2.9 Flashcards
People may be referred for genetic counselling if they have been
diagnosed with a genetic condition
Couples may have had a baby with a genetic condition, or they may be planning a pregnancy but are concerned that they may
carry a genetic condition
Usually referred for genetic counselling by their
GP or a hospital consultant
Genetic counsellors are
specially trained professionals who mainly come from a nursing or medical background
Genetic counsellors have a thorough knowledge of
genetic conditions and the impact they can have on a family
Genetic counsellors try to help people
understand the nature of genetic conditions and how it affects an individual
Genetic counsellors can offer advice on whether the
disorder can be prevented, or whether it is possible to diagnose the condition prenatally
The first meeting between a genetic counsellor and a client involves
collecting information about the family history
It is possible that genetic tests need to be carried out on the
client(s) or other family members
These tests would be carried out by a
clinical geneticist
After the tests, genetic counsellors can explain the
information available to the client(s), and help them through associated emotional issues
Genetic counsellors never tell a client what to do, but support them by
discussing issues and making information available
(GENETIC SCREENING) some genetic conditions can be diagnosed b taking a sample of some cells from the person and
extracting their DNA
(GENETIC SCREENING) if the DNA base sequence of the gene causing the genetic disorder is known, the DNA can be examined to see if the individual has a
genetic disorder
(GENETIC SCREENING) It may also be possible to tell whether the person is a
carrier of a disorder
(GENETIC SCREENING) Some genetic conditions may be detected by testing for levels of
specific enzymes (e.g. in blood samples)
(GENETIC SCREENING) One problem with genetic screening is that we cannot
screen for every genetic disorder at the moment
(GENETIC SCREENING) Another problem with genetic screening is that many genetic conditions are caused by several different mutations and we are not able to
screen for every single mutation
(TESTING UNBORN BABIES) It is possible to examine DNA from a foetus by carrying out
amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling
(TESTING UNBORN BABIES) Amniocentesis can be carried out between how many weeks of pregnancy
15-20