Genetic testing is an inexact science with real consequences

Re:Genetic testing is an inexact science with real consequences by zmmmmm on Friday December 20, 2019 @03:22PM (#21847093)

I think this article grossly misapplies the term "testing" here. The 23andMe site barely contains the word "test" and that's probably because what they do does not fit with the standards and quality of actual medical testing.

Real genetic testing has very high standards for quality and accuracy and there are strict guidelines and regulations around how information is conveyed in reporting information back to requestors.

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Re:Genetic testing is an inexact science with real consequences by Cougher on Saturday December 21, 2019 @06:01AM (#21850738)

Your distinction seems to be a "no true Scotsman" fallacy. That 23andMe's genetic testing doesn't have the same high standards of "real" genetic testing doesn't mean that they're not using genetic testing. As far as 23andMe's not using the word "test" meaning anything, there is still an implication that testing is precisely what they're doing. I just Googled "genetic testing". The third result is a link to 23andMe that they themselves have titled "23andMe: DNA Genetic Testing & Analysis". From that page are links to pages like "We're all about real science, real data and genetic insights that positively impact people's lives" and "Know your genes, own your health".

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Re:Genetic testing is an inexact science with real consequences by ktm5j on Saturday December 21, 2019 @08:01AM (#21851050)

As someone married to a genetic counselor, thanks for making this distinction. There's a world of difference between 23andme and actual genetic testing.

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