9/10/96

There was a paper a few years ago about activation of myogenesis in amniocytes and chorionic-villus cells using MyoD, and assay for dystrophin expression for the purpose of prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I would like to know if this technique is currently available to test a pregnancy at risk for DMD - molecular testing is not possible in this family, and we would like to know if we can offer the family an alternative to fetal sexing and fetal muscle biopsy. I would like to hear from anyone who has information about this technique. I am a genetic counsellor in Toronto, Canada. Thanks.