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Related Concept Videos

Genetic Screens02:46

Genetic Screens

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Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing  genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which...
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Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
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What is Gene Expression?01:36

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A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised  of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then...
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What is Gene Expression?01:42

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Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
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Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced...
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FISH for Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
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Function Follows Form: Gene Expression and Prenatal Screening.

Diana W Bianchi1

  • 1Office of the Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Section on Prenatal Genomics and Fetal Therapy, Center for Precision Health Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Trends in Molecular Medicine
|June 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Prenatal testing can now assess fetal function using mRNA in maternal blood, complementing anatomical imaging. This approach may improve identification of high-risk pregnancies needing specialized care.

Keywords:
cell-free RNAfetusgene expressionnoninvasiveprenatal diagnosis

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Genomics
  • Maternal-fetal medicine

Background:

  • Current prenatal diagnosis primarily relies on fetal anatomical assessment via imaging.
  • Limitations exist in predicting pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes based solely on form.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce fetal "function" assessment using mRNA transcripts in maternal blood.
  • To explore the potential of functional assessment for improved prenatal risk stratification.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of fetal and placental mRNA transcripts detected in maternal circulation.
  • Correlation of transcriptomic profiles with pregnancy outcomes and neonatal status.

Main Results:

  • Maternal blood mRNA analysis offers a non-invasive window into fetal and placental "function."
  • Functional assessment has the potential to identify pregnancies requiring enhanced monitoring.

Conclusions:

  • Measuring mRNA transcripts in maternal blood represents a novel approach to prenatal assessment.
  • This method could enhance the precision of identifying at-risk pregnancies and guiding neonatal care decisions.