What is the focus of predictive genetic testing?

What is the focus of predictive genetic testing?

• A. Determine susceptibility to future disease given genetic risk
• B. Detect existing disease in asymptomatic individuals
• C. Screen for infectious disease
• D. Identify paternity

Answer: (A)

Predictive genetic testing estimates the chance that a person who currently has no symptoms will develop a genetic disease in the future, based on their DNA. It provides probabilistic risk information that can guide decisions about monitoring, preventive steps, or lifestyle changes. It’s about future risk, not diagnosing an active illness. For example, testing for certain gene variants can indicate elevated risk for breast/ovarian cancer or Huntington disease, helping people plan ahead. It isn’t used to detect an existing disease in someone who is asymptomatic, it isn’t screening for an infectious disease, and it isn’t used to determine paternity. Ethical practice emphasizes informed consent, counseling about what the results mean and their limitations, and protecting privacy.

Predictive genetic testing estimates the chance that a person who currently has no symptoms will develop a genetic disease in the future, based on their DNA. It provides probabilistic risk information that can guide decisions about monitoring, preventive steps, or lifestyle changes. It’s about future risk, not diagnosing an active illness. For example, testing for certain gene variants can indicate elevated risk for breast/ovarian cancer or Huntington disease, helping people plan ahead. It isn’t used to detect an existing disease in someone who is asymptomatic, it isn’t screening for an infectious disease, and it isn’t used to determine paternity. Ethical practice emphasizes informed consent, counseling about what the results mean and their limitations, and protecting privacy.