Comments on: Genetic Testing for Autism: Too Close for Comfort http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:54:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Prenatal Genetic Testing and Lots of Questions http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-561216 Prenatal Genetic Testing and Lots of Questions Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:52:21 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-561216 [...] there’s no prenatal genetic test for autism. Long ago (as in “around the time I first started writing this blog”) I [...] [...] there’s no prenatal genetic test for autism. Long ago (as in “around the time I first started writing this blog”) I [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-545156 Kristina Chew, PhD Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:32:49 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-545156 @donna, My once little now so big "bundle" --- what would I do without him! Have any parents or other participants in the study communicated these concerns to the scientists? I am very interested in finding out more about the genetics of autism and of thinking of how this knowledge can be used ethically, and wisely. And carefully. @donna, My once little now so big “bundle” — what would I do without him!

Have any parents or other participants in the study communicated these concerns to the scientists? I am very interested in finding out more about the genetics of autism and of thinking of how this knowledge can be used ethically, and wisely. And carefully.

]]> By: donna middaugh http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-547816 donna middaugh Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:51:51 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-547816 Our family has participated in the genome project for the past 15 years. It only occurs to me now that we may have contributed to a kind of eugenic selection. I have mixed feelings about being part of the study. Had there been a prenatal test for autism I would almost certainly aborted. That would have been a huge mistake. Like most parents, I can't imagine my life without my "litttle bundle of pathology". He is the most beautiful person I have ever known. Our family has participated in the genome project for the past 15 years. It only occurs to me now that we may have contributed to a kind of eugenic selection. I have mixed feelings about being part of the study. Had there been a prenatal test for autism I would almost certainly aborted. That would have been a huge mistake. Like most parents, I can’t imagine my life without my “litttle bundle of pathology”. He is the most beautiful person I have ever known.

]]> By: Autism Vox » Genetic Testing: Let the buyer beware http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-531076 Autism Vox » Genetic Testing: Let the buyer beware Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:00:55 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-531076 [...] Right now, there is no prenatal genetic testing available for autism, but there is genetic testing. Back in May 2006, I posted about Chromosonal Microarray Analysis (CMA), which (according to this information from Baylor College of Medicine) has “advantages for testing for disorders manifesting autistic features.” Some discussion ensued among commenters about what this genetic test was for; it was not clear if this test could or could not be used for prenatal genetic testing for autism. The CMA webpage now clearly states that “CMA is not a general test for autism. CMA is not appropriate as a prenatal test for autism.” [...] [...] Right now, there is no prenatal genetic testing available for autism, but there is genetic testing. Back in May 2006, I posted about Chromosonal Microarray Analysis (CMA), which (according to this information from Baylor College of Medicine) has “advantages for testing for disorders manifesting autistic features.” Some discussion ensued among commenters about what this genetic test was for; it was not clear if this test could or could not be used for prenatal genetic testing for autism. The CMA webpage now clearly states that “CMA is not a general test for autism. CMA is not appropriate as a prenatal test for autism.” [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Genetics and Autism Interview http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-528421 Autism Vox » Genetics and Autism Interview Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:16:52 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-528421 [...] Via both our blogs, we experienced some confusion over genetic tests offered by the Baylor Medical Genetics Labs. How well would you say the general public understands the difference between genetic testing as an adjunct to treatment vs. prenatal testing? [...] [...] Via both our blogs, we experienced some confusion over genetic tests offered by the Baylor Medical Genetics Labs. How well would you say the general public understands the difference between genetic testing as an adjunct to treatment vs. prenatal testing? [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Prenatal Genetic Testing for Autism: Two Perspectives http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-527970 Autism Vox » Prenatal Genetic Testing for Autism: Two Perspectives Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:00:15 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-527970 [...] I have posted before about how a prenatal genetic test for autism evokes a highly charged response in autism circles, to the point that the very term prenatal genetic test for autism can be considered a fighting words. Two fellow bloggers (and parents) provide some thoughtful commentary on this issue. [...] [...] I have posted before about how a prenatal genetic test for autism evokes a highly charged response in autism circles, to the point that the very term prenatal genetic test for autism can be considered a fighting words. Two fellow bloggers (and parents) provide some thoughtful commentary on this issue. [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-527059 Kristina Chew, PhD Wed, 24 May 2006 19:57:09 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-527059 Thank you so much for the references. What you write about Downs syndrome and genetic testing was my sense of the situation. And the notion of "us with autism in our familes as 'carriers'" has come to my mind more than once---some of my relatives have ASD traits and others on my husband's side of the family have other "stuff" (inelegant word). It makes me think, with a shudder, what if researchers came up with some "profile" of those more likely to be "carriers"---would a couple be told, be careful or you may have a child with....... Thank you so much for the references. What you write about Downs syndrome and genetic testing was my sense of the situation. And the notion of “us with autism in our familes as ‘carriers’” has come to my mind more than once—some of my relatives have ASD traits and others on my husband’s side of the family have other “stuff” (inelegant word). It makes me think, with a shudder, what if researchers came up with some “profile” of those more likely to be “carriers”—would a couple be told, be careful or you may have a child with…….

]]> By: Mitzi http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-527043 Mitzi Tue, 23 May 2006 22:39:58 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-527043 re: Down syndrome and genetic testing, yes, numbers are way downbdue to prenatal testing. The abortion rate when DS is identified prenatally is 80-90 percent, mainly due to the apallingly poor quality of genetic counselling that is given with tests but also because we live in a society that pathologises difference. An excellent and well-researched explanation can be found here: Hunt, Linda M. (2000) “Routine prenatal genetic screening in a public clinic: Informed choice or moral imperative?,” Medical Humanities Report, 22 (2). Online at: http://www.bioethics.msu.edu/mhr/01w/prenatalscreening.htm There is a news story at http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200504%5CCUL20050405a.html with a pretty good round-up of the most recent studies on this topic. Given that autism is usually painted as even more of a "catastrophe" than DS, I think prenatal testing is one of the greatest dangers we and our families face. After all, chances are all of us with autism in our families are "carriers" (horrid term). re: Down syndrome and genetic testing, yes, numbers are way downbdue to prenatal testing. The abortion rate when DS is identified prenatally is 80-90 percent, mainly due to the apallingly poor quality of genetic counselling that is given with tests but also because we live in a society that pathologises difference. An excellent and well-researched explanation can be found here:
Hunt, Linda M. (2000) “Routine prenatal genetic screening in a public clinic: Informed choice or moral imperative?,” Medical Humanities Report, 22 (2). Online at: http://www.bioethics.msu.edu/mhr/01w/prenatalscreening.htm
There is a news story at http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200504%5CCUL20050405a.html with a pretty good round-up of the most recent studies on this topic.
Given that autism is usually painted as even more of a “catastrophe” than DS, I think prenatal testing is one of the greatest dangers we and our families face. After all, chances are all of us with autism in our families are “carriers” (horrid term).

]]> By: Autism Vox » “We must all play god when it comes to genetics” http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-526970 Autism Vox » “We must all play god when it comes to genetics” Fri, 19 May 2006 16:54:14 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-526970 [...] In light of the recent discussion here at AutismVox on a prenatal genetic test for autism, an article by Dr. Arthur Caplan, the director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, raises even more tough questions regarding prenatal genetic testing. [...] [...] In light of the recent discussion here at AutismVox on a prenatal genetic test for autism, an article by Dr. Arthur Caplan, the director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, raises even more tough questions regarding prenatal genetic testing. [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Them’s Fighting Words 2: Genetic Testing, Prenatal http://www.blisstree.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/comment-page-1/#comment-526939 Autism Vox » Them’s Fighting Words 2: Genetic Testing, Prenatal Wed, 17 May 2006 21:21:56 +0000 http://autismvox.com/genetic-testing-for-autism-already/#comment-526939 [...] A few days ago, I posted about a genetic test for autism. As Hsien at Genetics and Health posted, “not all genetic tests are prenatal.” The genetic test I mentioned, Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA), is not a prenatal genetic test for autism. [...] [...] A few days ago, I posted about a genetic test for autism. As Hsien at Genetics and Health posted, “not all genetic tests are prenatal.” The genetic test I mentioned, Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA), is not a prenatal genetic test for autism. [...]

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