Glossary
Amniocentesis: A procedure in which a needle is inserted into the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus and fluid withdrawn for testing.Bronchiectasis: Bronchiectasis is a respiratory condition that affects the functioning of the lungs. Air is normally carried through narrow passageways or tubes that are called bronchi. In bronchiectasis, the bronchi get damaged and there is a widening of these airways that make them flabby and scarred. This impedes their ability to carry air in and out of the lungs.
Carrier: A person having the faulty gene in their chromosome, but don’t suffer from the disease. They can transmit the gene to their offspring.
Chorionic villus sampling: Procedure in which a small sample of cells from the placenta is taken for testing.
Fetus: The developing offspring within the uterus from 9 weeks till birth
Gene: A region on the chromosome that codes for specific traits such as skin and eye color, height etc.
Recessive disorder: Condition in which both parents should transmit one copy each of the defective gene to the offspring. Only then will the offspring show clinical features of the disease.
Prenatal (before birth) diagnosis: Testing the fetus in the womb to detect evidence of disease.
