TEXAS GENETIC COUNSELOR LICENSING EXAM
TEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2025/2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following is the primary role of a genetic counselor?
a) Prescribe medications
b) Diagnose genetic conditions independently
c) Provide risk assessment, education, and support for individuals with
genetic concerns
d) Perform genetic laboratory testing
Genetic counselors focus on risk assessment, education, and psychosocial
support, not independent diagnosis or prescribing.
2. What type of inheritance pattern is observed in cystic fibrosis?
a) X-linked dominant
b) Autosomal recessive
c) Autosomal dominant
d) Mitochondrial
Cystic fibrosis follows an autosomal recessive inheritance, requiring two
pathogenic variants for disease expression.
,3. Which U.S. federal law protects against genetic discrimination in health
insurance and employment?
a) HIPAA
b) GINA
c) ADA
d) ACA
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) specifically
protects individuals from discrimination based on genetic information.
4. In pedigree analysis, a condition that affects males and is passed from
unaffected carrier mothers most likely follows which inheritance?
a) Autosomal recessive
b) Autosomal dominant
c) X-linked recessive
d) Mitochondrial
X-linked recessive traits are commonly transmitted from unaffected
carrier mothers to affected sons.
5. Which genetic testing method is best for detecting chromosomal
microdeletions?
a) PCR
b) Sanger sequencing
c) Chromosomal microarray
d) Southern blot
Chromosomal microarray is the most sensitive for identifying
microdeletions and duplications.
,6. What is the recurrence risk for autosomal dominant conditions when one
parent is affected (heterozygous) and the other is unaffected?
a) 75%
b) 100%
c) 50%
d) 25%
Each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutated allele.
7. Which of the following conditions is associated with triplet repeat
expansion?
a) Cystic fibrosis
b) Huntington disease
c) Marfan syndrome
d) Sickle cell anemia
Huntington disease results from CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion.
8. A woman with a BRCA1 mutation has what type of inheritance risk for her
offspring?
a) 100%
b) 25%
c) 50%
d) Variable
BRCA1 mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, giving
a 50% risk to each child.
9. Which of the following is NOT a duty of a Texas-licensed genetic counselor?
a) Providing genetic education
, b) Facilitating genetic testing
c) Prescribing chemotherapy
d) Supporting families with genetic diagnoses
Genetic counselors do not prescribe medications, including chemotherapy.
10.What is the most appropriate genetic test for a suspected single-gene
disorder when the causative gene is known?
a) Chromosomal microarray
b) Targeted gene sequencing
c) Karyotyping
d) Exome sequencing
Targeted sequencing is the best choice when the gene is already
identified.
11.Which prenatal screening method directly analyzes fetal DNA fragments in
maternal blood?
a) Amniocentesis
b) Chorionic villus sampling
c) Cell-free DNA testing (cfDNA/NIPT)
d) Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP)
Cell-free DNA testing is a non-invasive prenatal screening using placental
DNA fragments circulating in maternal plasma.
12.Which of the following is considered a red flag for hereditary cancer
syndromes?
a) Cancer diagnosis at age 75
TEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2025/2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following is the primary role of a genetic counselor?
a) Prescribe medications
b) Diagnose genetic conditions independently
c) Provide risk assessment, education, and support for individuals with
genetic concerns
d) Perform genetic laboratory testing
Genetic counselors focus on risk assessment, education, and psychosocial
support, not independent diagnosis or prescribing.
2. What type of inheritance pattern is observed in cystic fibrosis?
a) X-linked dominant
b) Autosomal recessive
c) Autosomal dominant
d) Mitochondrial
Cystic fibrosis follows an autosomal recessive inheritance, requiring two
pathogenic variants for disease expression.
,3. Which U.S. federal law protects against genetic discrimination in health
insurance and employment?
a) HIPAA
b) GINA
c) ADA
d) ACA
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) specifically
protects individuals from discrimination based on genetic information.
4. In pedigree analysis, a condition that affects males and is passed from
unaffected carrier mothers most likely follows which inheritance?
a) Autosomal recessive
b) Autosomal dominant
c) X-linked recessive
d) Mitochondrial
X-linked recessive traits are commonly transmitted from unaffected
carrier mothers to affected sons.
5. Which genetic testing method is best for detecting chromosomal
microdeletions?
a) PCR
b) Sanger sequencing
c) Chromosomal microarray
d) Southern blot
Chromosomal microarray is the most sensitive for identifying
microdeletions and duplications.
,6. What is the recurrence risk for autosomal dominant conditions when one
parent is affected (heterozygous) and the other is unaffected?
a) 75%
b) 100%
c) 50%
d) 25%
Each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutated allele.
7. Which of the following conditions is associated with triplet repeat
expansion?
a) Cystic fibrosis
b) Huntington disease
c) Marfan syndrome
d) Sickle cell anemia
Huntington disease results from CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion.
8. A woman with a BRCA1 mutation has what type of inheritance risk for her
offspring?
a) 100%
b) 25%
c) 50%
d) Variable
BRCA1 mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, giving
a 50% risk to each child.
9. Which of the following is NOT a duty of a Texas-licensed genetic counselor?
a) Providing genetic education
, b) Facilitating genetic testing
c) Prescribing chemotherapy
d) Supporting families with genetic diagnoses
Genetic counselors do not prescribe medications, including chemotherapy.
10.What is the most appropriate genetic test for a suspected single-gene
disorder when the causative gene is known?
a) Chromosomal microarray
b) Targeted gene sequencing
c) Karyotyping
d) Exome sequencing
Targeted sequencing is the best choice when the gene is already
identified.
11.Which prenatal screening method directly analyzes fetal DNA fragments in
maternal blood?
a) Amniocentesis
b) Chorionic villus sampling
c) Cell-free DNA testing (cfDNA/NIPT)
d) Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP)
Cell-free DNA testing is a non-invasive prenatal screening using placental
DNA fragments circulating in maternal plasma.
12.Which of the following is considered a red flag for hereditary cancer
syndromes?
a) Cancer diagnosis at age 75
