The team of researchers from the University of Washington, United States, made a breakthrough in the field of medicine and genetics. They claim to be able to map the genome of the fetus following types of disease and the fetus were carried. "This new technology can detect more than three thousand diseases caused by single gene mutations in the fetus," said study leader Jay Shendure. In his research, Shendure and his research team mapped the genome sequence of the parents of the fetus, each using maternal blood was 18.5 weeks pregnant and the fetus's father saliva. They then use the in-depth mapping techniques (deep sequencing) to analyze dozens of samples of fetal DNA from maternal blood. These conditions make Shendure and his colleagues had to deal with a wide range of genetic material.
The researchers used data collected fetal DNA from maternal and paternal genome sequence to develop a fetus. To match the accuracy of the analysis of the fetal genome, the team re-examine the sequence of the genome after birth. "Overall, the genome sequence was pieced together is 98 per cent accurate.
The fetus had 44 new mutations that occur naturally, while the team had found 39 mutations, "says Shendure. However, said Shendure, mapping the genome of the fetus facing the same problems as other genome mapping, the limited ability of researchers to say the existence of specific mutations that cause specific diseases. In addition, the error rate predictions about the likelihood of a child has a particular disease is still very high for clinical application.
He estimates the new research results can be used clinically in five years. At that time, the costs of implementing this technology is predicted to fall than the current price of U.S. $ 50 thousand. "The application in the future seems so much better," said Shendure. He also considers the impact of legal and ethical for parents to gain access to information about all the potential diseases and the nature of their children since before the child was born.
The researchers used data collected fetal DNA from maternal and paternal genome sequence to develop a fetus. To match the accuracy of the analysis of the fetal genome, the team re-examine the sequence of the genome after birth. "Overall, the genome sequence was pieced together is 98 per cent accurate.
The fetus had 44 new mutations that occur naturally, while the team had found 39 mutations, "says Shendure. However, said Shendure, mapping the genome of the fetus facing the same problems as other genome mapping, the limited ability of researchers to say the existence of specific mutations that cause specific diseases. In addition, the error rate predictions about the likelihood of a child has a particular disease is still very high for clinical application.
He estimates the new research results can be used clinically in five years. At that time, the costs of implementing this technology is predicted to fall than the current price of U.S. $ 50 thousand. "The application in the future seems so much better," said Shendure. He also considers the impact of legal and ethical for parents to gain access to information about all the potential diseases and the nature of their children since before the child was born.
