Developing Noninvasive Diagnosis for Single-Gene Disorders: The Role of Digital PCR

2014 ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela N. Barrett ◽  
Lyn S. Chitty
Keyword(s):  
Single Gene ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Noninvasive Diagnosis ◽  
Single Gene Disorders

Reaching Future Scientists, Consumers, & Citizens

2014 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 379-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Hicks ◽  
Rebecca J. Cline ◽  
Angela M. Trepanier
Keyword(s):  
Personalized Medicine ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Adult Onset ◽  
Biology Textbooks ◽  
Multifactorial Diseases ◽  
Single Gene Disorders

An understanding of how genomics information, including information about risk for common, multifactorial disease, can be used to promote personal health (personalized medicine) is becoming increasingly important for the American public. We undertook a quantitative content analysis of commonly used high school textbooks to assess how frequently the genetic basis of common multifactorial diseases was discussed compared with the “classic” chromosomal–single gene disorders historically used to teach the concepts of genetics and heredity. We also analyzed the types of conditions or traits that were discussed. We identified 3957 sentences across 11 textbooks that addressed multifactorial and “classic” genetic disorders. “Classic” gene disorders were discussed relatively more frequently than multifactorial diseases, as was their genetic basis, even after we enriched the sample to include five adult-onset conditions common in the general population. Discussions of the genetic or hereditary components of multifactorial diseases were limited, as were discussions of the environmental components of these conditions. Adult-onset multifactorial diseases are far more common in the population than chromosomal or single-gene disorders; many are potentially preventable or modifiable. As such, they are targets for personalized medical approaches. The limited discussion in biology textbooks of the genetic basis of multifactorial conditions and the role of environment in modifying genetic risk may limit the public’s understanding and use of personalized medicine.

scholarly journals Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Single-Gene Disorders by Use of Droplet Digital PCR

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Camunas-Soler ◽  
Hojae Lee ◽  
Louanne Hudgins ◽  
Susan R Hintz ◽  
Yair J Blumenfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Single Gene Disorders ◽  
Fetal Fraction

Abstract BACKGROUND Prenatal diagnosis in pregnancies at risk of single-gene disorders is currently performed using invasive methods such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. This is in contrast with screening for common aneuploidies, for which noninvasive methods with a single maternal blood sample have become standard clinical practice. METHODS We developed a protocol for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of inherited single-gene disorders using droplet digital PCR from circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal plasma. First, the amount of cfDNA and fetal fraction is determined using a panel of TaqMan assays targeting high-variability single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Second, the ratio of healthy and diseased alleles in maternal plasma is quantified using TaqMan assays targeting the mutations carried by the parents. Two validation approaches of the mutation assay are presented. RESULTS We collected blood samples from 9 pregnancies at risk for different single-gene disorders, including common conditions and rare metabolic disorders. We measured cases at risk of hemophilia, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, cystic fibrosis, β-thalassemia, mevalonate kinase deficiency, acetylcholine receptor deficiency, and DFNB1 nonsyndromic hearing loss. We correctly differentiated affected and unaffected pregnancies (2 affected, 7 unaffected), confirmed by neonatal testing. We successfully measured an affected pregnancy as early as week 11 and with a fetal fraction as low as 3.7% (0.3). CONCLUSIONS Our method detects single-nucleotide mutations of autosomal recessive diseases as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. This is of importance for metabolic disorders in which early diagnosis can affect management of the disease and reduce complications and anxiety related to invasive testing.

The role of cloned genes in the prevention of genetic disease

1988 ◽  
Vol 319 (1194) ◽  
pp. 249-261 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Genetic Disease ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Recombinant Dna ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Recombinant Dna Technology ◽  
Human Genetic Disease ◽  
Single Gene Disorders ◽  
Current Experience

The application of recombinant DNA technology to the study of human genetic disease promises to increase the scope for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Here we summarize current experience with prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders by DNA analysis and highlight some of the technical and organizational problems that remain to be solved.

Genetic counselling

2020 ◽  
pp. 49-58
Author(s):  
Perry Elliott ◽  
Pier D. Lambiase ◽  
Dhavendra Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Counselling ◽  
Congenital Heart ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Genetic Counsellor ◽  
Lipid Disorders ◽  
Single Gene Disorders ◽  
Inherited Cardiac Conditions ◽  
Qt Syndrome ◽  
Artery Disease

Genetic counselling is one of the major tools in managing inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs) including single gene disorders such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome to multifactorial conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and congenital heart disease (CHD). This chapter deals with genetic counselling for ICCs that are typically transmitted in a Mendelian fashion, for example cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, Marfan syndrome, as well as inherited lipid disorders. Typically, a genetic counsellor works within a multidisciplinary team including cardiologists, clinical geneticists, nurses, social workers, and psychologists. This chapter covers the role of genetic counsellors, process, consent and confidentiality, communication, and outcomes.

scholarly journals Nonivasive prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders using droplet digital PCR

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Camunas-Soler ◽  
Hojae Lee ◽  
Louanne Hudgins ◽  
Susan R. Hintz ◽  
Yair J. Blumenfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Droplet Digital Pcr ◽  
Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency ◽  
Single Gene Disorders ◽  
Fetal Fraction

AbstractBackgroundPrenatal diagnosis in pregnancies at risk of single-gene disorders is currently performed using invasive methods such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. This is in contrast with screening for common aneuploidies, for which noninvasive methods with a single maternal blood sample have become standard clinical practice.MethodsWe developed a protocol for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of inherited single gene disorders using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) from circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal plasma. First, the amount of cfDNA and fetal fraction are determined using a panel of Taqman assays targeting high-variability SNPs. Second, the ratio of healthy and diseased alleles in maternal plasma are quantified using Taqman assays targeting the mutations carried by the parents. Two validation approaches of the mutation assay are presented.ResultsWe collected blood samples from 9 pregnancies at risk for different single gene disorders including common conditions and rare metabolic disorders. We measured cases at risk of hemophilia, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, cystic fibrosis, β-thalassemia, mevalonate kinase deficiency, acetylcholine receptor deficiency and DFNB1 nonsyndromic hearing loss. We correctly differentiated affected and unaffected pregnancies (2 affected, 7 unaffected), confirmed by neonatal testing. We successfully measured an affected pregnancy as early as week 11, and with a fetal fraction as low as 3.7±0.3%.ConclusionOur method detects single nucleotide mutations of autosomal recessive diseases as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. This is of importance for metabolic disorders where early diagnosis can affect management of the disease and reduce complications and anxiety related to invasive testing.

Synaptic Plasticity as a Therapeutic Target in the Treatment of Autism-related Single-gene Disorders

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (36) ◽  
pp. 6480-6490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Pignatelli ◽  
Marco Feligioni ◽  
Sonia Piccinin ◽  
Gemma Molinaro ◽  
Ferdinando Nicoletti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Single Gene Disorders

Pathophysiology and therapy for haemoglobinopathies; Part II: thalassaemias

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizia Urbinati ◽  
Catherine Madigan ◽  
Punam Malik
Keyword(s):  
Single Gene ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Marrow Transplant ◽  
World Population ◽  
Symptomatic Therapy ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Single Gene Disorders ◽  
Clinical Syndromes

Thalassaemias result from mutations of the globin genes that cause reduced or absent haemoglobin production and thus interfere with the critical function of oxygen delivery. They represent the most common single-gene disorders, with 4.83% of the world population carrying globin gene variants. Reduced or absent α-globin (α-thalassaemia) or β-globin (β-thalassaemia) leads to anaemia and multifaceted clinical syndromes. In this second of two reviews on the pathophysiology of haemoglobinopathies, we describe the clinical features, pathophysiology and molecular basis of α- and β-thalassaemias. We then discuss current targeted therapies, including the new oral iron chelators, which, along with chronic transfusions, constitute the mainstay of symptomatic therapy for the majority of patients. Finally, we describe potentially curative therapies, such as bone marrow transplant, and discuss some of the outstanding research studies and questions, including the upcoming field of gene therapy for β-thalassaemia. An accompanying article on haemoglobinopathies (Part I) focuses on sickle cell disease.

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