modern research physics

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Background: Fetal DNA has been found in maternal plasma. Diagnosis of fetal gender using maternal plasma has been attempted in an effort to develop a new noninvasive method of prenatal diagnosis. Methods: We extracted DNA from plasma of 30 pregnant woman, three men, three non-pregnant women, and performed a sensitive Y-PCR assay to detect circulating male fetal DNA from women bearing male fetuses. Fetus-derived Y sequences were detected using 40 cycles of PCR carried out for each DNA extract. The PCR products were analyzed by 8% acrylamide gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining, and the results were compared after delivery. Findings:Y sequences were detected in three control men and 14 pregnant woman who had a male fetus. Two samples from an eleven weeks and 19 weeks women bearing male fetuses gave negative result. None of 8 woman bearing female fetuses and none of the three non-pregnant control women gave a positive Y signal. In one sample from a 12 weeks woman bearing female fetus Y sequences was detected. Interpretation: Conventional PCR analysis of maternal plasma can be used to diagnose fetal gender after 19 weeks. Prenatal sex determination befor 15 weeks needs more sensitive methods such as Quantitative PCR.

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