Genetic testing is the name given to a variety of laboratory techniques, all of which ultimately provide information about a person's underlying genetic makeup, also called their genotype. Genetic information is of interest because it can help in the diagnosis of a current health condition or provide insight into future health.

Advances in Genetic Science

Early understanding of genetic disease was first obtained about "single-gene disorders." These disorders include such diseases as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. They occur because of the strong influence of a mutation in a single gene. Using the tremendous amounts of information about the human genome made available by the Human Genome Project, scientists are now dissecting the genetic components of complex disorders, such as diabetes and heart disease, that come about as a result of both genetic and environmental factors. Information about the genetic factors...