The resurrection of alphafetoprotein

Alphafetoprotein in midtrimester Down's syndrome

Serum alphafetoprotein was estimated in fetuses with and without Down's syndrome or with other chromosome abnormalities from the 17th to the 28th week of pregnancy. In normal fetuses, the AFP level declines steadily during this period. Before 20 weeks, there was no difference in the serum AFP levels of the three groups of fetuses. After 20 weeks, the serum AFP level in cases of Down's syndrome ...

Alphafetoprotein and neural tube defects.

The neural tube defects (NTD) are a group of congenital malformations which are depressingly familiar to many obstetricians in the UK. Despite intensive investigation, their basic aetiology remains unknown. It seems probable that genetic factors are involved, interacting with environmental agents early in gestation to prevent closure of the neural tube. The number of the mutant genes is unknown...

Resurrection of the Rentier

Resurrection

The golden era of molecular biology has paved the way for us now to tweak, fix, engineer, or even entirely synthesize genomes at levels and scales never seen before. Sequencing technologies continue to improve at exponential rates and have yielded powerful new insights into organisms of the distant past, as well as those that co-inhabit the planet with us. The era of genomics has ushered in the...

Serum alphafetoprotein in bladder carcinoma.

112 cases, of varying ages, which were diagnosed as having carcinoma of the bladder by cystoscopy and biopsy from the tumor, were investigated for the presence of alphafetoprotein (AFP) in the sera. 59 (52.6%) out of the total, showed positive results, and no false positive results occured. Radioimmunoassay was capable of increasing the positivity rate still further. All of the cases were prove...