Genetic testing for disease susceptibilities: consequences for genetic counseling

Area of Science:

• Genetics and personalized medicine.

Background:

• Genetic testing is currently used for Mendelian diseases in high-risk individuals.
• Its role in common disease susceptibility is evolving.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the future role of genetic counseling in common disease susceptibility testing.
• To contrast current and future applications of genetic testing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis.
• Discussion of current practices and future projections.

Main Results:

• Current genetic testing focuses on rare Mendelian disorders for high-risk groups.
• Future applications anticipate testing low-risk individuals for common disease susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• Genetic counseling's role will expand beyond rare diseases to encompass common disease risk modification.
• Future genetic testing aims to guide preventative interventions for common diseases.