The possibility of extensive genetic testing raises questions about how personal genetic information should be used. For example, should employers or potential employers have access to such information? Why or why not? Should the information be available to insurance companies? Why or why not? Is there any reason for the government to keep genetic files? Is there any obligation to warn relatives who might share a defective gene? Might some people avoid being tested for fear of being labeled genetic outcasts? Or might they be compelled to be tested against their wishes? Can you think of other reasons to proceed with caution?
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- SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Imagine that you are a genetic counselor. What advice or suggestions might you give in the following situations? (a) A couple has come for advice because the woman had a sister who died of Tay-Sachs disease. (b) A young man and woman who are not related are engaged to be married. However, they have learned that the mans parents are first cousins, and they are worried about the possibility of increased risk of genetic defects in their own children. (c) A young womans paternal uncle (her fathers brother) has hemophilia A. Her father is free of the disease, and there has never been a case of hemophilia A in her mothers family. Should she be concerned about the possibility of hemophilia A in her own children? (d) A 20-year-old man is seeking counseling because his father was recently diagnosed with Huntingtons disease. (e) A 45-year-old woman has just been diagnosed with Huntingtons disease. She says she will not tell her college-age sons because of the burden it will place on them. Given that the woman, not her sons, is your client, do you have a duty to inform the sons? Explain your reasoning.arrow_forwardMary and Marcie. identical twins, go to the same internist who is also a faculty member at a major medical center. At their last visit, they each received a brochure describing a genetics research program recently launched by the hospital and its affiliated university. Researchers were asking for volunteers to fill out a questionnaire and a consent form, donate a blood sample, and have their medical records encoded and transferred to a database. The goal was to enroll 100,000 participants, and the brochure noted that over 10,000 people had already agreed to participate. The blood sample would be used to extract DNA. which would be encoded with the same number as the medical records. This DNA would be used to search for genes associated with conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and Alzheimer disease. The idea is that researchers interested in studying arthritis would use the medical records to identify which participants have the condition and then use DNA from those individuals to find genetic similarities that are not present in participants who do not have arthritis. The genetic similarities help identify regions of the genome that contain genes associated with arthritis. These regions can then be studied in detail to identify and isolate genes that may be associated with arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. In exchange for enrolling, participants would be informed about any genetic conditions or predispositions to genetic disease they carry and would receive free access to testing. After discussing the brochure. Mary decided to enroll, but Marcie decided she did not want to do so. She said she did not want to know what diseases she may develop or which disease genes she may carry. At their next annual visit. Marys internist told her that because her questionnaire indicated that some relatives had Alzheimer disease, her DNA was used in a study to identify risk genes. He said she had been identified as a carrier of a gene that greatly increased the likelihood that she would develop Alzheimer disease. The physician told her that age was the greatest risk factor, and while it was not 100% certain she would become a victim of Alzheimer disease, the gene she carries is a factor in 2025% of all cases. Mary asked if there was anything she could do about these findings. The internist told her that exercise, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as participating in mentally challenging activities such as reading or playing a musical instrument may all help reduce her chances of developing this disease. Mary then asked if Marcie was going to be told about Marys genetic risk, and the internist said that he would not tell her. For the next few days. Mary was conflicted about the situation. Marcie was an Identical twin, and If Mary carried a gene predisposing her to Alzheimer disease. Marcie must carry the same gene. Marcie did not exercise with Mary, had high blood pressure, and little interest in reading or social activities. Mary did not know whether she should tell Marcie. If you were advising Mary, what would you say? Should she tell Marcie about the risk? Should she not tell her, but instead try to get Marcie to exercise and be more social? Should Mary ask their internist to talk with Marcie about this?arrow_forwardMany genetic counselors will not provide presymptomatic genetic testing for Huntington disease to people below the age of 18. Why are there concerns about offering this and many other genetic tests to minors? What types of presymptomatic genetic testing might be appropriate for minors?arrow_forward
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