Tracing Individual's DNA

[amirm]

My brother had his DNA tested for just $100 and was encouraging me to do the same (I think he used 23andme service). I just landed on a interview and this video that talks about Nat Geo doing the same:

The one that my brother did apparently identifies genes that might dictate disease and such.

What is the general view of our medical experts on such things? Worth the $100 or $200 to do? Has anyone done that and can share their feedback here?

 

[Steve Williams]

I hear them advertising on the radio every day

 

[marty]

Amir,
This topic is the subject of so much discussion in the medical world, one could not possibly do it justice here. There are surely positive and negative aspects to being so well "informed". For example, if you knew you would be destined to contract a fatal disease, several obvious questions come to mind. such as 1) would you want to know? 2) if those tests revealed a likelihood of passing on a lethal trait, would it alter your plans for having children? 3) Should insurance companies have access to that information to alter your rates or perhaps even deny coverage to you or your offspring? The list of pragmatic, ethical and medical questions simply abound. One can only hope we enter this brave new world wisely and be made better individuals, patients and citizens who contribute to society as a result. Unfortunately you can bet it will be a very very difficult journey. We simply have never seen anything like this in the history of mankind. A very brave new world indeed.
Marty

 

[amirm]

Thanks Marty. I had not thought about those aspects. Definitely food for thought. Seems like when the costs got down so low, it has become a "disruptive" technology.

 

[cjfrbw]

Unfortunately, they told me I was 98.8 percent the same as this guy, I wish I never had it done.

 

[amirm]

I could take everything but those lips!