yongjj Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Is DNA testing safe to us? Where there are some people couldn't accept DNA testing? There has been lots of promotion from DNA testing centers to encourage people to submit their DNA in order to establish a complete and systematic DNA database. ^^^This is what i've written regarding this matter ^^^ I wanna have your views and opinions. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paralith Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 What dangers are you thinking about, exactly? The act of DNA testing itself is not physically dangerous to you - they do a cheek swab or draw blood, then work with the sample in a lab. Are you worried that some people might use your DNA information for nefarious purposes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDNA Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 The DNA tests themselves are 100% safe. However, how the tests might be used to make certain decisions, could be and are the subject of much debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 The DNA tests themselves are 100% safe. However, how the tests might be used to make certain decisions, could be and are the subject of much debate. Indeed it is safe, it is just the ethics behind it, such as if you have a 60% risk of cancer than average do you really want to know that and live in angst even though you may never get cancer. There are ways in which I think it is good, as it shows any problems that may occur in children that can be solved, or diagnosed before birth to give the parents the choice whether or not they can handle having a child with a severe disability, or who is mentally retarded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedarkshade Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Indeed it is safe, it is just the ethics behind it, such as if you have a 60% risk of cancer than average do you really want to know that and live in angst even though you may never get cancer Yes indeed! And there is a lot more stuff about genetics and genetic engineering that is at the edge of our current ethics! There are ways in which I think it is good, as it shows any problems that may occur in children that can be solved, or diagnosed before birth to give the parents the choice whether or not they can handle having a child with a severe disability, or who is mentally retarded.Absolutely! A few days ago I happened to read a book and read some of what you said! But it's always a hard decision to take since after all it is the same as taking out one life, with the difference that it is yet in his/her very beginning. And there are also some diseases which can be identified by DNA testing while still not born, but which diseases might not be lethal till some certain age (50 or some), and some of the worlds greatest figures died before 50, so you could be taking out a genius in there! So there always is a risk and a dangerous probability! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDNA Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 There are ways in which I think it is good, as it shows any problems that may occur in children that can be solved, or diagnosed before birth to give the parents the choice whether or not they can handle having a child with a severe disability, or who is mentally retarded. Actually, some of the ethical debate revolves around whether this is "good" or "not so good"... It must a hard decision either way and sometimes ignorance just might be (a little closer to) bliss. What a can of worms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yongjj Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Is there any solid prove - if you know the particular laws or acts that protects privacy of who has submitted their DNA samples? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paralith Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Is there any solid prove - if you know the particular laws or acts that protects privacy of who has submitted their DNA samples? Oh yes - there are very strict laws in place that protect the privacy of personal medical information - the HIPPA laws. At my workplace in the research department of a hospital, we all have to go through training to understand these laws, especially since we may be using human medical data in our research - and since I work in the genetics department, this most certainly includes DNA sequences. If we do use this data, extra precautions must be taken to protect the identities of the participants. Any research involving humans in any way is reviewed by an IRB committee and put under strict scrutiny before it is approved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon9393 Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 i didint think DNA testing was dangerous to take your DNA all they need is a sample of your blood or saliva so what is dangerous about that? unless you are refering to the PCR process in which they multiply your DNA strand perhaps it is possible to accidently mutate your DNA so far i dont see any danger in taking DNA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDNA Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 i didint think DNA testing was dangerous to take your DNA all they need is a sample of your blood or saliva so what is dangerous about that? unless you are refering to the PCR process in which they multiply your DNA strand perhaps it is possible to accidently mutate your DNA so far i dont see any danger in taking DNA! That is correct; fidelity is not always 100% (and can depend on a number of factors including the polymerase used, buffer, impurities, pH, salt strength, temp,.....). But re: pcr. What danger is involved in a few DNA mutations occuring in a microcentifuge vial and/or a PCR apparatus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yongjj Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 there's no danger with PCR at all. Most people who don't want their DNA tested because of doubts of DNA testing law in US. It's not bout their DNA testing procedures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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