Is DNA Destiny?

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The discovery of a number of bad genes doesn't mean that Jews are more prone to genetic disorders. They simply happen to be "a geneticist's dream of a research population," she writes. Marriage within the group has been the norm for 30 or more generations, a distinctive gene pool; they tend to be geographically concentrated; and they're numerous enough to provide researchers with real statistical power. Benderly's point is that we're all genetically flawed, and once the entire human genome is mapped out, nobody will be immune from genetic discrimination. The task at hand is to educate the public about the use and abuse of genetic information.Given the potential for discrimination, businesses bent on selling genetic testing information or test kits to doctors and laboratories should move slowly, according to another Science article (Oct. 24, 1997). Current federal regulations have little power to ensure the validity of genetic tests, say the authors, who call for the establishment of a national advisory committee on genetic testing.to guarantee that before tests move from the research lab to the doctor's office they be proven valid, safe, and effective.

"Decisions about using new genetic or other tests are often left to individual physicians who seldom have access to data on a test's validity and utility," the authors write. "They and their patients would benefit from having an appraisal of such data, and indications for a test's use, by an organization independent of the test developer." Which brings us back to Wadler, who, in trying to make sense of her test results, asked her doctor if anything else comes with her troublesome gene: "A house in the country? A car? A guy?" Nope, you've got it all," he told her.

Leaving aside the matter of discrimination, she did. But that's a big aside. And the question that remains is significant. Which ill will be remedied first: genetic disease or prejudice?..

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