A father and mother are carriers of phenylketonuria (PKU).Their 2-year-old daughter has PKU.The couple tells the nurse that they are planning to have a second baby.Because their daughter has PKU,they are sure that their next baby won't be affected.What response by the nurse is most accurate?
A) "Good planning; you need to take advantage of the odds in your favour."
B) "I think you'd better check with your doctor first."
C) "You are both carriers, so each baby has a 25% chance of being affected."
D) "The ultrasound indicates a boy, and boys are not affected by PKU."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chance is one in four that each child produced by this couple will be affected by PKU disorder.This couple still has an increased likelihood of having a child with PKU.Having one child already with PKU does not guarantee that they will not have another.These parents need to discuss their options with their physician.However,an opportune time has presented itself for the couple to receive correct teaching about inherited genetic risks.No correlation exists between gender and inheritance of the disorder,because PKU is an autosomal recessive disorder.

A Father and Mother Are Carriers of Phenylketonuria (PKU)