CALL FOR DISCUSSION: FETAL-CELL-DIAGNOSTICS/bionet.diagnostics.fetal-cell

[BIOSCI Administrator]

We have received a proposal below for a new newsgroup,

FETAL-CELL-DIAGNOSTICS/bionet.diagnostics.fetal-cell

USENET naming convention fans: Although this group opens up a new
hierarchy in bionet, we have another proposal for a prototype group
which will be announced soon which will also fall under this subject
heading, so it seems likely that such a hierarchy will be utilized by
more than one group.

Discussion on the following proposal will now be open through 31 July
on BIOFORUM/bionet.general (*not* on BIONEWS/bionet.announce).  For
those who are not on the BIOFORUM/bionet.general newsgroup currently,
either read bionet.general on USENET or contact one of the following
biosci addresses to sign up by e-mail:

Subscription Address                 Location
--------------------                 --------
biosci at daresbury.ac.uk               Europe, Africa, and Central Asia
biosci at net.bio.net                   Americas and the Pacific Rim

One warning, however: BIOFORUM/bionet.general is a "chatty" newsgroup
and many other items will be discussed there besides this newsgroup
proposal.  USENET news access is definitely better than e-mail if you
want to monitor only this discussion.

Discussion Guidelines
---------------------
Please do not post one-line messages saying things like "I am in favor
of such a newsgroup".  We will collect votes later.  The discussion
period is an opportunity for anyone to bring up reservations about the
proposed charter below and to propose modifications prior to the vote.
If the charter is perfect as is, then there is no need for anyone to
say anything!!!

The newsgroup discussion leader may submit a revised proposal in light
of the discussion, and the new charter would be included in the call
for votes which will go out on 1 August (Newsgroup Discussion leaders -
please note this deadline - if no revisions are received before the
deadline, the original charter will be voted on.).

Please be aware that only one vote is counted per e-mail address, so
it is necessary to have your own account in order to vote.  Multiple
votes from the same address are not accepted.  If you are interested
in the following newsgroup, but do not have an e-mail address of your
own, please obtain one from your computer center before the call for
votes is issued.

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Proposal to etablish FETAL-CELL-DIAGNOSTICS/bionet.diagnostics.fetal-
cell

Proposed USENET name:       bionet.diagnostics.fetal-cell

Proposed mailing list name: FETAL-CELL-DIAGNOSTICS

Proposed e-mail addressess: fetldiag at net.bio.net
                            fetldiag at daresbury.ac.uk

Discussion leaders:         Aneal Chandra
                            chandra at cardiff.ac.uk

                            David Miller
                            davidm at pathology.leeds.ac.uk


Newsgroup Charter:

Cytogenetic testing is a relatively common procedure during pregnancy
to examine the health of the fetus. At the present time, amniocentesis
is often used to obtain fetal cells for the testing. Because 
amniocentesis is an expensive, invasive and therefore potentially 
harmful procedure to the fetus, alternative procedures are 
being sought.

Clearly, a small number of fetal cells cross the placental barrier 
and enter the maternal circulation during a normal pregnancy. If 
these cells have nuclei, they contain the genetic material of the 
fetus suitable for analysis. However, routine separation and 
identification of these rare nucleated fetal cells represents a 
considerable technical problem and several approaches are currently 
under evaluation.

bionet.diagnostics.fetal-cell will be of potential benefit to all
within this dynamic field. It is intended to provide an easy access
environment facilitating

* rapid exchange of technical information between researchers in 
fetal cell diagnostics

* co-operation between clinical laboratories, research biologists 
and instrument designers permitting the technological refinements 
necessary for the successful implementation of routine non-invasive 
procedures

* discussion of the logistical and social impact of new technology 
in prenatal diagnosis

Subscribers are welcome from academic and commercial institutions 
including, but not limited to, developmental biology, genetics, 
haematology, pathology, immunology, cell biology, etc. 
Contributions within the functions outlined above are encouraged. 
The newsgroup is expected to run in an unmoderated fashion and we 
are willing to act as current coordinators.

Aneal Chandra
Scientist, Cytogentics Unit for Wales, UK

David Miller   
Lecturer, Institute of Pathology, Leeds, UK
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