Table 1.

Distinctions between techniques that examine genetic material

	“Traditional” genetic testing (individual tests or panels of individual tests)	Whole genome sequencing	Whole exome sequencing
Description	Evaluates one area or a defined number of areas of the genome for a particular outcome that is hypothesized based on symptoms and/or family history	Maps the organism’s entire genetic code with no predetermined target	Maps the organism’s genetic code found within the exons with no predetermined target
Typical use of results	Confirm or rules out a hypothesis	Used to create hypotheses; provides a resource that cannot fully be interpreted at time of testing, but that can be referenced over time