Genetic tests are helpful in making parenting plans, experts say. (Photo: Li Hao/GT)
Zhang Wenyong, a 44-year-old father in Beijing, did a genetic test on his two daughters. His girls are only two and four and a half years old, but Zhang thinks a genetic test for aptitude would be an asset in planning his daughters' future. He spent 9,800 yuan ($1,469) per kid to do a talent genetic test.
Zhang is one of a growing number of parents in China who are turning to genetic testing to get an idea of their kid's future abilities. According to Yang Xu, a CEO from HiGene, a genetic testing company based in Beijing, her company has had more than 1,500 customers within the three months since their May opening.
The process of taking a sample is quick and easy. Parents need only spend around a minute to swab their kids' cheek with a Q-tip to get oral mucosa and send the samples to a testing center.
The talent genetic test can identify a child's aptitude for music, painting, sports, dance and science. Zhang said the test could be useful in helping him decide how to support his daughters' development.
As for how genetic tests can test children's ability in music, athletics and science, Yang said testers usually look for genetic markers that suggest certain dispositions.
"[For example,] testers can use the gene ASAP1 to judge whether children have a high or low probability of having absolute pitch," Yang said.
According to her, a similar principle is applied when looking for the "sport talent." Explosive force, endurance, bone strength, muscle development and aerobic capacity are factors that help decide whether a child could do a good job at sports, she said.
Zhang said the results showed that his kids had similar attributes to him. "I am not good at painting, and the results showed that my two daughters are not good at painting as well," he said. Knowing this, Zhang is less anxious when his kids are a little behind their peers in certain subjects.
"My older daughter is taking a painting class, and she is not learning and improving as fast as other kids, but I think it's acceptable. Knowing how to paint and having an appreciation for beauty are my goal for her," said Zhang.
He also said his older daughter's results suggest that she might be adept at music, and he is considering letting her take music in the future.
"The analysis of the result indicates that she got a good grade for pitch and intonation, which is true, she likes music. Therefore, I am planning to let her learn the piano after she turns five," he said.
The talent genetic test also helps parents find often ignored skills in their children, for example, their ability to perform under stress.
"Stress tolerance belongs to the science ability section of the test. The gene catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) can influence dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Dopamine is a chemical released by nerve cells in the brain to send signals to other nerve cells; it affects people's decision-making ability when they are under pressure," Yang said.
She added that the genetic test shows whether a child is predisposed to making impulsive decisions when under stress. The results can help parents to adjust their parenting to better support kids who have a low stress tolerance, she said.
Zhang was surprised to find that his younger daughter got full marks in the aptitude test for science.
"It surprised me. I think I won't worry about her science study in the future," Zhang said. "Genetic tests helped me better understand my children. To be honest, I think the test is not only testing our kids' talent and ability, but testing parents' attitude in parenting as well."
