Mother's Blood Could Save Babies

Tyler Dorny

2/10/17

BIO 1610

Dr. Michaela A. Gazdik Stofer

            The article that I chose to read, “Secrets of Life in a Spoonful of Blood,” by Calire Ainsworth, discusses the possibility of using the blood of a pregnant mother to detect what chronic illnesses or abnormalities the baby may be born with. And if we can detect these abnormalities, it could be possible to prevent them.

            There are now improved manners for researchers to be able to monitor the genes of a fetus, allowing them to see what genes are remaining active and also viewing those that are not functioning correctly, all obtained through placental samples. However, it is now the goal in some parts of the medical community to find this information using only the blood of the mother. The reasoning for this is to develop a non-invasive method to obtain the genetic information of the fetus, without having to use samples from the placenta. According to the article by Ainsworth, some physicians are already stepping forward with this objective in order to diagnosis and treat the fetus.

            It would be extremely beneficial to know how healthy the baby will be when born, how they are developing, and to be prepared to treat or even repair complications with the fetus. There are many chronic illnesses that are hereditary, and this gives the possibility of spotting these imperfections, and eventually being able to correct them. Mutations can also form from errors in genetic code, and one day this could be fixed as well. Some researchers are now pushing for the ability to sequence the entire genome of a fetus, allowing the viewing of all stages of development, in order to catch irregularities whenever they may appear.

            There are some experiments already undergoing to begin such diagnoses. Geneticist Diana Bianchi has begun studying RNA molecules from the fetus and the placenta to discover more clues in regards to correcting mutations in the fetus genome. Bianchi has especially studied those with chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s syndrome, and has performed some experiments on mice using molecules that could reverse the error. The experiments have come back with some success, meaning that we are even closer to curing Down’s syndrome, along with various other mutations or inherited illnesses.

            There are a few obstacles that impede the progress of this research. One is the cost. The other issues are more ethical, as they may give false hope to some. Just because a fetus was fixed to no longer inherit a particular gene or a mutation was corrected by a molecule that reversed the error, does not mean that the child will not still be sick or unhealthy at some point in life. Diabetes can be formed by many different ways, including unhealthy lifestyles and limited access to health care. There is also the concern of finding an error in the fetus that is known to cause issues, but does not always. The question will then rise as to what the doctor should decide to do in such a scenario.

            I myself have been diagnosed with two chronic illnesses, one being type 1 diabetes. My father also has type 1 diabetes. I support this research in the hopes that perhaps one day, I can correct the genetics that my children will receive from me and decrease their chances of also being diagnosed with diabetes. I do understand the concerns of some, especially since we will all be sick with something at some point in our lives, but I do believe that this research can correct and benefit the future lives of children by potentially eliminating many of the chronic illnesses and abnormalities that may be present while the fetus is developing.

http://www.nature.com/news/secrets-of-life-in-a-spoonful-of-blood-1.21430