Private companies are offering personal DNA sequencing a...

Question

Private companies are offering personal DNA sequencing along with interpretation. What services do they offer? Do you think that these services should be regulated, and if so, in what way? Investigate one such company, 23andMe, at http://www.23andMe.com, before answering these questions.

Accepted Answer

Hi, everyone. Welcome back. Here's our next question. Newborn genetic screening refers to the laboratory tests which are performed to detect a set of known genetic diseases, which the following samples is needed from a newborn infant will undergo genetic screening. We've got choices of a blood sample, a hair sample, a saliva sample or a urine sample. Well, the answer here is that a choice. A a blood sample is used for this screening. Um that's done by a heel stick on an infant 2-3 days old. And that's because this is a relatively quick and cost effective method of screening for known genetic disorders. Choice B and C hair and saliva samples are ways of testing for D N A where you do DNA sequencing, but this would be done in case of more rare genetic disorders. DNA sequencing is more time consuming and more expensive. So you wouldn't, when you already have cheaper and quicker tests for the more common genetic disorders, uh you wouldn't want to go through that extra time and effort for DNA sequencing unless you're looking at something a little more rare. And a urine sample choice D is not gonna provide enough information um for what you need, especially with the time it takes before then if it begins producing enough urine, also a lot more difficult to collect a urine sample from an infant. Um These, the screening is very important to do in these early days. You're especially looking for genetic disorders of metabolism such as fennel categoria or congenital lactose intolerance because they can cause if they're not diagnosed. Um, like in Korea, you can build up harmful byproducts of the baby's inability to digest melanin and congenital lactose intolerance. The baby cannot digest it to get enough nutrients from its milk. And so these disorders if not diagnosed can begin to have really detrimental consequences if not diagnosed early. So that's why you want to have this very rapid test that can give results right away. And since it's widespread done for all newborns, you do need to be somewhat cost effective. So again, for newborn genetic screening, which of the following samples is needed. And that's choice. A blood sample. See you in the next video.

Private companies are offering personal DNA sequencing along with interpretation. What services do they offer? Do you think that these services should be regulated, and if so, in what way? Investigate one such company, 23andMe, at http://www.23andMe.com, before answering these questions.

Key Concepts

Personal DNA Sequencing

Genetic Interpretation

Regulation of Genetic Services

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