North Dakota’s Family to Family Health Information and Education Center

Genetics

Understanding about genetics is important because it helps to explain why you are unique,
why traits run in families, and why some diseases run in families. It also is an explanation of why
changes in genes and chromosomes can cause conditions that result in disabilities.

Genes and Chromosomes

  • Genes and chromosomes explain the uniqueness of individuals as well as why features, traits and diseases occur in some families.
  • Every living thing has a set of “blueprints”. These blueprints are called genetic code and they determine what that living thing will be – a flower, tree, insect, animal or human.
  • The genetic code is made up of genes. These genes are put together in a special order to form DNA. DNA is grouped into units called chromosomes.
  • Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, making a total of 46. We receive half of our chromosomes from our mother and half from our father.
  • The X and Y chromosomes are known as sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes and males have one X and one Y chromosome.
  • The 23 pairs of chromosomes can be identified by a high powered microscope according to their size, shape and the way they pick up laboratory dyes.
  • These chromosomes are in every cell of your body.
  • When a cell divides, the genetic information is copied so that each new cell will have the same code. Cells can sometimes change the information contained in their genes which can cause illnesses, such as some types of cancer.
  • If the mutation exists in egg or sperm cells, children can inherit the mutation from their parents.
  • Sometimes when an egg and sperm unite, the cell can get too many or too few chromosomes. An example of this is Down Syndrome – a condition where individuals have an extra 21st chromosome.

Genetic Testing

Doctors sometimes recommend genetic testing to diagnose a medical condition
or disability, determine if a medical condition will develop later in life, or discover the possibility of passing on a genetic trait in future children.

Find out more about Genetic Testing. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/genetictesting.html

Types of Genetic Testing (do you want to make this a new page?)

  • Diagnostic Testing – Confirms or rules out a known or suspected genetic disorder.
  • Predictive Testing – For individuals who have no symptoms but have a family history of a genetic disorder.
  • Carrier Testing – Identifies individuals who have inherited a gene mutation for a disorder but may not be showing symptoms. Carriers can pass on to future children the gene mutation, and, in the right combination with another carrier, have a child with the disorder.
  • Prenatal Testing- Performed during a pregnancy when there is an increased risk of having a child with a genetic condition due to the mother’s age, family history, ethnicity, or due to abnormal results on an ultrasound. Routine prenatal diagnostic test procedures are amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS).

Common Prenatal Tests

Initial Prenatal Testing

On your first prenatal visit, it is typical to have your weight, blood pressure, and urine checked and to have a pelvic examination. A blood cell count may be done to determine if their is are any infections, anemia or viruses that might affect the mother’s health or the fetus.

 

Multiple Marker Test

Between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, expectant mothers usually are offered a blood test called the multiple marker test. A sample of blood is drawn for measure the levels of:

  • HCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin, which is made by the placenta
  • estriol – made by the placenta and fetus
  • alpha-fetoprotein – made by the fetus
  • inhibin-A – made by the placenta

The result of these tests may reveal the need for further testing, such as a more in-depth ultrasound to check for physical abnormalities or an amniocentesis to rule out a genetic disorder.

 

Ultrasonography
This is a procedure that is harmless to both the fetus and the mother. Sound waves are used to produce visible images of the baby and surrounding fluid. The embryo can first be visualized at about 6 weeks after conception. Major internal organs, arms and legs can be seen at 16 to 20 weeks of gestation to determine if everything is developing normally. The ultrasound can help to determine the size of the fetus, general physical development, where the placenta is, how much fluid surrounds the fetus, but may not be able to detect some abnormalities that are subtle.

Amniocentesis

During this procedure a needle is passed through the mother’s lower abdomen into the amniotic cavity inside the uterus. Enough amniotic fluid is present for this to be accomplished starting about 14 weeks gestation. Most amniocenteses are performed between 14 and 20 weeks gestation. An ultrasound should always proceed amniocentesis in order to determine the age of the fetus, the position of the fetus and placenta, and determine if enough amniotic fluid is present. Fluid is withdrawn with the needle and fetal cells from the fluid are used for testing.
In the third trimester of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid can be analyzed to determine if the fetus has developed fully. This is important when the fetus is younger than 35 to 36 weeks gestation, because the lungs may not be mature enough to sustain life. If other tests are indicated, your doctor will discuss them with you.

Newborn Screening – Identifies infants who have an increased chance of having a specific genetic disorder so that treatment can be started as soon as possible. Newborn screening is performed routinely at birth, unless specifically refused by the parents in writing. Newborn screening programs are usually legally mandated and vary from state to state.


Find out more about newborn screenings:  http://www.babysfirsttest.org./newborn-screening/states

North Dakota Newborn Screening Program– http://www.ndhealth.gov/newbornscreening/