Genetic Counseling 101: Decode your Gs and Cs!!

Genetic Counselling 101: Decode Your Gs and Cs!!

Genetic counselling is a communication process that helps individuals and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. But what does that actually mean in practice? Let’s break it down.

What Is Genetic Counselling?

A genetic counsellor is a healthcare professional with specialised training in medical genetics and counselling. They work with individuals and families to:

• Interpret family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence

• Educate about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources, and research

• Counsel to promote informed choices and adaptation to the risk or condition

• Support individuals in understanding their genetic test results and what they mean for their health and their family’s health

When Should You See a Genetic Counsellor?

• You have a personal or family history of a genetic condition or birth defect

• You are planning a pregnancy and want to understand your carrier status

• You have had recurrent pregnancy losses

• You have received a genetic test result and need help understanding it

• You have a family history of hereditary cancer (breast, ovarian, colorectal, etc.)

• You have a child with a developmental delay, intellectual disability, or birth defect

• You are of advanced maternal age (35+) and planning a pregnancy

What Happens in a Genetic Counselling Session?

A typical genetic counselling session at MapmyGenome includes:

• A detailed review of your personal and family medical history (three-generation pedigree)

• Assessment of your genetic risk based on your history and any available test results

• Discussion of available genetic testing options and what they can and cannot tell you

• Interpretation of genetic test results in the context of your personal and family history

• Guidance on next steps — including surveillance, preventive measures, and reproductive options

• Emotional support and referrals to relevant specialists or support groups

Decoding Your Gs and Cs

Your DNA is made up of four bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). The sequence of these bases encodes all the information needed to build and run your body. Variations in this sequence — called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) or mutations — can influence your risk for certain diseases, your response to medications, and many other traits. A genetic counsellor helps you understand what these variations mean for you specifically.