Commercialization of genetic testing

Have your genes ever been tested? If you were born in the U.S., the chances are quite high that you had such a test within days of your birth. One of the first genetic tests used on newborns is for PKU--phenylkeotneuria--a condition in which your body cannot digest particular proteins. If these proteins are removed from your diet, the brain damage that might otherwise occur doesn't happen.

From that relatively simple beginning, we now have genetic tests available over the Internet: just send in a sample of the inside of someone's cheek and check for paternity, Native American ancestry, whatever.

The first post in this genetic testing series presented the story of one woman who was tested for the BRCA gene, a gene that can interact with other factors to promote some breast cancers. She shared her emotions in dealing with the results of the tests (see the blog entry Do you want to know your future?).

I'll be using my favorite Google Alerts and other sources of information to follow news on genetic testing, including its commercialization. If you're interested, bookmark this site and check in often. Your questions and comments, as always, are very welcome.

Marie Godfrey, PhD