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Unborn babies could be tested for 3500 genetic conditions

Blood and saliva samples from parents could predict thousands of genetic conditions in unborn babies.

US SCIENTISTS SAY unborn babies could be routinely tested for thousands of genetic conditions without disturbing either the mother or the foetus.

A team of scientists have been able to determine the genetic code of a foetus by taking a blood sample from a woman who was 18 weeks pregnant and a swab of saliva from the father.

The findings published in the journal Science Translational Medicine state that the test, which is non-invasive, will make it possible to scan for some 3500 disorders without physically disturbing either foetus or mother.

The new test can detect ‘de novo mutations’, which are not inherited, but are thought to play a role in complex conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.

Some conditions, such as Down’s syndrome, can already be detected prior to birth.

A spokesperson from the Pro-Life Campaign in Ireland told TheJournal.ie that there was a danger that the information from the new genetic test could be used to put the lives of many unborn babies at risk.

In January it was reported in the Irish Times that the Beacon Medical Group is to open a new clinic in Dublin that would offer pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. This is the first time a clinic has offered such a service in Ireland and could test embryos for conditions such as Huntington’s disease, haemophilia and cystic fibrosis.

WHO warns urgent action needed to prevent spread of ‘untreatable’ gonorrhoea >

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19 Comments
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    Mute Julie Power
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    Mar 10th 2022, 9:32 PM

    Fair play to all the polish people doing everything they can to help!

    314
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    Mute Rmaybe
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:32 PM

    @Stephen Foster: That is absolute BS

    146
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    Mute Marcin Zawila
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:46 PM

    @Stephen Foster: What are you talking about? Are you for real? Poles not doing that voluntarily? How dare you say that?

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    Mute sistermoon
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:51 PM

    @Marcin Zawila: its an attention seeking tr0ll, leave him be ;)

    47
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    Mute Marcin Zawila
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:58 PM

    @Stephen Foster: it absolutely boils my blood. You are horrible person. What made you said that?? Poles paying for everything from their own pocket!! Feeding and housing those poor families and not getting a dime from the government. Even Polish living in Ireland are helping Ukrainians. How dare you say those accusations.
    Shame on you

    116
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    Mute artur fil
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:59 PM

    @Marcin Zawila:Trol..s cause negative reactions in others, because they want attention. So then…
    Just. Ignore.Him
    Don’t fuel him
    He want you to get upset. Don’t give him the pleasure. Deprive him of his live force, so he’ll go dig elsewhere…

    44
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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:08 PM
    1
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    Mute Marcin Zawila
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:16 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: have you been there? Have you seen it? I personally helped a family of 6 with 3 small children from Odessa. Almost all of my friends in Krakow are housing and feeding families from Ukraine absolutely for free. Are you gonna send me another useless link?

    You must be a Russian troll. I wont waste my time on you

    84
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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Mar 11th 2022, 12:44 AM

    @Marcin Zawila: I know people who are on the border now to help them. and the wall is real. do a bit of Google search when u have time on the wall.

    3
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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Mar 11th 2022, 12:47 AM

    @Stephen Foster: whatever your grievances with Poland?That has to be one of the most idotic comments ever posted on the journal. Feel proud won’t ye Stephen.

    33
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    Mute James Lough
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    Mar 11th 2022, 1:42 AM

    @Stephen Murphy: Stephen, absolute disgústing and inaccurate. l know a polish family who have taken in 20 people concluding a baby born on the day of the bombing. They are doing everything possible to assist and should be proud of their actions. You on the other hand should háng your head in shàme.

    33
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    Mute James Lough
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    Mar 11th 2022, 1:51 AM

    @James Lough: including *

    3
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    Mute sistermoon
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    Mar 10th 2022, 9:32 PM

    Excuse me but no. Polish government did nothing. Zero. Please edit the article cos they didn’t provide anything and reading this simply made me laugh.

    Everything and I mean EVERY SINGLE THING was provided and/ or bought by volunteers who organize themselves on social media. They buy food, clothes, medicine, they offer their own houses and apartments, collect money and work for free 24/7. They get no help from government, trust me, they even have to pay with their own money for refugees who want to use toilets at Warsaw central train station, cos no official wants to make decision to get rid of those fees.

    You’ve got so many Poles in Ireland, just ask them if you need correct info on subjects like this, it better than writing nonsense.

    103
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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:22 PM

    @sistermoon: I totally agree with you on this having spoken to few people on the ground there. they said they Poland wasn’t letting any coloured people into Poland asking for visas and all and most of them are students having Ukrainian visa. Even before the war Poland said it strictly that no Muslim refugees not a single 1. Poland is probably getting EU funds but not spending it on refugees.

    25
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    Mute Dichard O'Ronoghue
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:52 PM

    My friend and I are here in Przemyśl as we speak, we flew in to Rzeszów this morning and rented 2 cars before driving to Medyka in the hope we could help assist fleeing refugees onwards travel to Ireland

    From Medyka we were told to go one of distribution centers in Przemyśl where we signed up as official transport drivers, supplying vehicular & passport information as there is a fear even in this unthinkable situation that unscrupulous people will try to benefit, namely by way of human trafficking

    After speaking with both officials & displaced refugees we were shocked to learn that very few people want to come to Ireland as there seems to be a perception amongst them that we are part of the UK and are adopting a zenophobic approach to this crisis as per our neighbours across the pond….

    56
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    Mute Marcin Zawila
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    Mar 11th 2022, 5:35 AM

    @Dichard O’Ronoghue: Hats off to you lads

    42
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    Mute Dichard O'Ronoghue
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    Mar 11th 2022, 12:03 AM

    ….The one shining light and comfort I took from what I saw today by the Ukranian border was the resolut determinedness, solidarity and breakable spirit of these refugees. If those left behind fighting have half the conviction of the people I saw today then Putin doesn’t stand a chance. These people won’t be broken, not as long as we stand united alongside them.

    39
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    Mute Dichard O'Ronoghue
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    Mar 11th 2022, 12:02 AM

    …. I commend anyone at home who has offered up a bed for these refugees, however what I also encourage you to do try to ask the question; ‘are the mechanisms actually in place for people in need to easily come to Ireland to avail of your generosity?’

    Our government also needs to distance itself from the zenophobia associated with the UK and send a clear message to the displaced people of Ukraine that Ireland is a true European country with open borders and that they are as welcome here as anywhere else they choose to call home.

    It’s all very well and good congratulating ourselves for a few pledges donated on the Late Late of a Friday night but that doesn’t mean Jack to the tens of thousands of homeless people I saw today alone….

    21
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    Mute Dichard O'Ronoghue
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:58 PM

    ….Then we also have said issue of public perception here being that we are as unwelcoming to these misfortunate souls as the UK are being…

    There seems to be a serious breakdown in communication between the various parties involved in trying to assist these displaced people from an Irish standpoint, along a with a large disparity between what we say we’re willing to do and the actions we actually take. But I suppose we were always great at talking a big game and not following through. Plenty of condemnation, rhetoric and back-slapping, but very little in the way of concrete action….

    20
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    Mute Dichard O'Ronoghue
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:56 PM

    ….We are both due to return home on Saturday evening and were hoping to have provided onwards travel assistance (car & plane) to as many refugees as possible by then, but as it stands I’m not sure if we will succeed in helping anyone.

    A couple of kind friends at home on Limerick have selflessly offered to take a refugee family in for as long as is necessary (indefinitely if needed) & we were hoping for further commitments from others but so far none have been forthcoming.

    Most frustratingly, I see good-news-stories popping up at home about thousands of beds being offered up for refugees arriving into the country, however on the other hand my friend & I were actively discouraged by national humanitarian organisations from undertaking our current endeavour….

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    Mute artur fil
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    Mar 10th 2022, 9:26 PM

    Phone call from the russian soldier to his wife.
    http://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6muSsDBzi/

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    Mute Tom Daly
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    Mar 14th 2022, 1:20 PM

    Well done to you Niall – come home safe to us.

    4
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