[Genome analysis--current status of knowledge and future perspectives]

Abstract

The rapid recent progress in molecular biology has placed the complete analysis of the human genome near at hand. This analysis of the human genome is not only restricted to the mapping, i.e. the localization of the genes on the chromosomes, but also involves the complete sequence analysis of the human DNA. Combined with increasingly sophisticated techniques which demand less and less amounts of material, the high resolution genome maps and the availability of a growing set of human genes will also expand the spectrum of possible future applications. Like in other fields these new technological developments will generate problems of social, ethical and legal nature. Therefore it seems absolutely essential not only to advance further technical developments and methodological improvements, but also to integrate these developments within a broad open discussion about their intended and unintended consequences.