Genetic Counselor Letter
Write a letter to the parents of the fetus that includes the following:
1) A basic introduction to chromosomes in which you describe what they are;
2) What information the DNA in the chromosomes carries;
3) How this information is transferred into protein
4) Why the relationship between genes and proteins is important and what role they
play for living things;
5) Why an error in the DNA or chromosome number or structure can result in
variants in traits that can cause problems to the organism;
6) What information the karyotype can give;
7) What the results of their child’s karyotype have shown;
8) How their child’s problem might manifest itself in a child with their genetic
makeup
Conclude your letter by inviting the parents to come see you. Explain that you would
like to discuss what alternatives they have and the personal decisions they might make in
light of the genetic results.
Remember that your letter must be clear, explain things simply yet completely, and be
sensitive to the parents.