Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
07:34
FISH for Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
Published on: February 23, 2011
From genetics to genomics: ethics, policy, and parental decision-making
Benjamin Wilfond1, Lainie Friedman Ross
1Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. benjamin.wilfond@seattlechildrens.org
Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|July 24, 2008
Summary
Parental decisions for comprehensive genomic testing in children should be respected, as current evidence does not show serious harm. Further research is needed on the social and behavioral impacts of genomic testing.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Genetics
- Bioethics
- Genomic Medicine
Background:
- Traditional ethical evaluation of pediatric genetic testing prioritizes clinical benefits and risks.
- This approach can conflict with respecting parental autonomy in healthcare decisions.
- Emerging genomic technologies necessitate a re-evaluation of ethical frameworks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue for a greater role of parental decision-making in pediatric genetic testing.
- To explore the ethical challenges posed by comprehensive genomic testing in children.
- To align ethical practices with established parental rights in pediatric healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ethical frameworks for genetic and genomic testing in children.
- Examination of the implications of comprehensive genomic testing (examining thousands of DNA markers).
- Consideration of the balance between parental autonomy and potential risks/benefits.
Main Results:
- Existing data on genetic testing in children show minimal psychosocial harm.
- Limited empirical data currently exists on the psychosocial impact of genomic testing in children.
- Parental decisions for genomic testing should be respected absent evidence of significant harm.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive genomic testing information may be integrated by families more readily than anticipated.
- Further research on the social and behavioral impact of genomic testing in children is essential.
- Findings will inform parents, clinicians, and policymakers regarding pediatric genomic testing.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:02Genomics
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
02:46Genetic Screens
Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
01:23Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
00:49What is Genetic Engineering?
Overview