Genetic counseling is a health care service that provides medical information about genetic disorders and risks. Individuals then make personal decisions about family planning or health.

Only 100 years ago people did not know about the role of chromosomes and genes in passing traits from one generation to another. With the Human Genome Project's (HGP) unraveling the secrets of genes, human genetics is playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of disease. The information available is overwhelming. When people have the information, they are often not sure what it means, what to do with the information, or how to act. Genetic counseling helps people cope with these dilemmas.

Genetics counselors interpret information about complex conditions for people with potential problems. Counselors are specially trained medical professionals, with a required master's degree from an accredited program. They attempt...