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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:
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describes a company that analyzes DNA and provides clients with
information about their risk factors for specific diseases.
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reviews the structure of DNA and tells how DNA samples are
obtained.
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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.
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terms each spot in the DNA where a single base is different as a
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP).
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introduces SNP ("snip") chips—silicon chips that hold
millions of small fragments of reference DNA.
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reports that SNP chips enable one to compare an individual's SNP
profile to those of people with specific genetic diseases.
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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.
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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.
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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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