Advantages Of Genetic Testing Outweigh Arguments Against Widespread Screening

When genetic researchers successfully cloned the gene in which mutations cause cystic fibrosis, they also triggered a growing debate about under what circumstances and in what setting CF testing should be offered. To understand this debate, one needs some background on the history of carrier testing in the United States, a history with two strikingly different testing experiences, both of which are influencing plans for CF testing. The first experience dates to the early 1970s, when about a d

| 5 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
5:00
Share

To understand this debate, one needs some background on the history of carrier testing in the United States, a history with two strikingly different testing experiences, both of which are influencing plans for CF testing.

The first experience dates to the early 1970s, when about a dozen states enacted poorly conceived laws that mandated testing blacks for sickle cell trait. The testing programs usually targeted black school children or black couples seeking marriage licenses.

These laws paid little, if any, attention to the importance of providing genetic counseling services, to protecting the privacy of the test results, to the problem of the inadvertent discovery of nonpaternity, and to other sensitive issues. As a result, they drew sharp criticism, which, in turn, helped to stimulate enactment of a federal law that offered matching funds for sickle cell testing programs to those states that embraced voluntarism, respected privacy, and provided counseling.

The ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • Philip Reilly

    This person does not yet have a bio.

Published In

Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio 
Zymo Research

Zymo Research Launches Microbiome Grant to Support Innovation in Microbial Sciences