Gene Testing Allows the Parents to Learn More About Their

question 29

Essay

Gene testing allows the parents to learn more about their child in the prenatal period. However, there are genetic disorders, such as Huntington's disease, that show no phenotypic signs until age 35. This disease is caused by a dominant allele, resulting in degeneration of the brain, muscle spasms, and death within a decade or two. Because it is caused by a dominant allele, 50% of the offspring will carry the disease. If you knew that someone in your family had Huntington's disease, would you get tested early on, before you start a family and have your own children? Would you rather not know your fate, even if it means that you may pass the dominant allele of this disease to your offspring? (Note: Before being tested, a person usually undergoes a battery of psychological tests to make sure that he or she is emotionally stable enough to deal with knowing that he or she will develop the disease and that there is no cure.)