Question

A newly married couple is seeking genetic counseling because they are both carriers of the sickle cell trait. How can the nurse best explain the children's risk of inheriting this disease?

Answer 1

When two carriers of the sickle cell trait have children, there is a 25% chance for each child to inherit sickle cell anemia, a 50% chance for each child to be a carrier, and a 25% chance for each child to inherit two normal copies of the gene. Genetic counseling is important for understanding the implications and making informed decisions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this case, the newly married couple are both carriers of the sickle cell trait. Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, which means that both copies of the gene must be mutated for the disease to occur. When two carriers have children, there is a 25% chance for each child to inherit the disease, a 50% chance for each child to be a carrier like their parents, and a 25% chance for each child to inherit two normal copies of the gene and not be a carrier or affected by the disease.

For example, if the couple has four children, on average one of the children would have sickle cell anemia, two of the children would be carriers, and one of the children would have two normal copies of the gene.

It is important for the couple to seek genetic counseling to fully understand the implications of their carrier status and make informed decisions about their family planning.