Module 7: Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing

Question 1

Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing

Answer 1

Consumers don’t need a physician to order this testing for them

Question 2

What are common Direct to Consumer Genetics tests?

Answer 2

• Ancestry testing
• Paternity testing
• Health related testing
• “Curious trait” Testing

Question 3

What are the limits of Direct to Consumer Genetic testing?

Answer 3

• Very little Federal regulation
• Consumers may misinterpret risk and may make experience psychological harm/suffering
• Limited available genetic counseling
• Lack of good data about multifactorial conditions
• How will data be utilized by the company and/or the individual?

Question 4

Genotyping

Answer 4

Looks for a preset number of mutations in a genetic sequence

Question 5

Gene Sequencing

Answer 5

• Looks at every base pair to identify mutations
• Will find everything genotyping would find and additional mutations
• It is more likely to identify a variant of unknown significance

Question 6

What is the difference between genotyping and sequencing?

Answer 6

Genotyping is more general, sequencing is more specific