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...
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...
Today, June 13th, 2018, marks the 5-year anniversary of the Supreme Court of the United States’ Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics case regarding the BRCA gene patent. The result was a unanimous decision: genes could not be patented as they...
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 National Cancer Institute hosts a webinar series called Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Cancer Research (ENRICH). This speaker series fosters discussion about ethical and regulatory issues impacting cancer research. Our CEO/President, Ellen Matloff, was the...
