Question

1. You decide to have genetic testing completed on you and your partner prior to having children. You find out that you and your partner are both carriers of Cystic Fibrosis. Show your Punnett square below. (NOTE: CF is not a sex-linked trait)

2. How could you use the information given to you by the geneticist to make an informed decision about having children?

3. Now consider the possibility of having a personal genetic test done for a disease-causing gene, such as the BRCA gene for breast cancer, or a gene that causes testicular or prostate cancer. How might you use the results of such a test to inform your personal health decisions and care options?

Answer 1

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive , autosomal disorder. It is inherited from parents to off springs. The individual with the disease produce thick and sticky mucus. Such a mucus can block the passages of lungs, pancreas etc. It is life threatening and people with the condition have shorter life span.In this case both the partners are carriers of the disease , which the two of them found out after completing the genetic testing required. Such parents can have a child with the condition (cystic fibrosis). Punnet square results show that the probability of the child being cystic fibrosis patient is 1/4.

As per the punnet square 1/4 chance of the child being CF . So the parents need to take the decision or chance because 3/4 chance that the child will not be CF.

Chances of a person developing breast cancer are high if a person has BRCA gene. Such people need to be more careful and have regular check ups of the breast. Both self and also mammogram need to be regularly done. You may also consider taking some supliments that may prevent cancer in general. There are also instances when, such people under go mastectomy to avoid cancer development.

Care to prevent breast cancer would be healthy habits. 1. Prevent/ limit alcohol and tobacco. 2.Be physically active.

3.Control weight. 4. Breast feed the baby 5. Limit dose and duration of any hormone therapy