CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS OF GENETIC TESTING - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN

Genetic testing may be applied in a variety of clinical situations, in cluding preconception counseling, prenatal diagnosis and postnatal det ermination of genetic predisposition to disease. The family physician needs to become familiar with the full range of genetic testing possib ilities in all phases of the human life cycle. Cystic fibrosis, Huntin gton's disease and cancer are three diseases for which genetic testing has become a reality, and they serve to illustrate the clinical and e thical dilemmas that arise with this type of testing.