Molecular Genetic Techniques for Prenatal Diagnosis *

Abstract Recently, molecular genetic techniques have been rapidly incorporated into routine clinical as well as laboratory medicine, and genetic diseases including inborn errors of metabolism have come to be diagnostically viewed as changes in DNA. Molecular genetic techniques have the advantage that rapid and accurate analysis can be made with a small amount of samples in comparison with analysis at the protein level by conventional biochemical techniques. They are, therefore, clinically used today not only for the diagnosis of various genetic diseases but also for the detection of infection, including viral infections, in the outpatient clinic. They have also been applied to fetal diagnosis, and are bringing about major changes in prenatal medicine.