Lecture 1 Flashcards
What are the possible uses of genetic testing? In other words, why and when can genetic testing be useful for clinical management?
- patient has a disease and we want to confirm the molecular cause of the disease
- evaluate the predisposition to develop pathological phenotype
- screening (like prenatal screening)
- identify cause of disorder
- pharmacogenetic reasons to choose the best / most appropriate treatment
- prognosis based on molecular basis
- follow the progression of a disorder in the patient by measuring circular DNA
- verify the presence of bacteria or viruses (molecular approach)
- identify the presence of a disease during the pre-symptomatic era
- useful for patients’ relatives
What is the most sensible data we have?
DNA
What information does a predicative gene test provide?
The test identifies the presence of the disease before the disese presents its phenotype.
Why is a predicative gene test helpful?
If the molecular basis is identified before the occurrence of the disorder, the lifestyle of the patient can be modified to avoid the occurrence of the disorder.
What is an example of a disease that a predicative teat is useful for?
thrombophilia
Is a gene test for Parkinson’s necessary?
No, because there are no known preventative measures at the time
What is familiar thrombophilia?
case of atypical thrombus that occurs in early age
What are the benefits of gene testing?
benefits are in the diagnosis, prognosis, screening and risk stratification of the patient
When should genetic testing be done?
only if there is clinical suspicion
List the risks associated with genetic testing:
over treatment
physiological impact of results without clinical diagnosis
higher risk for the patients’ assurance
procedure risks with amniocentesis and villocentesis
identification of genes that are not related to clinical implications
What is the problem with online genetic testing services?
it is hard to manage the amount of information provided by genetic testing services
they also use 2nd and 3rd generation sequencing, so the results are not very accurate since they only identify some variants
Why is it important to use 1st generation sequencing?
it is used by certified, high quality labs to avoid the occurrence of false positives
Are there ethical issues with genetic testing?
Since DNA gives paternal and private information about a patient, it is importnat to to have consent from the patient
Why is pre-testing genetic counseling important?
It is important because the genetic counselor meets with the patient and insures the patient feels comfortable with the process and understands the benefits
What is a problem with genetic testing in terms of storage? Why not store the information in a cloud?
After sequencing the DNA of a patient, the sequence requires terabytes of storage. It would not be appropriate to use a cloud simply for privacy reasons.
What is molecular diagnostics?
genetic diagnosis based on molecular analysis through the identification of pathogenetic mutations in DNA or RNA samples to facilitate identification, diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and monitoring
What are the goals of genetic testing?
genetic diagnosis of the clinical phenotype
identification of molecular basis that underline the clinical phenotype
classification: genetic testing can help identify the subtype of the diagnosis
prognosis: to have an idea of the prognosis related to the specific alteration
monitoring: helps analyze somatic molecular alterations
What mutations are analyzed when studying inherited disorders?
germ line mutations are analyzed because the muations of the germ line can help diagnose and classify