DAYAPURAM RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

P.O NIT CAMPUS, CALICUT, KERALA, INDIA 673601

BIOLOGY
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Amniocentesis: “Exploring its Significance

in Prenatal Medicine”

SUBMITTED BY:
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Mr/Ms ………………….………….......… of
Class XII has satisfactorily completed the Project Work on
"…..………………………………………………………”in Biology
as prescribed by CBSE for Senior School Certificate
Examination, during the academic year 20…..-20……

Dayapuram Residential School

Date:
Register Number:
Signature of Internal Examiner:
Signature of Principal:

Signature of External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In successfully completing this project many people
have helped me. I would like to thank all those who are
related to this project.
Primarily, I would thank god for being able to complete
this project with success. I thank the principal
Mrs.Jyothi P, Mrs.Jishabindu, Mrs.Mithul, under whose
guidance I have learned a lot about this project. Their
suggestions and directions have helped in the
completion of this project.
Finally, I would like to thank my parents and friends
who have helped me with their valuable suggestions
and guidance .they have been very helpful in various
stages of project completion.
 INDEX

S.NO TITLE
1 INTRODUCTION

2 MATERIALS AND METHODS

3 OBSERVATION
4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
5 CONCLUSION
6 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION
Amniocentesis is a significant medical procedure that plays a
crucial role in prenatal diagnosis. I chose this as my biology
investigatory project because by understanding the benefits,
risks, and implications of amniocentesis, we can gain a deeper
understanding of its impact on prenatal care and the well-being
of both the mother and the baby.

What is amniocentesis?
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure that involves the removal
of a small amount of amniotic fluid from the uterus of a
pregnant woman. This fluid is obtained by inserting a thin
needle through the abdomen, guided by ultrasound imaging.

Who is the candidate for amniocentesis

 Women over the age of 40 years

 Women with a family history of chromosomal
abnormalities, such as Down syndrome
 Women who have already had children with
chromosomal abnormalities
 Women are known to be carriers of genetic disorders
  Women with partners who have a family history of a
genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality
What can be detected through an
amniocentesis?

 Nearly all chromosome disorders, Down syndrome as well

as sex chromosome disabilities.

 Several genetic disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia and

cystic fibrosis.

 Neural tube defects such as spina bifida

 Amniocentesis is the only way that helps us to determine

the foetal lung maturity

Procedure
Steps involved in amniocentesis:
 The woman lies down and an ultrasound scan determines
the position of the fetus and the placenta.
 When the doctor is sure of a safe spot, they swab the
woman's belly with antiseptic and inject a local anesthetic
into the skin.
 Using a long, thin needle, the doctor extracts about 15 to
20 (approximately three teaspoons) of amniotic fluid. This
takes about 30 seconds.
 The foetus is checked afterward to make sure all is well.

 The doctor will advise when the results are expected. In

some cases, the results may take up to three weeks.
MATERIALS REQUIRED AND METHODS
 Online sources
 Biology related books
 Ncert textbook of grade 12
 OBSERVATION
 After amniocentesis, the sample is sent to the lab for
analysis
 Results usually take 10 days to three weeks depending on
the lab
 It takes that long to get the result because the cells have
to grow in the lab in order to analyse them
 In the lab genetic and chemical tests are done
 For the genetic tests, proteins minerals, and other
compounds in amniotic fluid are analysed.
 amniocentesis results will either be negative or positive

Complications of amniocentesis
 Infection – symptoms include fever.
 Vaginal leakage – amniotic fluid may leak from the vagina
(in about one per cent of cases).
 Spontaneous abortion – can occur in less than one per
cent of women undergoing this test
 Rh sensitization – rarely, the baby’s blood cells may
enter the mother’s bloodstream. If the mother is Rh-
negative, she may form antibodies that attack the baby’s
red blood cells. To prevent this, an Rh-negative mother
will be given Rh(D) immunoglobulin (anti-D).
 RESULT AND DISCUSION
Amniocentesis is a safe procedure that can provide helpful
information about the health of the foetus. It may be offered to a
woman who is at a high risk of having a baby with genetic
disorders; the risk of a miscarriage of amniocentesis is about
0.5% or 1 in 2000.Amniocentesis had been banned in India in
1994, under the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic
Techniques Act. This was because amniocentesis could reveal
the sex of the foetus. Since a girl child is not accepted in many
parts of the country, the female foetus is aborted in most of the
cases. To stop this, amniocentesis was banned in India.
 CONCLUSION
Our project aimed to understand amniocentesis, its purpose,
procedure, and implications. We found that ethical
considerations, such as emotional distress and selective
abortion, should be addressed through proper counseling and
support. Amniocentesis provides crucial information about the
fetus's health, but benefits, risks, and ethical concerns should
be carefully considered. Non-invasive testing methods are
being researched for potential improvements.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEBSITES-
1.https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-
procedures/amniocentesis/about/pac-20392914
2.https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-amniocentesis
3.https://www.hamad.qa/EN/your%20health/Patient%20and
%20Family%20Education%20Unit/Publications/Diseases-
and-Care/Maternal-and-
Child/Maternal%20and%20Child/Pregnancy%20After%2035
%20-%20English.pdf
4. Ncert biology textbook of class 12.