Just the Facts

The following information is courtesy of Genzyme.  Click here for a printable brochure in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.

Nobody is Perfect

• Everyone is a carrier of six to eight genetic mutations that can lead to disease.
• Without realizing it, you and your partner may both be carriers for the same genetic disorder.

Not Just Tay-Sachs Disease

• There are at least 10 genetic disorders that occur more frequently in the Jewish population than in other ethnic groups. 
• The incidence of Tay-Sachs disease has been greatly reduced in the Jewish community through successful carrier screening; now, more non-Jewish babies are born with Tay-Sachs disease than Jewish babies.

The Silent Threat

• Most Jewish genetic disorders are autosomal recessive, so an individual will develop the disease only if he or she receives the same mutated gene from both parents (both parents are carriers).
• A carrier for a given genetic disorder usually does not exhibit any symptoms and leads a normal and healthy life, so a genetic mutation can be passed down for generations undetected.
• Because a gene mutation can be inherited without presenting itself as a disease, most people have no family history to clue them in to their carrier status.
• Partners who both carry a mutation in the same gene have a 25% chance in each pregnancy that their child will have the corresponding disease.

Protect Your Loves Ones

• The only way to find out if you're a carrier and at risk to have a child with a genetic disorder is by carrier screening through mutation analysis. 
• Carrier screening is usually a simply blood test.
• A genetic counselor can help you decide if carrier screening is appropriate for you and can explain the benefits and limitations of the screening process.

Knowledge Is Power

You have the power to make an informed decision regarding having a child who could have a potentially serious genetic disorder.