Glossary of Genetic Terminology

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U

ULTRASOUND:
The use of sound waves for visualising body tissues and structures. In pregnancy, structural abnormalities in the foetus can be detected (see Genetics Fact Sheet 17A).

UNDIFFERENTIATED:
A cell that has not matured into a functional, specialised cell type.

UNIPARENTAL DISOMY:
Where both members of a chromosome pair are contributed by one parent rather than one from each parent. Uniparental disomy may be maternal or paternal.

UTERUS (WOMB):
The female sexual organ in which the foetus develops into a baby over a period of nine months.