Amniocentesis MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Amniocentesis

• Amniocentesis is a foetal sex determination and disorder test based on the chromosomal pattern in the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing embryo.
• This procedure is used to test for the presence of certain genetic disorders such as down syndrome, haemophilia, sickle-cell anaemia, etc., determine the survival of the foetus.
• Amniotic fluid contains cells from the skin of the foetus and some other sources.
• These cells can be analysed to check the above-mentioned conditions.
• If it is established that the child is likely to suffer from a serious incurable congenital defect, the mother should get the foetus aborted.
• However, it was misused to kill the normal female foetus.
• Hence, there is a statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex-determination to legally check the increasing menace of female foeticides.