Genetics and gynecologic practice

Abstract

T H E obstetrician-gynecologist in his daily responsibilities has a fundamental interest in human development. Few clinicians and scientists have a better opportunity than he to practice preventive and early corrective medicine. Applied research which leads to an understanding of the early development of human life should bring dividends in better health throughout all of life.17 The purpose -of this presentation is to demonstrate how the gynecologist may apply recent advances in genetics to his daily practice. When Barr and Bertram discovered a “nucleolar satellite” associated with the nucleolus in the neurons of adult female cats and postulated that this chromatin product was derived from the heterochromatin of the sex chromosomes, a new avenue of investigation and clinical application of genetic sex differences was established. Cytogenetics measure for hydramnios or as a diagnostic procedure in erythroblastosis, examination of the cellular content for female chromatin bodies should be done as an added informative test. ParkI has further demonstrated that sex chromatin is first seen in approximately the twelfth day in the trophoblast and at about 16 days in the human embryo. Genetic sex can be determined early in life. Advances in our knowledge of hereditary blood types and acquired antigen-antibody reactions have prepared us to anticipate potential fetal and maternal hazards among incompatible Rh and ABO blood systerns.l’ G, lo, 18, 22 Mutual responsibility for the well-being of the newborn in these conditions is shared with the pediatrician, hematologist, and pathologist.