NEW FETAL METHYLATION MARKERS

摘要

This application describes the discovery that, in a pregnant woman, certa in genes (such as RASSF1A, APC, CASP8, RARB, SCGB3A1, DAB21P, PTPN6, THY1, T MEFF2, and PYCARD) originated from a fetus are highly methylated, whereas th e same genes of maternal origin are unmethylated. This discovery allows the easy detection of one or more of these methylated fetal genes in a biologica l sample from a pregnant woman, serving as a universal indicator of the pres ence of fetal DNA in the sample. These fetal methylation markers are particu larly useful as positive controls for a non-invasive analytical process duri ng which the quality and quantity of fetal DNA are monitored. These newly id entified fetal markers can also be measured directly for diagnosis of certai n pregnancy-related conditions.