But people know nothing about it - and I'm worried about that. When you lick that envelope, you may be sending a more detailed message than you realize. Your saliva leaves a DNA fingerprint that not only says who you are, but also whether you have a genetic predisposition for certain diseases. Genetic testing is a valuable method currently being used by the police, insurance companies, and of course, physicians. Recently developed molecular techniques can determine the sequence of your DNA from just a few stray cells.
Genetic testing is a powerful tool that can be used for good or for bad.
Here are several areas where genetic testing is actively being used. Prenatal diagnosis discerns whether a fetus is at risk for various identifiable genetic diseases or traits, or recently to complement the Genetics of a sibling . Newborn screening involves the analysis of blood or tissue samples taken in early infancy in order to detect genetic diseases for which early intervention can avert serious health problems or death. Carrier screening identifies individuals with a gene or a chromosome abnormality that may cause problems either for offspring or the person screened. The testing of blood or tissue samples can indicate the existence of a particular genetic trait, changes in chromosomes, or changes in DNA that are associated with inherited diseases in asymptomatic individuals .