Wednesday, April 7, 2010 as of 11:14 AM ET
Genetic testing (also called DNA-based tests) is among the newest and most sophisticated of techniques used to test for genetic disorders which involves direct examination of the DNA molecule itself.
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Dana Marlowe decided to undergo genetic testing before becoming pregnant with her first son, now 3 years old.
Because she is of Eastern European decent and Jewish and her husband is French Canadian, she knew their ancestries put them at risk for conceiving a child with Tay-Sachs disease. The tests determined that she was not a carrier, her son was born healthy, and Marlowe is grateful that she had them done."We wanted to be able to learn a little bit about it so if there is something we needed to be aware of, we rather know sooner than later," Marlowe said.Marlowe and her husband are not alone: Many couples decide to go for genetic testing before they become pregnant. If you're considering it, here are some things you should know.1. It's complicated. You can get screened to determine if you're a carrier for genetic abnormalities, but it's not as simple as checking off a box on a medical form. There are thousands of genetic disorders, yet it's not possible to be tested for all of them...More than two decades after scientists identified the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis , drug makers are finally edging closer to new treatments—a long journey t...
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