90946 - Prenatal Molecular Diagnosis

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Medical Biotechnology (cod. 9081)

Learning outcomes

The target of the course is to achieve knowledges the molecular methods of the most common non invasive and invasive methods of prenatal diagnosis. In particular the course focuses on (1) the strategies of dosage of circulating fetal DNA in maternal plasma and the clinical applications; (2) concepts of application of QF-PCR and WES in perinatal medicine.

Course contents

ntroductory lesson on genetic diseases and the significance of invasive and non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

Algebraic and clinical basis of screening tests with a particular focus on the combined test.

Examination of prenatal pathologies for which molecular biology has a diagnostic and/or counseling role.

Understanding the main methods of analyzing prenatal pathologies for invasive (NIPT) and non-invasive studies:

QF-PCR for the analysis of the most common trisomies.

Massively parallel sequencing: Counting methods and SNP methods with practical examples of the methods available on the market. Comparison of the various NIPT tests and their optimal applications in different types of pregnancies (egg donations, twin pregnancies, etc.).

Fetal alloimmunization syndrome and non-invasive diagnosis of fetal RhD from maternal blood using Real Time PCR.

Discussion of clinical cases.

Readings/Bibliography

Educational material that includes slides and handouts from the teacher

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Farina