Lauren has been a pediatric nurse at a childrens hospital for the past 7 years. Recently she began a new job as a nurse in a genetics office. One of todays cases involves Emily and Brad Davis. Emily is a young white female who looks to be in her mid-twenties. Her husband, Brad, is a young white male. Lauren notices the young woman is pregnant, most likely sometime in her mid-trimester. (Learning Objectives 4 and 6)

Lauren introduces herself and explains that she needs to obtain a complete medical history from the couple. When the history is complete, Lauren finds the following pertinent facts:

Emily, age 27, and Brad, age 29, have been married for 6 years.
They have a 4-year-old daughter who was recently diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Emily is currently 28 weeks pregnant.
The couple is very worried that their unborn child may have cystic fibrosis.
No person in either immediate family has cystic fibrosis.
A cousin on Emilys moms side of the family has cystic fibrosis.
Brad has no known cases of cystic fibrosis in his family; however, he recalls a great uncle on his dads side who was ill most of his life and died at age 9.

a. What type of genetic disorder does cystic fibrosis fall under? Why doesnt Emily, Brad, or any of their siblings have this disorder? What are the odds that the Davises’ unborn child will have this disorder?

b. What would you tell the Davis couple about planning for future children?

c. What do you think about the history of the great uncle who died at age 9?