UNDATED (AP) - Genetic testing appears to be making a dent in some inherited diseases.
A review by The Associated Press finds that births of babies with cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs and other less familiar disorders have dropped since testing came into wider use.
A professor at the University of California at San Diego who tracks Tay-Sachs says there have been only about a dozen new cases a year for the past decade.
Genetic testing has become a routine part of prenatal care for many women, helped by lower cost and stiffer competition in the testing industry. When defects are found, the pregnancies are often terminated.
But genetic testing has not had an impact on all inherited diseases. Rates for Sickle Cell and Huntington's Disease are little changed.
On the Net:
March of Dimes: www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439.asp
National Human Genome Research Institute: www.genome.gov/19516567
American College of Medical Genetics: www.acmg.net
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