Genetic tests - the deciphered human

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.

Genetic tests reveal something about the carrier of the genetic information: Is the child healthy in the stomach? Who is the father? And which drug works best for whom?

In a genetic test, the genetic information of a person is examined specifically for certain characteristics. Since all body cells contain the entire genetic material, this is possible in principle with every body cell. Depending on the test, a swab from the oral mucosa or a blood sample is usually used.

Genetic tests are already used in many areas today. The genetic fingerprint is used to convict criminals. A paternity test can be used to determine with almost 100 percent certainty who is the biological father of a child. There are also maternity tests, which are naturally used far less frequently, as there are seldom doubts as to who the mother of a child is.

Prenatal check

Genetic tests are also used to identify specific disease genes. They are used, for example, in the context of prenatal diagnostics, especially if it is already known that there is a risk of a certain serious hereditary disease. To do this, amniotic fluid is taken from the womb. Recently it has also been possible in Germany to genetically examine embryos for such serious diseases as part of the so-called pre-implantation diagnosis before they are inserted into the womb.

Even in adulthood it is possible to search for certain diseases. For example, if you want to determine whether you are at risk of serious illnesses such as Huntington's disease or hereditary forms of breast cancer.

Search for risk genes

In the meantime, genetic tests are also offered that scan the genetic material for risk genes that are already known. This is supposed to be able to determine, for example, whether you are at an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease or a heart attack. Ideally, you will then feel more motivated to prevent these diseases in a more targeted manner.

It should be noted critically here that such diseases are very complex and it can be assumed that by no means all of the genes that contribute to them have been discovered. This means that even with a negative - i.e. positive - test result you cannot be sure that you are not still carrying risk genes. On the other hand, such a result can be mistakenly viewed as a license for an unhealthy lifestyle. In the case of diseases such as Alzheimer's, for which preventive measures are severely limited, such information is also not very helpful and the fact that knowledge of an increased risk may be unnecessary.

Genetic testing in therapy

Genetic tests are also increasingly being used in the treatment of diseases. On the one hand, they can help to determine the exact severity or type of an existing illness. Sometimes, however, this test can also be used to predict the tolerability of a certain drug or the chances of success of the treatment. Genetic tests are already being used particularly frequently in the treatment of cancer.