Research Uncovers the Imperfections of DNA Testing

DNA tests have revolutionized various fields, including forensic investigations, genealogy research, and medical diagnostics. While DNA testing is a powerful tool, it does have some limitations.

DNA testing is also known as a powerful tool for identifying individuals and determining biological relationships, but it also has some limitations. According to MedlinePlus Genetics¹, some of the limitations of DNA testing include:

• The test often can’t determine if a person will show symptoms of a disorder, how severe the symptoms will be, or whether the disorder will progress over time.
• Lack of treatment strategies for many genetic disorders once they are diagnosed.
• Physical risks associated with most genetic tests are very small, but may cause emotional and psychological stress, tension among family members, and genetic discrimination.
• Tests may not be available for the health conditions or traits that interest you.
• This type of testing cannot tell definitively whether you will or will not get a particular disease.
• Results often need to be confirmed with genetic tests administered by a healthcare professional.

However, there are also cases of DNA fraud, where criminals plant fake DNA samples at a crime scene or in their own body to avoid suspicion². 

Scientists have also reported that they could manufacture a sample of DNA without obtaining any tissue from that person, using profiles stored in one of the DNA databases². This poses a challenge for forensic laboratories to ensure the validity of their results.

DNA testing also raises questions about privacy and ethical issues. DNA holds a lot more information about a person than fingerprints do. For example, a person’s DNA includes information about everything from eye color to genetic defects.

 Moreover, some researchers have underscored the limitations of genetic ancestry tests, which trace only a few of your ancestors and a small portion of your DNA, and cannot identify all of the groups or locations around the world where your relatives are found³.

Another limitation is related to misconceptions about what a DNA match really means. Matching DNA from a crime scene to DNA taken from a suspect is not an absolute guarantee of the suspect’s guilt. Instead, forensic experts prefer to talk about probability. For example, they might make a statement like this: The chance is 1/7,000 that an unrelated person would by chance have the same DNA profile as that obtained from the evidence.

Combine that statistical analysis with other evidence, and you can see how prosecutors can make strong cases against a suspect.

However, there are also cases of DNA fraud, where criminals plant fake DNA samples at a crime scene or in their own body to avoid suspicion. Scientists have also reported that they could manufacture a sample of DNA without obtaining any tissue from that person, using profiles stored in one of the DNA databases.

This poses a challenge for forensic laboratories to ensure the validity of their results. DNA testing also raises questions about privacy and ethical issues.

DNA holds a lot more information about a person than fingerprints do. For example, a person’s DNA includes information about everything from eye color to genetic defects.

You can read more of such stories at Credible News :

• Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology Have Transformative Potential For African Economy – Mit Phoenix
• WAEC Leverages on Technology, Opens Digital Certificate Recovery Platform
• Steps to Recover Your Hacked WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram Accounts

Some people fear that the widespread use of DNA databases could encourage governments to discriminate against people because of information encoded in their DNA.

Moreover, some researchers have underscored the limitations of genetic ancestry tests, which trace only a few of your ancestors and a small portion of your DNA, and cannot identify all of the groups or locations around the world where your relatives are found.

Other key limitations of DNA tests include:

1. Limited scope: DNA tests primarily focus on analyzing specific regions of the genome. These tests often target specific genetic markers or regions of interest, such as disease-associated genes or ancestry markers. As a result, they may not provide a comprehensive analysis of the entire genome.
2. Incomplete databases: Some DNA tests, especially those related to ancestry or genealogy, rely on comparing an individual’s DNA with a database of reference samples. These databases may have limited representation from certain populations or geographic regions, leading to potential inaccuracies or incomplete information, particularly for individuals from underrepresented groups.
3. False positives and false negatives: DNA tests are generally accurate, but they can still produce false positives and false negatives. False positives occur when a test indicates the presence of a particular gene variant or condition when it is not actually present. False negatives, on the other hand, occur when a test fails to detect a gene variant or condition that is actually present. These errors can arise due to technical limitations, sample quality issues, or variations in test sensitivity.
4. Ethical considerations: DNA testing raises ethical concerns related to privacy, consent, and potential misuse of genetic information. The results of DNA tests can reveal sensitive information about an individual’s health predispositions, ancestry, and familial relationships. Ensuring the secure storage, proper consent procedures, and responsible use of this information is essential.
5. Interpretation challenges: Interpreting DNA test results accurately requires expertise and a nuanced understanding of genetics. Genetic information can be complex, and variations in gene sequences or mutations may have different implications depending on the context. Without proper expertise, individuals may misinterpret or overinterpret the results, leading to misunderstandings or unwarranted actions.
6. Environmental and lifestyle factors: While DNA plays a crucial role in determining certain traits and disease predispositions, it does not operate in isolation. Environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and gene-environment interactions also influence an individual’s health and traits. DNA tests cannot account for these external factors comprehensively.
7. Limited predictive power: DNA testing can provide information about an individual’s genetic predispositions to certain diseases or conditions, but they do not guarantee that those conditions will develop. Genetic variants associated with increased disease risk are often just one piece of the puzzle and must be considered in conjunction with other risk factors.

It’s important to recognize these limitations and consider them when interpreting the results of DNA tests. Consulting with a genetic counselor or healthcare professional can help individuals better understand and contextualize the information provided by DNA tests.

BY DAYO ADESULU

You can read more of such stories at Credible News and The Cheer News.