Question

A nurse genetic counselor is working with a couple, each of whom is a carrier of an autosomal recessive disorder. Which statement indicates that the couple understood the teaching about this disorder?

1. "Most of our children will have the disorder."

2. "None of our children will have the disorder."

3. "There is a 1 in 4 chance of having a child with the disorder."

4. "There is a 1 in 2 chance of having a child with the disorder."

Answer 1

The correct understanding for a couple that are both carriers of an autosomal recessive disorder is that there is a 1 in 4 chance their child will inherit the disorder.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a couple each carries an autosomal recessive disorder, according to Punnett square calculations, there is a 25% chance that their child will inherit the disorder, a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier of the disorder, and a 25% chance that the child will not carry the disorder. This reflects a 3:1 probability where three outcomes result in the child not having the disorder, either as a carrier or completely unaffected, and one outcome results in the child having the disorder. Therefore, the statement that indicates the couple understood the teaching about their situation is, "There is a 1 in 4 chance of having a child with the disorder."