Mike and Veronica are expecting their first child and they are nervous about all of the possible health issues a baby can face. Explain how knowing their family medical history can be useful for Mike and Veronica and their doctors as they prepare for the birth of their child.

Question

anonymous · Answer

A history of genetic related disease, such as sex-linked, autosomal recessive/dominant types in any of the families can affect the child's health. Some disease may be not be prevalent over generations can manifest in newborns if they receive the right combination of  genes. By knowing the medical history of both families, you can calculate the chance of which the newborn will be affected by the disease or that he/she will simply be a carrier of that disease. 

Certain diseases are associated with certain genetic profiles. I would say "with certain genes" except in real life (as opposed to textbook problems) most common diseases and conditions - like cancer, atherosclerosis and diabetes - are associated with so many different genes that it's more realistic to talk about profiles than individual alleles.

By knowing which diseases occur in which families and with what frequency, the genetic councilor can make inferences about what diseases the couple's child will likely be susceptible to.

anonymous · Answer

Thanks Haha (: