Search Results for: genetic testing
Early Genetic Testing in Pregnancy
Prenatal genetic testing is an option that any mother-to-be can either decline or pursue. Genetic disorders may be inherited from parent to child, but sometimes your family background has no bearing. Prenatal screenings can tell you if your baby is at risk for certain genetic disorders. Perhaps this is all the information you need to know. However, more invasive diagnostic tests give you more concrete information about your baby’s genetic makeup.
Why I’m Protesting Michelle Duggar’s Pregnancy
I am protesting the latest pregnancy announced last week by the reality show stars, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.
DNA Testing Early in Pregnancy
DNA testing, also known as genetic testing or carrier screening, early in pregnancy gives you the opportunity to learn more about your baby. You can find out the sex of the baby, the father of the baby and whether the baby has certain diseases. The information you learn can give you the time to adjust, if needed, before the baby arrives.
What Are the Pros & Cons of DNA Testing?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the material found in almost all living creatures that determines heredity. Although science has long known that heredity plays a part in personal traits, it was not until the 1950s that a group of scientists were able to see the DNA. Using an X-ray technique, the first picture of the now-famous double helix was recorded. The following decades brought great advances in genetics, and once genetic research was teamed with computer technology, medical labs were able to advance DNA testing for individual patient use.
About DNA Paternity Testing
For generations, identifying the father of a child was often only a matter of guesswork–the genetic code and the scientific methods used to isolate and identify it were unknown. In recent decades, a greater understanding of DNA has made it possible for the parents and close relatives of a child to be quickly and correctly identified. DNA paternity tests are an inexpensive and discreet way to determine a child’s father.