There are reports in the medical literature that a high frequency of genetic diseases of non-hereditary
origin is associated with a relatively high paternal age (45 or over).
These diseases occur as a result of fresh (new) mutations that arise in the genes that cause structural
defects, and their inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant. The defects caused by these mutations can be
diagnosed by ultrasound scan. For example, congenital skeletal defects may be expressed in different forms,
such as very short stature (the term "dwarfism" is not used nowadays), the most common form of which is
known as achondroplasia, or bone disease associated with reduced mineralization in the bone, resulting in
bone fractures occurring while the fetus is still in the uterus, etc.
It is therefore advisable to perform an ultrasound scan specifically to examine fetal growth.
It is important to note that "fresh" mutations can also occur in younger people, but their frequency is
lower (e.g. for very short stature, the risk is 1:10,000 or even less).
Of course, ultrasound testing cannot detect all defects, especially those causing functional
disorders of organs, but most of the severe structural anomalies can be demonstrated.
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