Consider This Scenario: Your Best Friend Recently Married

question 94

Essay

Consider this scenario: Your best friend recently married. Your friend has a cousin with autism, and her husband's side of the family has a history of several genetic disorders, including Huntington's disease. The couple is worried about having children and they want to know if their potential offspring will be at risk for one of these disorders. They have an appointment to see a genetic counselor in 2 weeks. Explain to your friends what will happen during their visit.

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Definitions:

Nonpoint Sources

Pollution sources that are diffuse and do not have a single point of origin, such as runoff from agricultural land.

Sahara Desert

The largest hot desert in the world, located in North Africa, known for its vast expanses of sand dunes, gravel plains, and rocky plateaus.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Sahel Region

A semi-arid region of Africa that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, lying between the Sahara Desert to the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south.