Essays on Genetic Counseling

Genetic counselling has been described as the process by which an individual fully understands and adapts to the contribution of genetic makeup in the medical and physiological state of the individual along with its influence on the familial implications of a disease condition [1]. Genomic medicine is at an all-time high in these years of fast developing technology in medicine [2]. The traditional process of genetic medicine and counselling involves the collection of data and interpretation of the history of pathology in the familial background of the individual along with the assessment of risks, informed consent, and psychosocial analysis ...

Introduction

Genetic counselling is defined as the information, guidance, and support provided by a genetic counsellor or medical geneticist to an individual, a couple, or a family about a genetic condition. The information may help the client (affected individual or family) understand how a gene variant underlies an observed phenotype, disease prognosis, and the probability of transmission to progeny. Apart from information to help the client make informed decisions about lifestyle, treatment, and reproduction, a counsellor provides psychosocial support to minimize the adverse psychological, intrafamilial, and social consequences of genetic testing. Therefore, genetic counselling has an educational as well as ...

Prenatal Testing and Screening

Prenatal testing and screening have raised the number of ethical issues related to diagnostic testing in relation to special circumstances of pregnancy. The concerns related to the diagnostic testing involve greater ethical concerns for the parents with disabilities that need to be effectively addressed. It is debated that the prenatal diagnosis in contemporary society has enhanced the testing process to make right decisions about the pregnancy. However, there are number of concerns that evolve within our society concerning the cultural, religious and other social pressures. In the case of people with disabilities it is argued that the people often ...

Introduction

Genetics is an evolving field in modern day science that has been drawing attention and funding in abundance. Various healthcare professionals have varying degrees of knowledge on modern day genetics and its applications. Nurses are also required to possess knowledge on genetics, as well as a good practice on ethics pertaining to genetics. However it is still not an area where everybody is comfortable to handle (American Nurses Association, 2001). Since the completion of genome project in 2003, there is a great interest towards the applications of genetic engineering technology in healthcare. Genetic screening for diseases such as diabetes mellitus, various ...

Genetic counseling is the process that determines the risk an individual has of passing on an inheritable disease to their baby. Genetic counseling involves a health care professional who interprets information about the disorder, identifies families at risk, reviews available options with the family and analyzes patterns of inheritance. Genetic counseling is of paramount importance to pregnant women. Although pregnancy is met with excitement, the pregnancy may take a different turn if the fetus is found to be afflicted with diseases such as Tay-Sachs disease. Tay-Sachs is genetic condition that is common among Jewish descent. Therefore, genetic testing is important as ...

Introduction

This is a hereditary disease that has slow brain striatum atrophy (Gil and Rego). For several years, a Huntington’s disease patient may go through unrestrained movements, mental impairment and behavioral commotions. Finally, Huntington’s disease patients get totally reliant on a caregiver. The disease is an autosomal dominant condition that affects the equally two genders.

Statistics

The statistics of the Huntington’s disease indicate that out of 100,000 individuals globally, 5 to 10 will have the condition. The disease can attack males and females of every ethnic background (World Health Organization). It is prevalent globally, but, there are geographic regions where ...

- Family Genetic History - Evaluation of family genetic history The major health problem challenging the above described family is hearing loss. Most of the family members have been diagnosed with non progressive deafness. Other family members have also been diagnosed with mental retardation, meningitis and chronic ear infections. Pregnant mothers in the family have had high levels of retinoic acid as well as maternal diabetes. The family has been characterized by members with unusual physical features are associated with the hearing impairment; crumbled ears, hypotelorism eyes- close together eyes, a wide nasal bridge nose and microcephaly head. ...

Dear Grandma,

I would love to assist you with all your doubts about the kit you are planning to use but let me first clarify in simple words some important biology concepts that are crucial to understand how the kit may work. One of the most important achievements of modern biology is that we are able to see whether we have a predisposition to a medical condition. The very molecule that stores information to replicate life, i.e., the DNA also has the ability to inform us about the possibilities to experience some sort of malfunctioning that would end up in a disease. The Human ...