A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:I was wondering ,if anybody familiar with genetic testing? Does it really work? There is serious mental problems in my family, and I want to see , if there is anything shows up, as a genetic explanation. Does genetic testing shows any predisposition to mental illness? Also, there is ton of family secret and divorces here, and I m not even sure about my origin. Does that explains this kind of things? Please , let me know, what you think. Thanks
View related questions:
divorce, mental problems Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, Tyedyedturtle  +, writes (27 November 2011):
 The testing is slightly limited and they can screen your or your expected child for specific tests. A particular screen is for Downs, as others have said, but also Huntington's Disease, which is a horribly debilitating neurological disorder which manifests later in life. There are a few other significant ones which you could easily research online using good ol' Google. I guess I feel like there is a bit of jeopardy with such screening. You have to ask what your reaction might be if you find unfavorable results. Will you deny yourself the opportunity to have children? Perhaps might you decide to not go through with a pregnancy? There are multitudes of questions, thoughts, emotions, and choices associated with the testing. Some people would prefer to know. Others would rather play it by ear. It is a matter of preference and the decision is yours. Just consider how you might feel about it. But I definitely understand your curiosity! I would be too. Regardless, best of luck. I wish you happiness and lots of health to you and your family.
A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (26 November 2011):
 Genetic testing haven't gotten that far yet. Genetic testing can in some cases test for certain chromosomes, some ilnesses are known, but the genetic codes aren't desiphered yet for the vast majority of supposed genetically inherited illnesses, in particular mental illnesses is far from being discovered through testing of the DNA.
My mother worked in this field, where they tested DNA to search for illnesses in children and relatives. It's not something you simply get done. In particular, like I mentioned, mental illnesses are not mapped at all. The focus so far has been on physical illnesses, DNA that cause cancer or Downs syndrome, or other physical illnesses.
However, you can only test the already "affected" people. If you show to be healthy then you wont show positive for having it, though you can still be a carrier, if I understood this correctly.
There is a far easier way to know if you are predisposed: look to your family. A family full of secrets is often a family trying to cover things up, and mental illnesses are still considered taboo, and are shushed down.
...............................
A
female
reader, bluecow +, writes (26 November 2011):
 Hiya
I'm afraid there isnt yet a test which will show an individuals predisposition to mental illness. They have currently identified common genes in families with certain mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia), however it is thought that is is only a tiny fraction of the big picture. It is thought that there are "multi-gene" groups responsible for mental illness within families.
What is happening is that with more testing (of which you and your family could possibly participate) more genes are being identified and so eventually there is a hope for testing in the future.
Its important to remember though that like any genetic test which is to see how susceptible an individual is, its no guarentee that they will go on to develope the condition. For example, there are certain tests available to see how likely it would be that a woman will get breast cancer when there is a high family incidence. However, even though she may be very likely to get breast cancer, she may go on to live a long and healthy life cancer free.
The tests which so very confused are talking about are specific diagnostic tests for single genes (or pairs). These identify whether a person is a carrier (has one copy), affected (either has a doniment single copy or two copies of a recessive) or clear (has no affected genes) of a specific disorder. Mental illness doesnt appear to follow the same patterns of inheritance.
OK now I have said all that, it does seem that as a very basic rule that someones predisposition can be predicted (e.g. they know that if one identical twin has a mental illness, then their twin has a 1 in 2 chance of getting the illness too).
As for your origin... are you talking about paternity tests? Finding out who your biological father is?
Naturally you would need the man in questions permission - but a genetic test for paternity will give you a definitive answer (unless he is one of identical twins).
Hope that helps xxx
...............................
A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (26 November 2011):
 AFAIK, there is no genetic testing for mental illness... but it is clearly in many cases genetic.
Testing can be for things they have found the gene for, cystic fibrosis, (general populations) Tay Sachs,(predominantly Jewish population) Sickle Cell Anemia, Maple Syrup Disease (a disease of the Amish Community here in the Eastern USA)
...............................
|
