Description

In its White Paper on genetics, the Department of Health (2003) emphasised that education for health professionals is vital if advances in genetics are to be translated effectively into everyday practice. To this end Fit for Practice in the Genetics Era: A Competence-based Education Framework for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors was drawn up. Genetics supports this competence framework, offering an introduction to the theory of genetics and then using common genetic conditions/disorders as case studies to help students apply theory to practice and examine the service user experience.

Genetics is a core component of higher education and training for health care students and practitioners. It is a complex subject so the author’s aim in this book is to provide a clear and concise resource that actively supports learning and teaching. Topics covered (among others) include:
* Cell and DNA structure;
* Inheritance;
* Pedigree testing;
* Clinical applications;
* Genetic counselling.

Common conditions covered (among many others) include:
Down’s Syndrome;
Sickle Cell Anaemia;
Huntingdon’s Disease;
Cystic Fibrosis;
Muscular Dystrophy.

Genetics is written by an experienced teacher of health care sciences and is ideal for students of nursing, health care and a wide range of health care practitioners.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

1 BASIC STRUCTURES - Cell and DNA structure
2 INHERITANCE - How genes are inherited, punnet squares, etc. with examples
3 RECESSIVE AND DOMINANT GENES - Including co-dominance. Includes examples.
4 SEX LINKED INHERITANCE - X linked, Y linked, including examples.
5 TWO OR MORE GENES - Info on how genes interact with each other and polygenic inheritance. Including examples.
6 MUTATIONS - Chromosome abnormalities and gene mutations. Common conditions.
7 PEDIGREE TESTING - Pedigree charts and limitations. Common conditions
8 CLINICAL APPLICATIONS - Screening, testing, gene therapy and pharmacogenetics
9 GENETICS OF CANCER - Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Research into environmental agents. Common cancers
10 GENETIC COUNSELLING - Aims of the service, how to access, how to refer and the ethics of testing.

ANSWERS TO ACTIVITIES

GLOSSARY

REFERENCES

INDEX