Can a simple genetic test tell you your child's natural talents?

My Gene Profile says that with their Inborn Talent Genetic Test your parenting woes are over.  You can customize their studies and activities toward what is found in their genetics.  They also claim that "without you understanding what your child's inborn talents are, your child is in for disaster!" 

My Gene Profile sounds like a parents dream when in reality it is a total scam that is a child's worst nightmare.  At this time, and probably forever, there is no genetic test that can tell you what your child's talents will be.  IQ, athletic ability, creativity, musical ability and social aptitude are as much or probably MORE influenced by environmental factors such as diet, exercise and social upbringing as genetics.

In other words, science is quickly finding out that it is not just about what genes you inherit, but what genes are turned on and that has everything to do with environmental influences.  Case in point, this photo of genetically identical mice.  One was given lots of folic acid while in the womb and the other was not.

After looking at the difference between these two mice with just one environmental variable like folic acid, it is clear that there is no way a genetic test could determine your child's inborn talents. Environmental factors like diet, education, practice, coaching and social interaction are way too important to ignore.  I like what Daniel MacArthur had to say:

The idea that is being spruiked here is that genetic testing can help you determine your child's "inborn talents", which you can then use to ruthlessly jam them into whatever career the test results suggest.

The presenter notes that he "wasted a lot of time exposing my children to as many extracurricular activities as possible" - how fortunate that he can now give us access to genetic testing technology to save us the money and effort involved in letting children choose their own favourite activities!

While genetics professionals everywhere are laughing at My Gene Profile, I do not find it funny.  The problem with My Gene Profile is that it is the product of genetic determinism.  Genetic determinism says that all we are and all we ever will be is encoded in our genes.  It is the product of ignorance about genetics and the tendency of society to reduce the human experience down to simple factors we think we can control.  Genetic determinism is dangerous because it is the parent of eugenics.

While Catholic parents SHOULD be immune to the nonsense being pedaled at My Gene Profile, it is never good to assume.  Please tell everyone you know that this is a scam, not just for the parents pocketbooks but for their children's well-being.  For any Catholic who might buy into this garbage remind them of this:

"The people of our time sensitized by the terrible vicissitudes that have covered the 20th century and the very beginning of this one in mourning, are able to understand that man's dignity is not identified with his DNA genes and that it does not diminish with the eventual presence of physical differences or genetic defects." 

-- Pope Benedict XVI