The Use of New Technologies in the Study of Pregnancy Disorders: The OMICS Approach

The “omics” technologies represent a new model of approach in the study of human disease. It consists of general approaches on molecules (such as genes, transcripts, proteins and metabolites) of which a cell, tissue or organism is made. Although the interactions between the ‘omes’ mean that omic strategies are complementary, there are differences in terms of their molecular properties, and therefore, the technologies required for preparation and analysis [1]. Metabolomics is defined as the quantitative measurement of the dynamic metabolic response of living systems to genetic, physical, pathological or developmental factors. The technology has emerged in numerous fi elds of research, including fetal medicine aiming to facilitate the understanding of fetal disease pathophysiology and discovery of  redictive biomarkers [2].