Off-the-shelf genetics tests to hit pharmacies

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DemonAbyss10
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20 May 2010, 5:53 pm

This line is the source, so yeah...

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WASHINGTON (AFP) – Want to find out what diseases await you in the future, your chances of developing Alzheimer's? Or whether you will pass something on to your child? Then a trip to the pharmacy may reveal all.

Biotech firm Pathway Genomics announced Tuesday that personalized DNA tests to detect the risks of developing certain diseases will soon be available at Walgreens, a large chain of pharmacies.

It would be the first time that such tests would be commercially available for consumers, even though the company has offered them online for some time.

The Pathway Genomics kit, dubbed the "Insight Saliva Collection," enables the user to take saliva swabs following simple instructions and send them off to a California laboratory for analysis.

Costing between 20 to 30 dollars, the kit will be on sale at some 7,500 branches of Walgreens from the weekend, except those in New York state, due to local laws.

After sending off the swab, the customer has to log onto the Pathway Genomics site and create a personal account to order the tests they are interested in, out of three proposed sets costing up to 249 dollars.

By analyzing the client's DNA, the company can test for markers which could indicate whether the person is at risk for about 70 diseases, including breast or prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.

They can also test for responses to drugs such as anti-cholesterol medication, the anti-coagulant warfarin or tamoxifen used to battle breast cancer.

Couples can also spend 179 dollars if they wish to know whether they risk passing on hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis to their future children.

"Everyone has the right to know the secrets hidden within their own DNA," the company says on its website.

"With personal DNA testing, you can take preventative steps to improve your future, and even extend your life."

I am soo against this its not even funny. If it becomes required by rules/laws that we have to take it, Imma start a huge fight :/

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Zsazsa
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20 May 2010, 5:57 pm

Last week, the FDA took steps to stop the sales of these genetic testing kits realizing they would cause more dangers than provide any real personal comfort...

DemonAbyss10
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20 May 2010, 6:02 pm

Zsazsa wrote:

Last week, the FDA took steps to stop the sales of these genetic testing kits realizing they would cause more dangers than provide any real personal comfort...

old news to some I guess, but it still wasnt posted on here. Just wanted to get the knowledge out.

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phil777
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21 May 2010, 11:49 pm

Meh, it didn't mention any hereditary psychological diseases last i checked. Physiological diseases can more severely cripple someone. Hrmph, i could elaborate on this, but i'd need time (and sleep ^^; ).

Michael_Stuart
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22 May 2010, 3:09 am

DemonAbyss10 wrote:

I am soo against this its not even funny. If it becomes required by rules/laws that we have to take it, Imma start a huge fight :/

But these tests have been available for a long time. That they're now more readily available to the masses isn't any indication they may become "required". I think there's very little to fear.

sefer
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22 May 2010, 5:50 am

I want to take one of them.

ikorack
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22 May 2010, 4:15 pm

So Walgreen's is making a DNA Database? Cha does no look good to me.

Apple_in_my_Eye
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22 May 2010, 4:21 pm

ikorack wrote:

So Walgreen's is making a DNA Database? Cha does no look good to me.

Ugh, good point. What the heck are our rights regarding our own DNA? If Wallgreen's/whoever compiles a database of DNA information to sell (say to any insurance company or employer), do we have any legal right to make them stop? (I'm guessing the answer is "no.")

DemonAbyss10
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22 May 2010, 6:03 pm

Apple_in_my_Eye wrote:

ikorack wrote:

So Walgreen's is making a DNA Database? Cha does no look good to me.

Thats purely why I avoid certain things when necessary.

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aspiegirl2
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22 May 2010, 8:32 pm

Maybe the country will be like the movie Gattica sooner than we thought: all 'imperfect' people will be shunned (or even more so) from society. What's scary about this stuff is that someone may actually compile a DNA database (as said); confidentiality laws sure won't stop the government from collecting a genetic database.

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DemonAbyss10
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22 May 2010, 9:27 pm

aspiegirl2 wrote:

Well, from a few government 'friends' I know of personally. I can trust them, they are family friends, but they may be exaggerating a bit, so don't take whats being said too seriously. There are rumors that an enforced eugenics bill is getting pushed through ALONG with a bunch of other questionable stuff. But as I said, its just a rumor, who knows if its even true. Regardless, its just an interesting thought.

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23 May 2010, 2:16 am

I am all for it!

We would hope that the next generation would be better, stronger and smarter than we are.

If I had Huntington's disease or a tendency towards breast cancer or early heart attacks, should I reproduce?

Hitler was right. If you stop anyone with a genetic disease from breeding then you would remove genetic diseases from the human genome within a couple of generations.

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23 May 2010, 8:15 am

Wombat wrote:

Hitler was right. If you stop anyone with a genetic disease from breeding then you would remove genetic diseases from the human genome within a couple of generations.

Yes, Hitler, or rather the scientists of the fascist movement, was entirely right about that. Unfortunately, much of the western world enjoys having this thing called "liberty". While choosing not to pass on a genetic disposition towards cancer is all good and well (assuming the public is informed properly), the government can't force people to do so. That would be greatly overstepping their boundaries.

b9
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23 May 2010, 8:42 am

Quote:

Off-the-shelf genetics tests to hit pharmacies

if they are off the shelf, then i assume they are misplaced somewhere else.
maybe they are on the floor after a mild earthquake.

i would only buy something that is on the shelf because i would assume that it is in the correct place where they pick it up from when they retrieve it for me.

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26 May 2010, 10:02 am

I won't "support" or "oppose" eugenics in the broad sense...

That being said... We have stopped Evolution by Natural Selection dead in it's tracks. It is our responsibility to find an alternative. Otherwise we will breed pure random change into our genome. 99% of genetic mutation is negative. (i'm sure it's higher than 99%)

We are breeding ourselves into stupidity, infirmity, weakness, dependency, ... uh... exactly what the government wants us to be... The perfect willing slaves.

Anyone worried about government enforced eugenics... don't be. It is NOT in their best interest... Only OURS! (well more specifically, the human species') Well, the test talked about only deals with "disease"-type issues... Not intelligence genes, or independence genes etc. So.. maybe it would be in their interest.. so long as they prevented more useful positive traits from being decoded.

Memetics is DRIVING our genetic change, and it's out of control... And no.. i don't have an answer that I can stomach. "Brave New World" anyone? Racism, bigotry... they can be seen as genetic tools to help overcome the power of memetic driving. The cliquish nature of society might also be a result of such genetic tools.

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27 May 2010, 9:24 am

Exclavius wrote:

That being said... We have stopped Evolution by Natural Selection dead in it's tracks. It is our responsibility to find an alternative. Otherwise we will breed pure random change into our genome. 99% of genetic mutation is negative. (i'm sure it's higher than 99%)

It's called sexual selection. In the absence of the infirm dying off, it's a matter of who is willing to sleep with who, that decides where our gene pool is headed.

The question we should be asking ourselves isn't whether natural selection is working (It'll work regardless), but rather what sort of conditions natural selection is currently running under. Whatever people are getting laid the most are a pretty good indication of what our next generation is going to look like.

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