Comments on: Genetic Testing for Children: Would You Do It?

By: uma shanker

uma shanker — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:29:34 +0000

Hi, myself Uma Shanker, a Clinical psychologist. I am Really being neutral in this discussion. Though a teacher wont accept this, but they do divide their students into following categories… ( Subcounsciously) :-
1) High expectation group
2) low expectation group and
3) NO expectation group

Same goes with the parents too but in a different way. We make opinion about our children by observing their behaviour, emotional stability, academics, social interaction and so on. This is a type of labeling too which is done by us. Now its up to you how you interpret these genetic test. Either you look at it as labeling or a guide to your childs personality and then make an opinion about your childs potential rather then going for a hit and trial method. Now there is one more thing that i would like to draw your attention to. These genetic reports needs to be analyzed closely by a proffessional. For example:- your child shows high creative talent but he not able to grasp it even after a year of going to creative classes. Then what?!!!
If a child is not high on sociable gene then it is difficult for him/her to learn in a group classes. you need to give him/her individual classes or one to one instruction or in a small group. Hope that I have given you some insight into these tests. you can get in touch with me on my mail. usp1977 AT gmail DOT com

By: Starrlife

Starrlife — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:51:46 +0000

Ditto to everyone…. plus I have concerns about what the health insurance companies etc. would do with it. Would they refuse to insure someone if they have a gene for certain illnesses? I’m sticking with Astrology!

By: Rita

Rita — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:48:45 +0000

Vered,
This takes us back to the old “nature v. nurture” debate. Will it ever be solved? I think not. The two are not mutually exclusive nor collectively exhaustive, the prime issue in the “labeling” debacle.
The question is: do you take the affiliate position?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:25:55 +0000

Thanks for posting this. I got an email from them, too–and two follow-up emails to see if I’d gotten the first one. I was curious to see what others thought so I searched and found your post. Honestly, it creeped me out a little and I wondered if they were legit. But even if it is a legitimate company (no offense to them; it’s just so hard to tell with all the crap emails I get), I don’t think it’s for me. I am into natural parenting. I plan to homeschool my kids and spend large quantities of time letting them lead the way in their education, because that’s how they’ll find what interests them. When you sit kids in a classroom and drill them all day, stubbornly telling them “yes you WILL need this when you grow up” then of course they don’t have time to discover their talents. I guess that’s why we need a genetic profile to tell us what our kids are capable of. It’s much easier than taking the time to get to know them! Totally agree with Dr. J.

By: John Hoff - WP Blog Host

John Hoff - WP Blog Host — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:35:24 +0000

I too thought about the movie, Gattaca.

Am I the only one who wonders what parents would do if the results came back as “Would be a good trash truck driver” or something? hehe

Aside from all the ethical and overall performance hindering this might impose on children, what about the implications of the kind of world we would live in if everyone did this?

I bet there’d be special schools made and even perhaps some segregation. And where does it all stop?

On the flip side, I do find the topic interesting and “ok” to at least talk about. In some ways I think it would be neat to be able to walk into a doctor’s office and discover that I’d be a great martial artist (if in fact it was all true).

By: Johanne

Johanne — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:24:12 +0000

Shocking. It’s “Gattaca” becoming a real quick reality.

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:19:59 +0000

Even if nature was actually predictable, people are so full of twists and turns, I don’t think mapping talents really helps.

I’ve seen people unleash their best through experiences, skills, following their heart, experimenting, and having role models and mentors lift them up in various ways.

By: John W. Zimmer

John W. Zimmer — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:03 +0000

No I would not. Firstly in this country where companies can penalize one for pre-existing conditions – this would open pandora’s box. Secondly assuming the information or markers (as they are called in Robin Cook’s book, “Marker,” were correct – would it truly help you? Maybe but it might cause more issues than it was worth.

This type of testing is being marked for family tree research too with less science backing it up as the world’s genetic databases are not complete: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3340379n&tag=related;photovideo

Put me in the Heck No catagory.

By: Tess The Bold Life

Tess The Bold Life — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:36 +0000

Vared,
It’s more insanity and they’re missing the point of life. What the hell ever happened to wonder and joy? I like what Jannie Bannanie Funster says.

By: Dominique

Dominique — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:22:11 +0000

I would not get my kids tested. It is really terrible to get them labeled and put under so much scrunity and pressure since birth.