genetic counseling
2
4.1
- noun
- /dʒəˈnɛtɪk ˈkaʊnsəlɪŋ/
- Specialized
:
asesoría genética
- The doctor recommended genetic counseling to help the parents understand potential hereditary conditions that could affect their child.
- genetic counseling and testing
- patients received genetic counseling
Examples
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Before planning for a baby, many couples opt for genetic counseling to assess the chances of inherited genetic disorders.
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Then I will pass you over to our dietician... ...and meanwhile we should arrange some genetic counselling.
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At that point, no one will be paying for genetic testing ever again; they'll just pay for genetic counseling.
Blog text (8) -
And if you are particularly concerned about it and you have more than one relative affected by it in the family, it might be worth seeking genetic counseling.
Blog text (17) -
I've argued that genetic counseling has the potential to address feelings of blame, guilt, and confusion in the face of genetic testing results.
Blog text (6) -
In the first post, I shared a little bit of the history of genetic counseling in the United States and gave some examples of how, today, it can help prospective parents understand why they're being tested and what those tests might mean.
Blog text (6) -
Had the parents undergone chromosome analysis, the results would have facilitated psychological support and genetic counseling for the family.
Academic text (2004) -
Fraser's (1974) widely cited definition of genetic counseling describes it as a "communication process" that attempts to help clients understand the medical and genetic facts, choose appropriate courses of action, and make the best possible adjustment to the disorder.
Academic text (1990) -
After learning about their family history, the couple decided to seek genetic counseling to understand the risks for their future children.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning (‘advice about genetic issues or hereditary risks’) is directly and compositionally derived from 'genetic' (relating to genes) + 'counseling' (advice), so a learner who knows both words can infer the sense. This noun‑noun/adj+noun pattern is common cross‑linguistically (e.g. Spanish 'asesoramiento genético'), making it readily understandable at B1.
Etymology
The phrase genetic counseling comes from two simple ideas: genetic means things passed in a family by genes, and counseling means giving 'advice'. Imagine a counselor pointing at a family tree and explaining the 'risks' of passing on health problems, so the phrase means 'advice about inherited disorders'.