Dna Test

[discobobby]

is it possible to have a DNA test before a baby is born.

[Buenchico]

Yes:
http://www.thelondonultrasoundcentre.co.uk/prenatal-paternity-testing-babys-father/

[bednobs]

crumbs - you'd have to be pretty desperate to pay nearly 1000 pounds AND give yourself the chance of a miscarriage though

[LazyGun]

There is a non-invasive method, mentioned in the blurb - SNP microarray, which can be performed on the maternal adult blood sample..... all such tests are expensive though..

http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2011/10/prweb8904154.htm

[bednobs]

wow lazygun, that is absolutely incredible, isn't it!

[MadMen]

Oh jeez.

I haven't looked at the links posted, but I can't imagine it would be safe for baby to do such a test.
Can you not just wait until the baby is born?

There's always Jeremy Kyle....

[Old_Geezer]

You may have dna test before you have even made love.

[LazyGun]

@bedknobs - aye, it is. Biomedical science and some of the testing protocols are proceeding at an exceptionally rapid rate.

The human genome project took a decade or more of testing, extremely expensive too in time and resources. Now, a babies full genome ca be sequenced in hours/days, and is significantly cheaper - all in the space of a decade.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19812067

[LazyGun]

@ madmen the conventional test protocol - amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling- both carry with it a small risk to the pregnancy, being invasive tests as they are.

SNP microarray testing though is non-invasive - the babies DNA can be tested via a maternal blood test. so does not carry the same risk....

[Hopkirk]

Bit late for that advice, DaisyN

[DaisyNonna]

Not advice. A question.

[IggyB]

Not a question. A statement.

[jake-the-peg]

DNA tests aren't just about paternity!

An important application is to see if an foetus was carrying a genetic defect.

My wife for example carries a Cancer gene that has wrought a string of early deaths in the women in her familly.

I don't know how early such a test can be done but I'd have to say that knowing what I know now we might have been tempted