Reference no: EM132725134

1. A biotechnology company offers a direct-to-consumer test called the Carrier Status report that generates various calculations about an individual's genetic risk for certain diseases. Why would this be most useful for disorders following an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance? Explain how this information might be useful for people during their reproductive years.

2. The Carrier Status report mentioned above is packaged along with a Genetic Health Risk report. Neither has been approved by the FDA for diagnosing illness. They have only been approved for general informational purposes about an individual's health risks.

Explain whether this limited approval status would affect how much credibility you would give to the information in the report.

Defend your position with examples or evidence.

3. There are three slightly different alleles of the APOE gene known as a2, a3, and a4. The most common allele is a3. If you have one copy of the a4 allele, your lifetime risk of getting Alzheimer's disease goes up to 47%, as compared to 20% for the overall population. If you have two copies of the a4 allele, your risk is even higher. There is no known certain way to prevent Alzheimer's disease. However, certain factors, such as reading, crossword puzzles, and education, are correlated with reduced risk.

The Carrier Status report mentioned in question 1 would provide information about the risk of developing Alzheimer's based upon the a4 allele. describe at least one benefit and one possible concern of getting a genotype report from a genetic testing company that indicates the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's or another disease.

Defend your position with examples or evidence.