Who owns your genes? Your parents, the government, or how about God? This is a widely discussed topic amongst the science world. Unless you are a twin, your genes are unique to only you. There are at least 6 billion people on this world, and no one has the exact genetic code as you. Unlike what some people might tell you, no one can have the rights to your genes. They are yours and no one can take them. Knowing about your specific genetic code can teach you about what you are susceptible to, especially diseases.
Unfortunately, gene testing requires a blood test, and that can be uncomfortable. After they take your blood, they run it through their machines and find out what your genetic code is, and find out if you have any life threatening mutations. A single mutation can cause a fatal disease such as cancer.
There are many different kinds of screenings that the geneticists can perform. For example, one test is called the Carrier Identification or screening test. This will see if the person is carrying a certain disease, but does not necessarily have it. A person could very well be carrying a disease but not show any signs of having it. This test is recommended for couples that are planning to have a child, and have a family history of a disease. It could tell them if their future child will receive the disease or not.
Another test is Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. The doctors fertilize eggs and see if the child would be born with any defects. They choose the egg that does not have the specific disease. This, however, is illegal in every country. Yet another test to see if your child will be born with defects is the Parental Diagnosis. This will determine if the child will be born with brain defects so that the parents can start planning what and how they will deal with this illness. When a child is born, they can also do something called Newborn Screening. This makes sure that whatever disease the child has will be...