Check 3,500 genetic errors of children before birth

A team of scientists at the University of Washington (USA) said it was possible to detect 3,500 fetal genetic errors at week 18 through mother's blood and father's saliva.

With current methods, doctors can only detect a number of gene defects on a large scale including Down syndrome, cystic disease and muscular dystrophy. These genetic errors are usually checked only when the doctor suspects the child's ability to inherit from his parents.

However, by mapping the genetic makeup of the fetus through free DNA in the mother's blood and DNA in the father's saliva, scientists can replicate the entire genetic code of the child from there. Identify the development of spontaneous mutations called 'De-novo' , a mutation that is responsible for the majority of genetic defects including autism and schizophrenia.

In the experiment, scientists found that this method could correctly diagnose 39 of 44 mutations in babies at 18 weeks and after 18 weeks of age.

Although the new technology is a major step forward in the medical industry, it poses a moral question that will increase abortion, scientists said.

Reference: Telegraph