A 38yearold woman Dasheen has amniocentesis She learns that

A 38-year-old woman, Dasheen, has amniocentesis. She learns that the fetus she is carrying has an inversion in chromosome 9 and duplication in chromosome 18. She and her husband Franco have their chromosomes tested, and they learn that she has the duplication and Franco ha the inversion. Both of the parents are healthy. Should they concerned about the health of the fetus? Cite a reason for your answer.

Solution

   The chromosome 9 inversion is usually not harmful, but in some cases it might lead to infertility.The incidence is about 1.98 percent in general population.

        Chromosome 18 duplication results in three copies of short arm in each cell. The severity of the condition and the signs and symptoms depend on the size and location of the duplication on the chromosome 18. So this should be considered and checked in chromosome 18 of the fetus, for the location of duplication.

       Since the parents are just carriers of these chromosomal abnormalities and they were not affected by it, and also the abnormalities are not on the same chromosome, the possibility of fetus getting affected is also quite less. But still, as the chromosome 18 has some serious effects, the location has to be concerned and necessary action has to be taken.