You need a Social Security number to open a bank account or take out a mortgage. If this short string of personally identifying numbers were to fall in the wrong hands, the consequences could be devastating. A saliva sample provides DNA testing companies with...
Decades ago, parents-to-be with a family history of genetic illness or hereditary cancer were often faced with the difficult decision of either never having children or potentially passing along the disease. Today, there are many types of genetic tests, including...
A person who has a disease-causing variant — also known as a mutation — in one of their two copies of a particular gene is known as a carrier. Carrier screening for specific genetic conditions is a routine part of prenatal care, but patients and providers are...
During a genetic consultation, you’ll hear many acronyms, and they can get confusing. As you aim to have a healthy baby, you’ll evaluate different screening options to find what’s best for you. Recently, some terminology in the world of assisted...
When considering the risk of having a child with a genetic disease, most people are quick to think about their family history — but that isn’t the only risk factor. Most intended parents don’t realize that certain ethnic backgrounds or ancestry is...
Today, for potential parents with genetic markers for serious hereditary conditions and diseases, conceiving a healthy child is not only possible but probable — largely due to advances in assisted reproductive technology. In particular, in-vitro fertilization (IVF)...
