The amniotic fluid transcriptome: a source of novel information about human fetal development.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Amniotic fluid is a complex biological material that provides a unique window into the developing human. Residual amniotic fluid supernatant contains cell-free fetal RNA. The objective of this study was to develop an understanding of the amniotic fluid core transcriptome by analyzing the transcripts ubiquitously present in the amniotic fluid supernatant of euploid midtrimester fetuses.

Methods

This was an in silico (computational) investigation using publicly available gene expression data previously produced by our group from 12 euploid midtrimester amniotic fluid samples. Functional analyses were performed using a web-based software analysis tool. Organ specificity was examined for each transcript using a gene expression atlas. For fetal organs not represented in

SUBMITTER: Hui L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3273331 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature