Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapeutic Abortion

Abstract

GENETICISTS are now able to make exact prenatal diagnoses for several inherited disorders, instead of merely advising parents of the approximate risk that they will have a defective child. The technic responsible for this more satisfying and tangible counseling is exemplified in the article on the prenatal diagnosis of Hurler's and Hunter's syndromes by Fratantoni and his associates in this issue of the Journal. In essence fetal cells desquamated into the amniotic fluid are grown in culture to preview the chromosomes and enzymes of the child. Amniocentesis at 16 weeks' gestation has low morbidity for fetus or mother,¹ and . . .