Genetic Screening
GENETIC SCREENING Genetic screening is testing an individual for the presence or absence of a certain gene. ... The following paragraphs will discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of using genetic screening in pre- natal diagnosis, forensics, insurance etc. ... Carrying out genetic screening on newborn children would also enable the parents to identify any defects such as phenylketunoria (PKU), which could be dealt with by following a special diet, thus avoiding the problems of having a mentally disabled child. Another field in which genetic screening is used is in forensics. ... Therefore, genetic screening has definitely proved to be an extremely useful tool to the forces of law and order. Addressing the use of genetic screening in Pre- natal diagnosis, it also has its disadvantages. Firstly, there is the psychological stress placed on parents when they or their child is diagnosed with a genetic defect. At this point, genetic counseling would be required. However, the fear of their children or themselves being diagnosed with a disease is a very important issue to parents, so much so that a large percentage still prefer to simply go through with a pregnancy without using any form of screening (this is known as the ‘Que- se- ra-se- ra Syndrome’ / ‘whatever- will- be- will- be Syndrome’).