The understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying preterm birth is very limited, making prevention of preterm birth difficult. The incidence of preterm birth worldwide varies between 6%-11% in singleton pregnancies, and 64-93% of preterm deliveries occur after the spontaneous onset of labor (preterm labor). The risk factors associated with preterm birth include demographic variables such as ethnic group, past obstetric history, and complications of the current pregnancy such as infection and fetal congenital anomalies. The current study aims to investigate the basic mechanisms of preterm labor by systematically cataloging the changes in expression levels of all expressed genes whose sequences are available. The goals will be accomplished by using microarray technology followed by subsequent confirmative or complementary analyses.
