MEXICO CITY, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mexican scientists are applying genome analysis to detect fetal deformities as early as eight weeks into pregnancy, a Mexico's research agency said Thursday.
The Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav) said its Genetic Diagnosis of Fetal Cells is a test based on molecular biology that shows the state of the human genome's 46 chromosomes. It can reveal whether a fetus is affected by such syndromes as Down's, Turner or Klinefelter, and detect the type of defects that could cause miscarriage or congenital defects.
The test can also be used to determine the sex of the baby by the eighth week of pregnancy, or four weeks earlier than ultrasound test reveal, and is cheaper, non-invasive and safe, Cinvestav said.
Esther Lopez Bayghen, a researcher at Cinvestav's genetics and molecular biology department, said comparative genomic analysis has been used for several years in the developed countries.
"We are the first to use it to diagnose the baby's genomic health," she said.
The test has a more than 95 percent rate of certainty, and compared with other tests, such as amniocentesis, which aim at verifying genetic material, it is more complete, said Lopez.
The test costs 4,600 Mexican pesos (about 355 U.S. dollars). It is recommended for pregnant women older than 35, who may have been exposed to a toxic substance, strong medication or radioactivity, suffered two or more previous miscarriages, or have a family history of genetic alterations, the center said.
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