about genetics. This DNA determines the specific qualities of human beings.
What is genetic testing?
Genetic testing is a test to see if there is a mutation or alteration in the genetic composition of your body, which can cause disease. Nowadays, there are thousands of types of genetic tests used, and are predicted to continue to evolve.
Why Genetic testing?
Considering that cancer is a genetic disease, the knowledge of genetic change is absolutely necessary to understand the process of cancer, to predict the risk of cancer, to know the appropriate therapy, and to alert the recurrence of cancer.
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Types of genetic tests
After knowing what is genetic testing, next we will discuss about The Types of genetic tests.
Genetic testing is relatively new in the health world, and genetic testing is very different to diagnostic testing. There are various types of genetic testing, including the following:
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic tests are used to accurately identify the disease and the cause of the disease. Diagnostic test results can help you to manage your health and take treatment or healing measures against the disease.
Pre-Symptomatic genetic tests
It is a genetic test predictive, by conducting a pre-symptomatic genetic test. The function of this type of genetic test is to find changes that occur in the gene that is potentially increasing the likelihood of developing a certain disease in a person.
Carrier Testing
This test is done to find people who are potential carriers of genetic change, related to an illness. The person who is a carrier is not necessarily infected or shows signs of the disease. But they have the ability to transfer these gene changes to their children. And their offspring could later be with the disease or be the carrier again for the offspring of the next generation.
Prenatal testing
Prenatal testing is done in pregnant women, the benefit is to detect and identify the fetus against the possibility of contract certain diseases, related genetic factors.
Newborn Screening
This model genetic Test is done in the newborn. This genetic test is usually done one or two days after the baby is born, with the aim of knowing whether the baby has a certain disease, or at risk of a certain disease that can be disruptive to its health and growth.
Pharmacogenomic DNA Testing
This test is to determine the influence of drugs on the body and how the body responds to these medicines in the metabolism process. The purpose of this type of Pharmacogenomic DNA testing is to help paramedic determine the best treatment and according to the genetic condition of a patient.
Research Genetic
Genetic testing aimed at research. With genetic research will help researchers know the genetic contribution in a person’s illness or health. Sometimes the results do not directly help overcome health disorders, but will help researchers broaden the understanding of body genetics, health and disease in humans.
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What Is Genetic Testing Benefits?
After knowing what is genetic testing, and The Types of genetic tests, next we will discuss about The genetic testing benefits.
Here are the uses of genetic testing:
Learning Evolution
Archaeologists now use DNA tests to record genetic code and Life development on Earth since centuries ago.
It generates a DNA database that can be used for reference and comparison.
By making DNA profiles of organisms, scientists have proved the evolution and genetic mutation and answered questions about the origins of species.
DNA Paternity test
The DNA paternity test is the most definite way to confirm the relationship between parents and children, whether for peace of mind or for legal issues.
There is also a test to know the siblings or grandparents, who can be part of a legal case or know the previous incomplete family history.
Other benefits
- Diagnose the disease.
- Identifying changes in genes that cause a diagnosed disease.
- Determining how severe the disease is suffered.
- Help the Doctor to determine the type of treatment needed by the patient.
- Identifying a particular disease in a newborn.
- Uncover inherited diseases
- Identifying mutations
Thank you very much for reading What Is Genetic Testing: Definition, Types, and Benefits, hopefully useful.
DISCLAIMER
The information on this page regarding therapeutic intervention based on the mutation and/or profile of gene expression does not replace expert advice or medical practitioner (clinician, physician) recommendations.
