Sensitive medical tests have been developed using biotechnology. Some of these tests examine the DNA in your cells. These tests can diagnose existing diseases, but they can also be used to predict the possibility of the patient developing an illness later in life.

The tests can identify carriers of inherited diseases who do not have symptoms themselves. Or they can be used to diagnose diseases that only affect people later in life. They may also be used to test for diseases in an unborn foetus.

For more information about genetic testing go to http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/medicine/genetest.html