Use the following pedigree (Figure 11.3) for a family in which dark-shaded symbols represent individuals with one of the two major types of colon cancer. Numbers under the symbols are the individual's age at the time of diagnosis.
Figure 11.3
-The affected woman in generation IV is thinking about her future and asks her oncologist (cancer specialist) whether she can know whether any or all of her children will have a high risk of the same cancer. The doctor would be expected to advise which of the following? I. genetic counseling
II) prenatal diagnosis when/if she becomes pregnant
III) testing to see whether she has the allele
IV) testing to see whether her future spouse or partner has the allele

Question

Use the following pedigree (Figure 11.3) for a family in which dark-shaded symbols represent individuals with one of the two major types of colon cancer. Numbers under the symbols are the individual's age at the time of diagnosis.
  Figure 11.3
-The affected woman in generation IV is thinking about her future and asks her oncologist (cancer specialist) whether she can know whether any or all of her children will have a high risk of the same cancer. The doctor would be expected to advise which of the following? I. genetic counseling
II) prenatal diagnosis when/if she becomes pregnant
III) testing to see whether she has the allele
IV) testing to see whether her future spouse or partner has the allele

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genetic counseling would be important for the affected woman and her family to understand the risk factors and potential options for prevention or early detection. Prenatal diagnosis would be an option if she becomes pregnant and wants to know whether her child inherited the genetic risk. Testing to see whether she has the allele would be useful to confirm whether she has a high genetic risk. Testing her future spouse or partner is not necessary as the risk of the disease would depend on her allele status, not her partner's.

Use the Following Pedigree (Figure 11