Over the past decade, genetic testing has moved beyond the setting of the research laboratory and is routinely offered in specialized medical genetics clinics and physician offices to identify the genetic cause of disease and predisposition to a genetic condition. There are also direct to consumer DNA testing kits that can reveal information regarding ancestry, risk to specific diseases, and even paternity. 

How is genetic testing using these commercial genetic kits different from genetic testing done at the clinic or doctor’s office? How useful are the results? We’ll discuss these issues and more on our program with guest expert: Dorota Gruber, DHSc, MS, assistant professor of pediatrics and cardiology, Zucker School of Medicine, assistant chief of pediatric cardiogenomics, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, and assistant investigator, pediatric human genetics at the Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. 

Resources:

Medical Genetics and Human Genomics, Northwell Health516-918-4800

Center for Cancer Prevention and Wellness, Northwell Health516-918-4800 

Cardiogenomics Program –

Pediatrics 516-918-4800; Adults 516-562-4100 or email [email protected]

National Society of Genetic Counseling – to find GC near youhttps://www.nsgc.org/

Genetic Alliance National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)https://rarediseases.org/organizations/genetic-alliance/

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of

2008-National Human Genome Research Institute https://www.genome.gov/24519851/genetic-information-nondiscrimination-act-of-2008

Genetics Home Reference-NIH U.S. National Library of Medicinehttps://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/

GeneReviews® – NCBI Bookshelfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1116/