The News:
Value of some prenatal genetic tests questioned in study
By Judy Peres Chicago Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2007 11:28:39 PM MDT
Chicago - Illustrating the complications of prenatal genetic testing, researchers reported Tuesday that some couples chose to terminate pregnancies even though the mutation carried by their fetus probably would not have resulted in serious health problems.
The researchers, from several medical centers in Israel, analyzed information about Gaucher disease, a genetic condition the symptoms of which range from severe to nonexistent. It occurs mainly in Ashkenazi Jews, or those of Eastern or Central European descent.
Experts say the new findings, published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, raise questions about the appropriateness of screening for treatable or non-life-threatening diseases - a practice that is likely to increase as scientists continue to discover the functions of individual genes.
Already, pregnant Ashkenazi women are usually screened for a battery of genetic diseases, including Tay Sachs, which invariably leads to extreme disability and early death. But the typical "Jewish panel" also includes some less serious conditions, such as Gaucher (pronounced go-SHAY).
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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