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NOVA scienceNOW: Personal DNA Testing
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Program Overview
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Scientists
describe the revealing information that a personal genetic profile provides and
discuss the questions and issues people face once this highly personal
information is available.
This NOVA scienceNOW segment:
describes
a company that analyzes DNA and provides clients with information about their
risk factors for specific diseases. reviews
the structure of DNA and tells how DNA samples are obtained. explains
that most human DNA is identical across all people, but differences
exist—between individuals, about three million base pairs out of six
billion are different (one-twentieth of a percent). This genetic variation
makes us unique, but it's also what predisposes us to genetic diseases. terms
each spot in the DNA where a single base is different as a Single Nucleotide
Polymorphism (SNP). introduces
SNP ("snip") chips—silicon chips that hold millions of small
fragments of reference DNA. reports
that SNP chips enable one to compare an individual's SNP profile to those
of people with specific genetic diseases. explains
that most diseases involve the interaction of many genes and the environment,
so genetic testing does not conclusively predict whether one will get a specific
disease. points
out that some physicians question the value of this type of genetic testing and
even believe it may be hurtful, because knowing about a disease predisposition
may cause some people to become depressed or possibly even commit suicide. states
that the greatest challenge of the genetic revolution may be how we cope with
personal information that is revealing yet uncertain.
Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program is taped off the air.
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