What is Genetic Testing?

08 Jul 2017

Genetic testing, also known by the name of DNA testing, is used as a test for genetic disorders involving examination of DNA molecules. Cases relating to child paternity are also solved with the help of genetic tests.

Forms of genetic testing

Genetic testing is of varied types and is used to help with the diagnosis of various autoimmune and chromosomal disorders. Links have been found between autism and genes, depression and even the onset of menopause.

Common forms of genetic testing include:

Screening of fetus or of a new born: Screening of a newborn baby is done to identify certain genetic disorders that might cause problem in later life. Early identification can help get treatment in the childhood itself. Phenylketoneuria can be cured at an early stage if screening of the newborn is performed. Phenylketoneuria refers to a genetic disorder that causes mental illness, if left unchecked.

Testing for parental genes: Parental testing is done with the help of special DNA markers and help identify similar inheritance patterns between two or more related individuals.

Forensic identification: DNA sequencing and genetic fingerprinting are commonly used for legal purposes in forensic identification. This is generally used in solving cases related to crime. This type of genetic testing is of particular significance in ruling out or implicating a person in a crime. Moreover, it is widely used for the identification of unidentified bodies – the DNA taken from the body can be compared with the DNA of person they suspect might be a relative.

Blood, hair and skin samples are used in genetic testing and the techniques used are constantly being researched- it is today possible to work with minute and highly degraded samples of genetic material.