Search Results for: DNA sample
Early DNA Tests on Pregnant Women
Noninvasive screening tests performed during your first trimester can give you valuable, if inconclusive, information about your baby’s risk for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Diagnostic DNA tests can be performed as early as the first trimester and can conclusively tell you what blood tests and ultrasounds cannot. Certain prenatal tests can also determine the father of your child, if paternity is in question.
DNA Testing Early in Pregnancy
DNA testing, also known as genetic testing or carrier screening, early in pregnancy gives you the opportunity to learn more about your baby. You can find out the sex of the baby, the father of the baby and whether the baby has certain diseases. The information you learn can give you the time to adjust, if needed, before the baby arrives.
What Are the Pros & Cons of DNA Testing?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the material found in almost all living creatures that determines heredity. Although science has long known that heredity plays a part in personal traits, it was not until the 1950s that a group of scientists were able to see the DNA. Using an X-ray technique, the first picture of the now-famous double helix was recorded. The following decades brought great advances in genetics, and once genetic research was teamed with computer technology, medical labs were able to advance DNA testing for individual patient use.
About DNA Paternity Testing
For generations, identifying the father of a child was often only a matter of guesswork–the genetic code and the scientific methods used to isolate and identify it were unknown. In recent decades, a greater understanding of DNA has made it possible for the parents and close relatives of a child to be quickly and correctly identified. DNA paternity tests are an inexpensive and discreet way to determine a child’s father.
At What Week of Pregnancy Can You Tell if it’s a Girl or Boy?
Many expectant parents are excited to find out whether they are having a baby boy or a baby girl. While some enjoy the surprise of finding out their baby’s sex at birth, others are anxious to find out their baby’s gender as early as possible. There are many old wives’ tales that are quick to offer a prediction of your baby’s sex, but with today’s scientific advancements there are many accurate ways to determine your baby’s sex as early as the 10th week of pregnancy.