BANK OF FETAL BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

A considerable high number of congenital manformations are known in humans. Some of these are due to alterations in genes that play a fundamental role in human development. Therefore, such alterations cause prenatal mortality and as a consequence it is very difficult to obtain biological samples to study. The aim of this project is to collect and to store biological materials (cells and DNA) derived from malformed fetuses. This material will be screened by cytogenetics analysis in order to identify those cases in which, also by the use of molecular genetics technology such as “microchips arrays”, it is possible to identify and functionally analyze genes responsible for the defect. It is expected that alterations in some of these genes, other than a role in congenital malformations, might have a role in adult life pathologies.