Amniocentesis is used to detect which one of the following?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) -To detect chromosomal abnormalities
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used during pregnancy to diagnose certain genetic abnormalities or fetal infections, among other conditions. It involves the extraction of a small amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus for analysis. However, amniocentesis is not used to test for disorders like malaria or typhoid. Instead, it is primarily employed to detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, haemoplilia, sickle-cell anemia, etc., or genetic disorders in the developing fetus.
A statutory ban on using amniocentesis is specifically for sex determination in order to legally address the growing issue of female foeticide. In some countries, particularly where there's a severe problem of female foeticide or gender-based abortions, legislation has been enacted to prohibit using prenatal diagnostic techniques, including amniocentesis, solely for determining the sex of the fetus