Fetal RNA in maternal blood

2003/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed a method to detect fetal messenger RNA in maternal blood. They believe that this will allow non-invasive prenatal diagnoses to identify preeclanpsia, Down syndrome and other genetic diseases that are significant in the number of RNA.

In fact, some genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome, are related to gene expression. Until now the enzymes in the maternal blood believed that they removed RNA from the fetus, but now they have shown that it persists and is easily separable. To detect this RNA, researchers use real-time polymerase chain reaction.

However, they have not yet prepared a standard diagnostic test and have a lot of work to do, for example, they need to know what is the normal level of fetal RNA in maternal blood. Fetal RNA in maternal blood.