Will you marry me – and my genome?

A cartoon in the current issue of the New Yorker magazine shows a couple at the altar exchanging wedding vows. The cutline says: "Do you, Ashley, take Nesbitt and his genome to be your husband?"

Very funny -- and possibly of sign of what's soon to come.

The cost of sequencing a person's entire genome is expected to fall to about $1,000 over the next year or so. You can already get part of your DNA analyzed by 23andMe for $99. Routine genetic screening is just ahead, and we'll take a look at the possible consequences in an upcoming story.

We're nearing the point where genetic analysis will more clearly tell a young couple whether they can produce a healthy child. People who get married in mid-life could learn whether their partner is predisposed to such neurological diseases as Alzheimer's and Parkinsons.

How is this going to change how we think about love and marriage? We'd like to hear you thoughts. Some comments will be included in the upcoming article. We want to hear from everyone: wedding planners to couples who are engaged to people who simply find the question to be provocative.

Specifically, do you think:

Email your thoughts to gary.robbins@utsandiego.com. Please include your full name, hometown and occupation.

See the original post here:
Will you marry me - and my genome?