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New prenatal testing could diagnose over 3,000 disorders

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  • Description

    Scientists successfully sequence the entire genome of a human fetus

  • Duration 2:29
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You could -- know everything about your child before he or she is born every thing.

Researchers are reporting a major breakthrough in prenatal testing a way to map the genetic make up of a child not yet born.

With a simple test using -- blood sample from the mom and -- the saliva sample from that it's all in the current methods are more invasive and risky sometimes causing miscarriage.

We're told the new test allows doctors to detect thousands of genetic disorders.

Of course they're ethical questions as it could lead to parents in picking kids for certain traits.

While terminating pregnancy to avoid children with health problems.

Doctor -- Allman joins us now she's a board certified obstetrician gynecologist with New York's center for menopause hormone disorders.

And women's -- This is a great thing they've come up with you just worried maybe some people might worry about how they might use -- I don't.

Well your viewers have nothing to worry about because this is not going to be available for quite a long time -- But what very exciting -- those types it sounds terrific if you could because if you can diagnose something early you can treated early in theory right and what's the most important thing parents want to know that they have a healthy pregnancy.

And and more than that they they want to treat the child right when it comes into the world.

Gentlemen have different needs right you want the most.

Information that you can get as early as he can -- it and it's it's it feels to me like you're already on the defensive for the crowd that's gonna go wow abortion abortion abortion.

I don't think that's really going to be an issue I think most families are going to use this information responsibly.

I think having the information is the most important thing.

There is concern about that of the -- those you know I don't really think in the medical community there's that much concern but two to three pregnancies are two to three.

-- Sorry I'm having a senior moment.

-- -- early for that good at 3% of all of children born have significant medical issues wouldn't it be great -- can identify those sooner it.

-- I think the probably the answer is yes if you know your child has downs what can you do about it.

You can prepare yourself and your family for that pregnancy and that's of an individual decision and that information is available today this is not about this new study -- new technology.

Well I guess this is coming out went ten years from now you say I would say it would be commercially available in ten years -- don't line up for it yet.

I will be lining up I don't plan to have a child and -- and thank you would be sort of difficult for me.

-- see you thank you very and I.

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