num_pages: 160
description: Is noninvasive, risk-free prenatal diagnosis of fetal genetic characteristics still a fantasy, or will it soon become reality? The current status of both the leading European research groups as well as the NIH-funded NIFTY study are reported here, indicating that certain fetal genetic traits can now be examined efficiently in a noninvasive manner. Considerable focus is placed on new laser-mediated systems for the effective micro-manipulation of single fetal cells, as well as their analysis by single-cell PCR and the pitfalls to avoid when performing such analyses. Other issues addressed in depth novel enrichment techniques, optimal fetal cell recognition, fetal cell culture, as well as the exciting finding that fetal cell traffic is elevated in certain pregnancy-related disorders, most prominently in preeclampsia. This publication is of interest to researchers in the field, genetic counsellors, gynecologists and obstetricians, and researchers in microchimerism, transplantation and transfusion medicine.
language: English
title: Fatal Cells and Fetal DNA in Maternal Blood: New Developments for a New Millenium : 11th Fetal Cell Workshop, Basel, April 15, 2000
titlecomplete: Fatal Cells and Fetal DNA in Maternal Blood: New Developments for a New Millenium : 11th Fetal Cell Workshop, Basel, April 15, 2000
publisher: S Karger Ag