METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING FETAL CELLS

摘要

The invention features a method of distinguishing fetal cells from maternal cells in a sample comprising fetal cells and maternal cells. The method comprises the steps of (a) contacting a sample comprising fetal cells and maternal cells with a probe; the probe being a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of HLA-G mRNA; and, (b) identifying cells in which the probe hybridizes to mRNA in the cells; wherein the absence of hybridization of the probe to mRNA in the cells is an indication that the cells are maternal cells and the presence of hybridization of the probe to mRNA in the cells is an indication that the cells are fetal cells. The invention also features a method of detecting a genetic abnormality in a fetus comprising the steps of (a) contacting a sample comprising fetal cells and maternal cells with a probe; the probe being a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of HLA-G mRNA; (b) isolating cells in which the probe hybridizes to mRNA in the cells, and (c) testing the cells for the presence of the genetic abnormality.