An amniocyte (literally "lamb cell") is a

cell Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery w ...

of a

fetus A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal deve ...

which is suspended in the

amniotic fluid The amniotic fluid is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a gravid amniote. This fluid serves as a cushion for the growing fetus, but also serves to facilitate the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products betwee ...

. To study a person's chromosomes, it can be used in DNA-based analysis, via microscopic analysis of the cells in amniotic fluid. After circa 16 weeks of pregnancy the fluid can be collected. It then contains shed fetal cells, which are put in culture and grow out slow. After around 2 weeks of culture the cells should have divided enough for proper DNA analysis.

References

Animal developmental biology {{Developmental-biology-stub