The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Additional local help can be obtained from the member association in your country. If you have a printer, you can print the page and discuss it with your doctor. Amniocentesis - Removal of a sample of amniotic fluid for prenatal testing. Cells from the unborn child can be extracted from the fluid which surrounds it in the womb and tested for certain abnormalities.
Autosomal inheritance means that an abnormal gene can affect either sex.
The cell is surrounded by a membrane. Inside the cell is a structure called the nucleus. The nucleus contains DNA arranged into chromosomes. They have the same genetic make-up as the unborn baby and can be tested to detect certain abnormalities. Chromosomes - Sausage shaped bundles in the cell nucleus made of a very long thin strand of the chemical molecule DNA coiled upon itself many times.