How is genetic testing done?

Once a person decides to proceed with genetic testing, a medical geneticist, primary care doctor, specialist, or nurse practitioner can order the test. Genetic testing is often done as part of a genetic consultation.
Genetic tests are performed on a sample of blood, hair, skin, amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds a fetus during pregnancy), or other tissue. For example, a procedure called a buccal smear uses a small brush or cotton swab to collect a sample of cells from the inside surface of the cheek. The sample is sent to a laboratory where technicians look for specific changes in chromosomes, DNA, or proteins, depending on the suspected disorder. The laboratory reports the test results in writing to a person's doctor or genetic counselor, or directly to the patient if requested.
Newborn screening tests are done on a small blood sample, which is taken by pricking the baby's heel. Unlike other types of genetic testing, a parent will usually only receive the result if it is positive. If the test result is positive, additional testing is needed to determine whether the baby has a genetic disorder.
Before a person has a genetic test, it is important that he or she understands the testing procedure, the benefits and limitations of the test, and the possible consequences of the test results. The process of educating a person about the test and obtaining permission is called informed consent .

مواضيع ذات صلة

Eukaryotic Translation and the First AUG

Experimental Support for the Shine-Dalgarno Hypothesis

تشكيل فُقَاعات التنسخ Replication Bubbles

ابتداء تخليق الدنا وتطويله Initiation & Elongation

تشكيل شعبة التنسخ Replication Fork

مناشئ التنسخ (Ori)

Regulation of RNA Stability by 5 and 3 UTR Sequences and Structures

Base Pairing between Ribosomal RNA and Messenger

Decoding the Message

How Synthetases Identify the Correct tRNA Molecule

متطلبات التنسخ

المتواليات المتكررة الساتلة الدقيقة Microsatellites