The Genetic Testing Controversy Essay - 2003 Words

A lot of controversial issues present themselves in psychology. Two topics that I will be discussing in this essay are the controversy over genetic testing and what things would be like without genetic testing. I will be describing what genetic testing is, and how it can affect an individual’s family life. I will be discussing the benefits of genetic counseling, as well as the positives without genetic counseling, and how this issue is debated in a psychological view. Genetic testing, can affect a person’s life in many ways. Genetic testing is a type of medical testing that identifies changes that occur in chromosomes, proteins, and genes. These changes that occur can be associated, and often are associated with inherited†¦show more content†¦As her husband was fighting in the war, there were troubles that this wife had to face with their child. She did genetic testing on her daughter to find out that her daughter happened to be diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Re tt syndrome is a neurodevelopmental problem that occurs in the nervous system (Tarquinio). The wife stated â€Å"I think as a military spouse you learn to adjust easily and expect that your life might change at any given moment, but nothing can prepare you to learn that the change in life is coming from your child.† Since the wife was able to know that her daughter was diagnosed with the syndrome, she was able to do research to help with what she needs to do (Steveton). This goes back to family planning and how genetic testing can be beneficial for families. Not only are there benefits with genetic testing, but there are benefits by not going through genetic testing. Genetic testing can be costly, and therefore will be less expensive by not following through with the tests. Genetic testing is usually not covered by insurance; therefore, many families would have to decide if the costly payments are worth their budget. More than one test may have to be used to detect if there i s a disease taking course. Back to the military wife, two of her daughter Riley’s tests came back negative. At first, her daughter was diagnosed with developmental delays. Not only did she go through doing genetic testing, but she also did an MRI. Both of these tests didn’tShow MoreRelatedGenetic Testing And The Human Genome Project1429 Words   |  6 Pagessignificant scientific findings to the world, but raises a lot of controversies. Many of these controversies concern the application of this new scientific finding and its ethicality. Genetic information from a project, once aimed towards mapping the human genome in hope for curing diseases, are now being used in businesses. It shouldn’t be permissible for employers to require that all employees, as well as potential employees, be screened for genetic vulnerabilities and to use the results of such screeningRead MoreGenetic Testing And The Human Genome Project1357 Words   |  6 Pagesfinding to the world, b ut raises a lot of controversies. Many controversies related to the Human Genome Project are issues concerning the application of this new scientific finding and its ethicality. Genetic information from a project that once has an aim to map the human genome in hope for curing diseases are now being used in businesses. It shouldn’t be permissible for employers to require that all employees, as well as potential employees, be screened for genetic vulnerabilities and to use the resultsRead MorePrenatal Genetic Testing Raise Ethnic Issues1570 Words   |  7 PagesIn Improvements in Prenatal Genetic Testing Raise Ethnic Issues, R. J. Crayton produced an article about prenatal testing and whether or not parents should be allowed to have these tests done. First the situation of a high risk baby who will have a disability or defect after birth, so the parents decide to abort the child is being viewed as an inequality to the disabled community. Secondly, certain adoptions are put on hold since the biological parents chose to not carry the unborn child throughRead MoreGenetic Research Is Destroying Humanity1260 Words   |  6 PagesIs genetic research the breakthrough to improving our lives, or the beginning of the end of humanity as we know it? This has been the debate since the mid-nineteenth century when the science of genetics as well as humanities’ desire to use this science to their advantage, began. Since that time genetic research has resulted in advancements in science and medicine, but yet the controversy remains. Many believe that the act of genetic research is improving lives’, while others think the exact oppositeRead MoreShould Scientists Be Allowed to Perform DNA Tests on Selecting Human Embryos?1206 Words   |  5 Pagesextracting several eggs from a woman’s body and then fertilizing them in a laboratory. A couple days after fertilization, genetic tests can be applied on a cell that is removed from the embryo. The DNA test ing process is called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and usually triggers the diagnosis of the embryos with genetic abnormalities but can also identify other genetic traits of the future progenitor such as sex, athletic ability, special talent, and certain physical appearance. The researchersRead MoreThe Controversy Of Genetically Modified Foods And Plants850 Words   |  4 PagesWhat exactly is the controversy surrounding genetically modified foods and plants? An immense amount of advocacy for and against the implementation of genetically modified method in the development of food and the agricultural development of crops and plants. The intention of this report is to definitively explore both aspects of advocacy surrounding genetically modified foods and plants or crops. As their is a significant population of individuals, organizations and groups that strongly supportRead MoreShould Animals Be Torture And Abused?1178 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal use for drug experimentation has sparked controversy around the world. So why are animals for harmful testing? Each year millions of animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, and primates suffer through excruciating amounts of physical and mental torture. In recent years, the use of these animals has been has been strictly criticized by numerous animal rights groups. The testing has lead and severe injuries to the animals and even death. Drug testing on animals came to significance in the 20th centuryRead MoreArguments For and Against Testing Childrens Genetics Essay617 Words   |  3 Pages The diseases that exist in our world are enough to make medicine and testing the only option of hope in times of need. People grow up happy and healthy, only to be diagnosed, in their middle age, with an adult-onset disease. These diseases only become a burden as the victim gets older. Some commonly known ones are Alzheimer’s or Huntington’s disease. There is no cure or treatment for adult-onset diseases like this. Knowing that the victims have these diseases written in their DNA from the momentRead MoreIs Animal Testing Wrong or Right? Essay960 Words   |  4 Pagesanimal testing that is effective on animals are ineffective on humans (ASPCA). Despite this alarming statistic, scientists still use animals in these experiments. Scientist give the animals no choice in whether they or going to be used in an experiment . Animal testing is when scientist use products, vaccinations or other things they develop for humans and use on animals. Scientist use all types of animals, but the most common are rats, mice, birds, reptiles and amphibians (ASPCA). Animal testing canRead MoreEthical Issues of Genetic Research Essay1268 Words   |  6 Pagesother attempts to further understand the human genetic code clearly demonstrate the basic principles of social benefit versus social cost. The desired effect is obviously one in which the benefits significantly outweigh the costs. The actual impact of such technology, however, remains only an estimate until this scientific advancement becomes a reality. It is out of this inability to predict how new technology may transform society that controversy arises. For if one estimates the value of knowledge