Genetic counselling in post-genomic era-to be or not to be

Abstract

With the surge of genetic tests and technologies, genetic counsellors are faced with the challenge of translating emerging scientific knowledge into practical information for patients, clinicians and public health policy makers. The new tests and technologies also are associated with new psychosocial and ethical considerations. New guidelines are needed for each new discovery of the genomic impact on phenotype, pathology and disease while “old” syndromes and “old” pathology, continue to require attention. In the new post-Human Genome Project era, genetic counsellors will be an integral part of translating genomic discoveries into beneficial impact on human disease, health care, and medical benefits. The needs for genetic counselling should be designed into genomic research at the onset. Genetic counsellors need to handle old while rapidly assimilating new information and the principal challenge is to be up to date and updated.

Keywords: Genetic counseling; Clinical application; Translating emerging scientific knowledge; Direct-to-consumer genetic testing; Clinicians and public health policy makers

Core tip: This paper aims at discussing the aspects and challenges which have to be faced during genetic counselling in the new post-Human Genome Project era with beneficial impact on human disease, health care, and medical benefits. With the surge of genetic tests and technologies, genetic counsellors are faced with the challenge of translating emerging scientific knowledge into practical information for patients, clinicians same as for public health policy makers and the needs for genetic counselling should be designed into genomic research at the onset. Genetic counsellors need to handle old while rapidly assimilating new information.