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(KSL News) -- Diagnosing abnormalities early in pregnancy gives doctors the best chance to correct the problem; now there may be an added tool in the effort to prevent birth defects.
Researchers at Stanford University studied genes in the placenta, the organ that provides the baby with nutrients while in the womb.
They found certain genes associated with preeclampsia, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genes that acted differently in male and female babies.
More studies are needed, but researchers hope to one day use the placenta to diagnose pregnancy disorders and diseases that show up later in life that have a link to pregnancy.
