As the science of genetics becomes more advanced, genetic testing has started playing a larger role in health care. Genetic testing involves evaluating whether certain diseases are linked to specific genes, and if identified, this can help with medical treatments targeting these genes, often by activating or deactivating the problematic gene (Gibson, 2015). Because genetic testing has the potential to revolutionize health care, it should be supported when used to treat diseases with a genetic component.

Genetic testing seeks to identify whether there is an element within one’s genome that is contributing to a disease. While there are other causes of disease, such as diet and environmental factors, genes still play a role in how strongly these diseases will be expressed, if at all. Two persons with identical diets and living in the same environment may differ in quality of health, based on their genetics (Hartwell et al., 2014). Targeting the activation of genes which influence the immune system, or deactivating genes that make one susceptible to heart disease could revolutionize the health care industry.

Genetic testing can also provide recommendations on certain lifestyle choices, and can therefore be used as preventive care. For instance, if one has a genetic disposition toward diabetes, knowing this beforehand through genetic testing can help ensure the person maintains a healthy diet and avoids foods that might cause diabetes to occur (Schinzel, 2015). Genetic testing can therefore not only treat many diseases, but it can also prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Genetic testing can only benefit the quality of health care for many people. It can help identify why certain diseases are occurring, and it can also prevent future diseases by informing people of certain health dispositions. For these reasons, genetic testing should continue to be supported in the health care field, as it has the potential to revolutionize the quality of care and can identify new ways to treat diseases.