genetic testing

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/business/29gene.html?ref=science

recently, a company that specializes in genetic testing has publicized their latest product- an at-home pregnancy-like test that will test for 100 diseases linked to mutations of a specific gene. for a single person it costs $349 and twice as much for a couple.  these prices are quite generous considering that they test for 100 diseases for the same price as an in-office test for just one disease.

of course this innovation does not come without debate. 

does this product coincide with eugenics? or does it simply offer people an alternative to a life of heart ache?

is it promoting designer babies? or preventing parents from struggling with raising a child with a disease?

is it helping society make better decisions? or is it causing unnecessary worry [because of the unlikelihood of both parents having the same genetic mutation]? 

who knows what this product will bring about..

i for one am still on the fence about genetic testing. for, if i were already pregnant, would i abort my baby because it has a higher chance of displaying traits of a genetic mutation? would i stop loving it because it would be harder to take care of? but then again, if i could prevent a lifetime of hurt and suffering, shouldn't i?

to me it's like playing with fire and although i have pyromaniacal tendencies, i'm still afraid of getting burned.