To ensure their safe and effective use, physicians must face several issues - in which the crucial point may be not so much that a test is genetic as that it is used predictively. Primum non nocere. The Institute for Genomic Research A Collection of Genomic Databases for Microbes, Plants and Animals. Genetic Counseling March of Dimes. Genetic counseling helps people to identify and understand what particular traits they may pass on to their children and also to determine particular risks that may influence pregnancy outcome.
Genetic counseling translates scientific knowledge into practical information.
A genetic counselor works with a person or family that may be at risk for inherited disease or an abnormal pregnancy outcome, discussing their chances of having children who are affected. Providers of genetic counseling include individuals who have followed a specific educational curriculum and are certified as genetic counselors, and also doctors or nurses with special training in the subject. These health care professionals are experienced in helping families understand birth defects and how inheritance works. They provide information that helps families make personal decisions about pregnancy and child care. To You and Your Family March of Dimes.