First let me start off this blog with a short video on what this topic mean exactly.
With this new boom in at-home genetic testing I want to let you guys know just how helpful it could be. Basically you buy a kit that is then sent to your home. You then give a saliva sample which then is tested for genetic markers for 10 diseases. This simple little test allows people to see what they could most likely get and help them to prepare or be proactive in not getting the disease. These tests aren’t a guaranteed diagnosis but more of a tool. You should still go to your doctor or professional for true diagnosis. These new at home genetic testers could prove to be very useful in the near future in learning how diseases are passed down and catch them early. Researchers are also using that data to refine, or develop entirely new, treatments for diseases that science had since deemed untreatable. From there, the prospect of curing incurable conditions seems closer than its ever been. Is it worth the risk though? As more people take these kind of tests the more information these researchers are gathering which allows for more progress towards treating diseases though untreatable such as Alzheimer’s. With the more information that is gathered scientist then can predict earlier what a person will develop if anything at all. This will allow parents to know before a baby is even born if it will develop any diseases so that the parents can start acting upon it earlier. So are these tests worth the effort. Yes I believe they are. They could be the make or break in crippling diseases being cured and forgotten about. Who doesn’t want to see a world with no more debilitating diseases. I for one would love to see that.
Nick's Tech Talk 