Biology 3

Imagine you are a genetic counselor (a professional who uses their knowledge of genetics and inheritance to help people make informed reproductive decisions).  You have a client who has just learned her mother has Huntington’s disease, an autosomal (not associated with a specific gender) dominant disease that causes uncontrollable movements and eventually death, usually in middle age.  Your client’s father and husband do not have the disease.

In at least 150 words, address all three of the following:

• What are your client’s chances of having Huntingon’s disease?
• What are the chances of a child she might have with her husband having the disease?
• If you were the client and there was any chance your child would have this debilitating and fatal disease, would you consider having a child?