Ghosty
Sat Dec 29th, 2012, 04:25 PM
Can you say, 'Gattica'?! Neat stuff...
http://thechart.blog...d-before-birth/ (http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/07/babys-dna-constructed-before-birth/)
For the first time, researchers at the University of Washington were able to construct a near-total genome sequence of a fetus (http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/07/babys-dna-constructed-before-birth/), using a blood sample from the mother and saliva from the father.
The study suggested this method could be used to detect thousands of genetic diseases in children while they are still in the fetal stage. In the long run, it could help scientists derive new insights about genetic diseases.
Right now, this sequencing costs in the neighborhood of $50,000, but given how rapidly the price of genetic testing is falling, the process may become less expensive over time. Of course, it also raises ethical issues about selecting certain desirable traits in children. For right now, however, the technology is still in its early stages.
http://thechart.blog...d-before-birth/ (http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/07/babys-dna-constructed-before-birth/)
For the first time, researchers at the University of Washington were able to construct a near-total genome sequence of a fetus (http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/07/babys-dna-constructed-before-birth/), using a blood sample from the mother and saliva from the father.
The study suggested this method could be used to detect thousands of genetic diseases in children while they are still in the fetal stage. In the long run, it could help scientists derive new insights about genetic diseases.
Right now, this sequencing costs in the neighborhood of $50,000, but given how rapidly the price of genetic testing is falling, the process may become less expensive over time. Of course, it also raises ethical issues about selecting certain desirable traits in children. For right now, however, the technology is still in its early stages.