Is it true that CCTV rumors about fortune telling _ CCTV rumors about fortune telling?

A drop of saliva determines a child's future?

Rumors:

Through the comparative analysis of gene detection technology and gene big data, we can detect the genetic information of human cells in saliva samples and evaluate children's personality traits such as sports talent, music talent, memory talent and myopia risk, so as to obtain a "training manual for gifted children".

Rumors:

"Gene" is one of the core concepts in life science. It is a carrier of genetic material and a nucleotide sequence located on the chromosome of a cell. Now we know that the sequence and expression regulation of genes determine that human growth, development and health are related to heredity. In 1980s, the United States and Britain put forward the Human Genome Project. After more than ten years, scientists have finally completed and published the human genome map and preliminary analysis results.

Medical application of gene detection technology

Genetic testing is a technique to detect DNA through blood, other body fluids or cells. It is to take the oral mucosa cells or other tissue cells shed by the examinee, amplify their genetic information, and then detect the DNA molecular information in the examinee's cells through special equipment, so as to predict the risk of diseases in vivo, analyze the various genes contained in them, and make people know their own genetic information, so as to avoid or delay the occurrence of diseases by improving their living environment and habits.

At present, scientists have identified many gene loci related to hypertension, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lung cancer and prostate cancer, which explain the inheritance and pathogenesis of these diseases to some extent. Especially in the identification of some genetic diseases highly related to genes, such as Down syndrome and thalassemia, the traditional methods have achieved incomparable results.

Should not be the basis of "modern fortune telling"

With the progress of technology and the sharp drop of cost, genetic testing has gradually moved from biomedical laboratory to clinic and approached the life of the general public. Under the reputation of "genetic testing can predict diseases" and "genetic testing can discover children's talents", many institutions have also launched related services. In fact, it is impossible to give an accurate answer with the current level of science and technology. 1

At present, consumer-grade genetic testing, from a positive point of view, can only play a psychological comfort role in addition to meeting some entertainment needs. But genetic testing is a double-edged sword. For some negative results, if the subjects overreact, the effect may be counterproductive. For example, if the so-called genetic test shows that "math ability is not good", it will inevitably make the subjects feel frustrated and lose the motivation and courage to learn. Although some disease risk early warning can make consumers pay more attention to personal health, if there is a psychological haze of "susceptibility to a certain disease", it will obviously affect the quality of daily life.

Moreover, at present, there is no recognized industry standard for personal consumer-grade genetic testing. For the same testing project, because different institutions choose different gene loci for testing and different databases and angles for analysis, the testing results may be different, which makes the conclusion of this genetic testing report lack accuracy. There are more than 20,000 genes in the human genome, and only a small part of them have been thoroughly studied at present, and most of them are related to diseases. Many related experimental research conclusions are only based on animal experiments such as mice, and many databases of domestic genetic testing reports are based on genetic research of Europeans and Americans. Whether these conclusions can be directly applied to China people needs further verification.

Seven points depend on hard work, and three points are doomed.

Children's future development is influenced by many factors, including family, school, society and other environmental factors, as well as children's own physiological, psychological and brain cognitive factors. Rosenthal, a famous psychologist at Harvard University in the United States, once did an experiment on the effect of education. The research team came to an ordinary primary school and explained to the principal and teacher that it was necessary to test the students' "development potential". They randomly selected some students from Class 18 of grade six, and then provided the list to the teacher, solemnly telling them that these students on the list are the most promising students in the school, and repeatedly asking the teacher to pay attention to long-term observation and not to tell the students themselves. Eight months later, when they returned to primary school, they were pleasantly surprised to find that the students on the list not only made obvious progress in their academic performance and intellectual performance, but also made great changes in their interests, conduct and teacher-student relationship. This phenomenon is called "expected effect". Researchers believe that this is due to the influence of teachers' expectations. Because the teacher thinks that this student is a genius, he has higher expectations, pays more attention to him in class, and conveys the message of "you are excellent" to him in various ways, so that students can feel the teacher's attention, thus generating an incentive effect, redoubling their efforts in study and achieving good results.

The function of human body is extremely complex, and it is impossible to determine whether many diseases are the result of the interaction of multiple genes and environment. It is unscientific to determine a child's future only by genetic testing, while ignoring factors such as the child's growth environment and himself.

Paying attention to children's education, in the final analysis, we should follow the laws of education and guide children to choose the right growth direction with mature educational concepts. Taking talent as the life, superstitious about genetic testing of talent under the existing technical conditions will only lead children to the wrong growth path.

References:

1 An Wen, genetic testing has become a fortune-telling artifact? [N]。 China Quality News, 20 18-04- 19(004).

Zhong Wang, don't treat genetic testing as high-tech fortune telling [N]. Science and Technology Daily, 20 19-03-22(007).

3Suzanne Sniekers et al., Natgenet J, 20 17, Vol. 49, No.7, pp.1107-12.

4Robert Plomin et al., NAT Rev Genet, J, 20 18, 19 Volume 3, Page 148- 159.

5Robert Plomin et al. Perspective Psychology Science J, 20 16, 1 1 Volume 1, p. 3-23.

Rumor expert: Cui Xiaoxian, technician of Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Expert: Zhou, Chief Technician of Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention.