Sci Rep: Scientists hope to use novel epigenetic biomarker to predict infant's risk of preterm birth

March 6, 2022 / Bio Valley BIOON / -- Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal and infant death, affecting the health of nearly one in ten babies

In this study, the researchers documented more than 100 epigenetic biomarkers in preterm mothers that differed from genetic markers in the mothers of full-term fetuses.

Epigenetics is the molecular factors and processes surrounding DNA that determine how genes behave.

The researchers took specimens of cheek swabs from two groups of mother-father-infant trios shortly after birth.

Image source: https:// infants born before 37 weeks of gestation can be fatal to the infant, and many surviving infants face a variety of health problems, some of which persist for life, including intellectual disability and cardiovascular disease.

Investigator Skinner's lab has previously published related research on potential epigenetic biomarkers, including for autism and rheumatoid arthritis, that may pave the way for the development of earlier treatments; Although researchers may not be able to solve this problem at present, as research progresses in the future, researchers may develop new tests to help potentially predict the risk of preterm birth

Original source:

Winchester, P.