Genetic Inference
The impact of genetic information isn’t always limited to the individual. Genes are inherited from parents and shared with siblings and other family members. Knowing the gene variant you carry could make it possible to infer those carried by your relatives as well.
This situation is particularly clear-cut for diseases that are caused by a single dominant gene with 100% penetrance (the presence of the disease gene always causes the disease). Huntington’s Disease is one such disease. If a currently healthy person tests positive for the gene causing Huntington’s Disease, it is easy to figure out that the gene was inherited from the parent with the positive family history. This parent’s positive status can easily be inferred from the child’s positive result. Family turmoil ensues if the parent had not wanted to know if s/he carried the disease gene, preferring instead to take life day-by-day never knowing if or when the disease might strike.
On the other hand, knowing one family member’s genetic profile may not lead to any additional genetic information about other family members. Testing can reveal secrets about family relationships that would have never been known before. Fathers, mothers and children, or sisters and brothers may turn out not be biologically related at all. Or perhaps they’re related more closely than previously thought.
Genetic privacy is an issue involving government regulations, health insurance, and societal attitudes. But it is also an issue that applies to families.
We don’t hold all the cards in the genetic deck. It’s easy to infer what we’re keeping close to the vest by the cards our relatives are holding.
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6 opinions for Genetic Inference
Brad
May 19, 2005 at 6:44 pm
Hi Lei,
I found your blog through Public_Health over on Livejournal, and I am the editor of AIDS Combat Zone (http://aidsblog.blogspot.com). I came across a very fascinating article on AIDS and genetics and I was hoping to get your take on it.
Here’s the link:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/…
Lei
May 19, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Thanks for the link, Brad. Let me dig around a bit and get back to you at your blog.
Brad
May 19, 2005 at 7:42 pm
You’re very welcome.
river2sea72
May 20, 2005 at 8:09 am
I’m sure you read my post about Huntington’s disease (http://www.livejournal.com/…) in my extended family. Not everyone in my sister-in-law’s family wanted to be tested for it, but fortunately, none of the ones who were NOT tested had any kids. And hopefully they won’t have kids prior to being tested.
Lei
May 20, 2005 at 8:59 am
I remember your post. It’s so tragic. I would guess that some people would prefer not to know and let fate take its course. Who’s to say that your SIL didn’t have a short but worthwhile life?
Arizona PEO
Jun 7, 2007 at 5:59 pm
There are always definite causes for any disease. It may be any virus or due to any gene. Particularly, Huntington’s Disease is caused by a gene. Mr. Lei did a great job and notify the different causes in detail which are the main source for this disease. This is said to be a family disease which is passed from the parent to a child through a mutation in the gene. Its very informative and the readers can even get the knowledge about the treatment.
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