DNA Analysis - Pandora's Box??

In the movie "Atticus", set in the near future, a person's genes could be analyzed and predictions made about their risks for many diseases. Of course this is frightening - especially if such information could get in the hands of prospective employers, insurers, etc.

In the movie and play "Twilight of the Golds" a woman discovers through genetic analysis that her unborn child has a 90% chance of becoming gay, like her brother. Her dilemma and relation with her brother creates an interesting story.

We are getting closer to being able to perform genetic analyses for diseases and personality traits. In fact there are now companies which advertise this service.

Researchers decided to see if current rapid whole gene analysis, which is financially feasible could provide useful information. The answer - not yet! They used two accepted methods of sequencing technologies on the same patient in a group of 12.

First, the sequencing technologies did not read the entire genome accurately: 10% to 19% of known inherited-disease genes were not identified clearly. Moreover, for previously unknown genetic variants, the two sequencing technologies often did not give the same answers. A team of geneticists independently analyzed the raw sequence data. The geneticists often did not agree on disease risk.

In a hypothetical exercise in which these findings were provided to practicing physicians, they would have ordered additional tests with costs ranging from US$351 to $776.

Not yet ready for prime time; but something to think about in the future.