As I have already mentioned, remember those reasons that are very important. We should consider a genetic test, one reason is to learn whether you have a genetic condition that could run in your family before you can show some symptoms – it is important. Another reason to learn the chance that a current or a future pregnancy will have this genetic condition to diagnose. It it’s important to diagnose in the right moment, the genetic condition if you and your child has some tools to have a very accurate treatment for your child and to prevent to pass on this genetic condition to the other generations and it is important finally, in case of cancer, for example, to understand and guide your cancer probation. If there is a risk in our family because of your family background or history or to establish a treatment plan in case we can rule out that you have a genetic mutation. That can be very useful for your treatment that you could receive.
Single gene genetic testing is for couples from different ethnic backgrounds who are considering genetic carrier screening. There’s a high prevalence of sickle cell in Afro-Caribbean or Tay-Sachs disease in people of Ashkenazi Jewish and Eastern European Jewish ancestry; they would need genetic testing. With genetic testing, you’re screening one particular gene. You’re looking for one sickle cell gene, cystic fibrosis gene, Tay-Sachs gene, or a specific infertility gene.
But genomic testing is testing all of your genes, all 22,000 genes. That’s what our company Fertility Genomics does; we get the sequence for all 22,000 genes. We think couples should be considered if they’ve been diagnosed with unexplained infertility and doctors can’t find a reason for male or female infertility. We think these couples would benefit from coming to our company, spitting in a tube. I extract the DNA, sequence all the genes, and if it’s a male, we look at all the male genes; if it’s a female, we look at all the female ovum genes. From this, we can see if there’s a variation that is likely to stop that gene from working, male or female. Then we can help advise in the next assisted method and assisted conception. For example, IVF is going to continually feel for you, go to the direct sperm injection method, or there’s even enhanced sperm injection method where you add a chemical in, and that boosts the chances of fertilization. Some genes need that.
To sum up, genetic testing looks at one gene, and genomic testing looks at all 22,000 genes.
