Genetic Misinformation in Medicine - Topic Citations

Every citation has two independent 0-100 scores. The source Reliability score rates the general reliability of the outlet itself, regardless of the specific claim, based on an eight-tier scale running from primary government and international scientific bodies (CDC, WHO, NASA, IPCC) at the top, through peer-reviewed journals, wire services, mainstream science journalism, and advocacy organizations, down to tertiary references like Wikipedia and unverifiable or absent sources at the bottom. The Accuracy score, by contrast, rates how well a specific citation supports topic statements — a citation from an excellent source can score low if misapplied or can score high if it precisely backs up topic statements.

Genetic Determinism

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  BRCA Gene Changes: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing (fact sheet)
  Reliability score: 95 | Accuracy score: 90
  
  
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  BRCA Gene Changes: Cancer Risk and Genetic Te
  Reliability score: 95 | Accuracy score: 90
  
  
• MedlinePlus Genetics (US National Library of Medicine)
  What are complex or multifactorial disorders?
  Reliability score: 92 | Accuracy score: 96
  
  
• MedlinePlus Genetics (US National Library of Medicine)
  What are complex or multifactorial disorders?
  Reliability score: 92 | Accuracy score: 96
  
  
• MedlinePlus Genetics (US National Library of Medicine)
  What does it mean to have a genetic predisposition to a disease?
  Reliability score: 92 | Accuracy score: 96
  
  
• MedlinePlus Genetics (US National Library of Medicine)
  What does it mean to have a genetic predispos
  Reliability score: 92 | Accuracy score: 96
  
  

Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

• US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  Direct-to-Consumer Tests
  Reliability score: 95 | Accuracy score: 94
  
  
• US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  Direct-to-Consumer Tests
  Reliability score: 95 | Accuracy score: 94
  
  
• Genetics in Medicine (via PMC)
  Tandy-Connor, S. et al. (2018) False-positive results released by direct-to-consumer genetic tests highlight the importa
  Reliability score: 93 | Accuracy score: 90
  
  
• Genetics in Medicine (via PMC)
  Tandy-Connor, S. et al. (2018) False-positive
  Reliability score: 93 | Accuracy score: 90
  
  

Unproven Treatments and Supplements

• Genetics in Medicine (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics)
  Hickey, S.E., Curry, C.J. and Toriello, H.V. (2013) ACMG Practice Guideline: lack of evidence for MTHFR polymorphism tes
  Reliability score: 93 | Accuracy score: 85
  
  
• Genetics in Medicine (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics)
  Hickey, S.E., Curry, C.J. and Toriello, H.V.
  Reliability score: 93 | Accuracy score: 85
  
  

Vaccines and Genetic Misinformation

• Full Fact
  mRNA vaccines aren't gene editing and don't alter your DNA (11 Oct 2021)
  Reliability score: 78 | Accuracy score: 92
  
  
• Full Fact
  mRNA vaccines aren't gene editing and don't a
  Reliability score: 78 | Accuracy score: 92