Persuasive Essay On Commercial Testing Pros And Cons

1742 Words7 Pages

To Test or Not to Test Genetic testing has been around since the 1980s, and is a way to test a person’s genes using specific laboratory methods. Procedures tend to include drawing blood or simple cheek swab to gather samples of a person’s DNA. They can use these samples to test for hereditary patters inherited from both parents of the subject. Professionals can then use this to identify increased risk of health problems and identify and choose treatments for their patients. Commercial genome testing has been growing in popularity ever since it first began. Companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com offer tests at a reduced price that are purchased online and can be taken from a person’s very own home. This provides an excellent way for the average citizen to learn about their family ancestry and risks of hereditary disease. However, as these tests have been becoming more popular, so has the controversy on the subject. Without consulting an actual healthcare professional, the test results may become a bit blurry and hard to interpret. Many of the companies that offer commercial testing have even been …show more content…

As these tests become more and more popular, they can cause changes in medicine, the legal system, and how a person’s genetic information will be used and shared. There have been ongoing efforts to help make consumers more aware of these implications. The Personal Genetics Education Project is one of these non-profit institutes that’s purpose is to raise public awareness and promote conversations about the various decisions that can be made when it comes to genetic testing. Once people have more knowledge on commercial testing, they will be better able to voice their opinions on the subject. And through exploring all the pros and cons, they can make decisions on the subject that are right for them (Kung and Wu,