MASSIVELY PARALLEL SEQUENCING OF RANDOM DNA FRAGMENTS FOR DETERMINATION OF FETAL FRACTION

摘要

The present invention provides methods for determining the fraction of fetal DNA in a maternal sample using massively parallel shotgun sequencing techniques and statistical probability calculations. The invention utilizes a novel method of identifying polymorphisms through the sequencing process that align to designated regions in the genome. By identifying a statistically significant number of such polymorphisms in multiple designated regions across the genome the fetal fraction, or estimation thereof, can be determined. In certain aspects, the observed distribution of polymorphisms in the genome of a maternal sample can be compared to a fetal proportion reference to estimate the fetal fraction in the sample.