Hopes And Concerns Rise Amid Increased Use Of Fetal DNA Testing, Washington Post Reports
October 28, 2008
New DNA tests to screen fetuses for a wider array of genetic abnormalities early in pregnancy are raising some hopes as well as concerns that the “flood of murky, misleading results” could lead to more abortions and “needlessly alarm” many people, the Washington Post reports. According to the Post, the tests — called comparative genomic hybridization — use gene chips, or “microarrays,” to search for deletions or additions of genetic material that can lead to less common, but often more severe, syndromes that are commonly missed by standard genetic analysis. (Medical News Today)
