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Building a Bridge from Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests to Reality
A recent op-ed by genetic counselor Laura Hercher illuminated a sticky situation in which more and more consumers find themselves. Matt Fender ordered a spit kit from direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing company 23andMe, downloaded his raw data, and ran them...
Consumer Genetic Testing Will Change Your Life. In Fact, It Probably Already Has.
This April, when investigators used the publicly available genetic database GEDMatch to hunt down the long sought-after Golden State Killer, many of us in the genetics universe had a mixed reaction. Yippee! This long-standing cold case of a serial murder and rapist is...
Facebook Violates Trust of Private Patient Groups
Thousands of women who carry mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 and joined 'private' Facebook groups recently learned that their groups were vulnerable to a Chrome plug-in that allowed marketers to discover group members' names and other private health...
If I’m Adopted, Should I Have DNA Testing?
As a certified genetic counselor, one of the most common questions I'm asked is whether people who are adopted should have DNA testing through a direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing company. I've found that the reasons adoptees, or the parents of adoptees, want DNA...
How Your Genetic Data Could Be Shared Without Your Consent
As a genetic counselor, it is always challenging to tell the patient sitting in front of you that she carries a genetic mutation (or a pathogenic variant, as it is now called) that could negatively impact her health. But perhaps more challenging, is telling the person...
How Accurate Is Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing? From Gold(ish) to Garbage
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing is exactly what the name implies: a test sold directly to the consumer, without the help of a healthcare professional. You can pick up a kit online, at the drugstore, or even at the dollar store (!) that you can use to determine if you...
The Atlantic Highlights My Gene Counsel
In the article, "Can Genetic Counselors Keep Up With 23andMe?" The Atlantic quotes fellow genetic counselors about how our profession can help consumers understand genetic testing. This article also highlights our upcoming product launch, "Start-ups have emerged to...
Why the Golden State Case Kept This Genetic Counselor Up All Night
DNA saved the day this week, bringing the long sought-after Golden State Killer to justice. After decades of evading arrest, the serial murderer and rapist was tracked down through genealogy testing. Genetic victory, right? So why my insomnia? Lying in bed, my...
Healthcare Providers Can’t Afford to Ignore Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
The DTC genetic testing revolution is here. More than 12 million people have had testing via an at-home spit kit and the numbers are skyrocketing. People have their own raw genetic data in hand, are curious, and are searching for answers in their DNA. It is safe to...