Question Details

Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic test, which can also determine whether an unborn child will have __________ or not.

Options

A

Obesity

B

Diabetes

C

Down’s syndrome

D

All of the above

Correct Answer :

Down’s syndrome

Solution :

The correct option is Down’s syndrome.

Explanation:
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used primarily in prenatal diagnosis. During this procedure, a small amount of amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus in the uterus, is extracted using a fine needle. This fluid contains fetal cells and chemical substances that can be analyzed to detect genetic mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, and certain infections.

Down's syndrome (trisomy 21) is a chromosomal disorder. Because the fetal cells harvested during amniocentesis can be cultured and their karyotype (chromosomal map) examined, doctors can directly observe the presence of an extra chromosome 21, thereby diagnosing or ruling out Down's syndrome with high accuracy.

On the other hand, conditions like obesity and diabetes are complex, multifactorial disorders primarily influenced by a combination of multiple genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors, rather than a clear, single chromosomal abnormality that can be detected via prenatal karyotyping. Therefore, amniocentesis is not used to determine whether an unborn child will have obesity or diabetes.

Unlock Our Free Library

Access expert-curated educational resources and study materials—completely free.