A nurse counsels a couple regarding their concerns about an X-linked disorder. Both parents are carriers of the disorder. They ask the nurse how this disorder will affect any children they might have. What is the nurse's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

X-linked disorders are often passed down from the mother to the son. If the father has the disorder, all the daughters would be carriers. If both parents are carriers and have children, there is a 50% chance that a son will inherit the disorder and a 50% chance that a daughter will be a carrier. However, since the daughters have two X chromosomes, they have a backup in case one is faulty. Therefore, typically, only males are affected by X-linked disorders while females are carriers.

A Nurse Counsels a Couple Regarding Their Concerns About an X-Linked