5. Answer the following questions.
1. What are single gene disorders?
2. What are chromosome disorders?
3. Which ones run in families?
4. When may the doctor suggest genetic counselling?
5. What can be considered a risk factor?
6. Why can genetic tests be useful?
6. Fill in the blanks with one or more words to sum up the basic information from the reading passage.
- ................................... can affect babies’ health.
Single gene disorders (for example
2. ................................... and 3. ...................................) are caused by a problem in a single gene and run in families.
Chromosome disorders occur when all or part of a chromosome is
4. ..................................., or 5. ..................................., or if the structure of one or more chromosomes is not
6. ................................... . Most chromosome disorders do not run in families. Depending on the genetic risk 7. ..................................., doctors might suggest women meet with a genetic
8. ................................... . During a 9. ................................... , the genetics professional will discuss genetic risks or diagnose, confirm, or find out about a genetic condition.
Some 10. ................................... can help couples to know their
11. ................................... of passing on a 12. ................................... disorder.
7. Read this passage about risks and restrictions at work during pregnancy and then match the pictures of the jobs below to each risk factor.
According to Italian law, during pregnancy and for a period after the baby is born (which may last up to seven months), workers must not be employed in dangerous, tiring or unhealthy tasks.
Risk factors may be represented by jobs:
☐ which involve the necessity to stand up for more than half of the daily working hours or which need to be performed in uncomfortable or tiring positions;
☐ performed on ladders or fixed/movable scaffolding with the risk of falling;
☐ in which heavy weights have to be moved and/or lifted (i.e. storage);
☐ with pedal-driven machines requiring continuous strength;
☐ involving machines which transmit intense vibrations and in noisy environments;
☐ involving the use of chemicals;
☐ on board moving vehicles (i.e. aircraft, trains, buses, etc.);
☐ performed in very low or high temperature conditions (i.e. cold store or baking ovens).
GLOSSARY
birth defect: difetto alla nascita
chance: possibilità
cystic fibrosis: fibrosi cistica
to find out: scoprire
genetic counselling: consulenza genetica
to pass on: trasmettere
pregnancy loss: aborto
related by blood: consanguineo
to run in: trasmettersi
sickle cell anaemia: anemia falciforme
stillbirth: parto di feto morto