Re: Need info about women with Ectodermal Dysplasia and pregnancy.

Dear Wendy,
Ectodermal dysplasia is most likely passed on by means of an 
autosomal recessive gene.  This means that in order for a child to get the 
disease, both parents must have at least one of the genes for the disease. 
 The gene mutation that causes ectodermal dysplasia resides on chromosome 
7p11.2-q21.3, which means it is on chromosome number 7.  The other numbers 
indicate where on the chromosome the mutations are located.  In theory, the 
prospective father of the child whose prospective mother has ectodermal 
dysplasia could be tested for the gene mutation, but in reality there are 
135 types of ectodermal dysplasia, which would make this testing very 
complicated and involved.  The best thing to do would be to try to find a 
website where you can keep track of the latest genetic research on 
ectodermal dysplasia, so if the testing becomes available, you can take 
advantage of it. Most academic hospitals  have doctors that specialize in 
genetics, and if you got in touch with one of these doctors, he or she 
could notify you when testing becomes available, and could also tell you 
your risk of having a baby with ectodermal dysplasia. The good news is that 
ectodermal dysplasia is very rare, so it is highly unlikely that your child 
will have ectodermal dysplasia as well.  If the father of the baby is 
related in some way to the mother, this chance would be somewhat higher.  
If ectodermal dysplasia was a dominant gene, then you would have 50% chance 
of having a baby with ectodermal dysplasia, even without a father with a 
gene, but luckily it is recessive.  I hope I have eased your mind somewhat.
Thank you for your question.
Sincerely,
Sarah Mason, Mad Scientist