Comment is on this article:https://vitals.lifehacker.com/what-you-should-know-before-you-gift-someone-a-dna-test-1820774515 …
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Oh god, no. People, I have a Ph.D. in genetics and I still went to a genetic counselor for my pregnancy. Personal ancestry tests are NOT a substitute for medical experts.pic.twitter.com/y0ozYg6qaS
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The cost issue is a major one, however. Genetic counseling tweeps, what low cost or subsidized options are available to un- and under-insured parents? Any resources to share?
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NO! My husband has
#LynchSyndrome. Even with genetic counseling for familial cancer we play a macabre whack-a-mole waiting for the next organ to develop a malignant tumor: brain, colon, kidney, ureter on remaining kidney. 23 years!!!! SEE a genetic counselor. -
Oh I'm so sorry :(
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I do wonder how much of this is due to the fact the
doesn't have universal healthcare 
pic.twitter.com/6sBBF5mSi6
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Absolutely huge role in all of this, unfortunately.
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Why? (So I have specific points to offer friends considering similar things)
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Professionals will do a pedigree on your family, identify risks and test for specific variants associated with those. They will help you interpret the results (they’re not intuitive!), and connect you with resources.
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I guess the question many people has is about untargeted testing where the a priori risk is the same as the population. Seems to cause more stress than it's worth for most people.
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Do you think there’s value in bringing that data along when meeting with geneticists?
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It certainly can't hurt to have a conversation about it, although they're likely to do additional tests and not just rely on those results.
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But a question is - are personal ancestry tests better than nothing at all? I'm presuming you have to pay for a genetic counsellor in the US? How much if uninsured/unemployed?
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My genetic counselor checked for a rare form of anemia present only in certain locations of Italy, due to my husbands heritage. So my uneducated guess is no, personal ancestry is not better. I have also done personal ancestry, the vagueness of the results are not reliable.
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Not just unreliable, but can actively mislead you if you don't understand how risk factors work, etc.
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Isn't it better to find out whether you and your partner are cf carriers, for example, even if you can't afford genetic counselling?
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Of course a socialised healthcare system solves, or reduces this problem...
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People in my community are using those results to self diagnose their kids with mitochondrial disorders. It's frustrating.
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people are using those 23&me tests on their *KIDS* ????
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'Mom, dad, when I grow up I want to be a <xyz>!' 'Well, honey, we looked at your 23&me test and you'll probably be <too fat/have markers for a condition, etc>.' I know yr tweet was far more serious than this, but the potential of pre-defining children's potential frightens me
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I'm terrified of parents treating children with supplements based on their minimal understanding of SNPs and DNA sequencing.
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most of us can barely get antibiotics right so, ja. that's a really terrifying thought.
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They use that 23&me for MTHFR mutations, as an excuse to not vaccinate their kids because, "they can't detox metals if they have the MTHFR mutation, and they run out of glutathione." If you hear something in the background, that's your bullshit alarm. It exploded.
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