[Gene technology in clinical medicine--technics and tools]

Abstract

The most revolutionary development in biology in recent years has been the advent of genetic engineering or, more precisely, recombinant DNA-technology or gene technology. Recent studies using this technology have led to better understanding of the basic molecular pathology of many single gene disorders, identification of genes for conditions whose underlying biochemistry is still not understood, and led to important information about the pathophysiology of many common diseases. Recombinant DNA technology provides the scientist with the necessary tools to examine mutations in man at the level of the DNA sequence and to determine how mutants influence expression of the gene product. In this review, the basic tools and techniques are described to give an understanding of how molecular biology has revolutionized many aspects of human disease and created new possibilities of DNA diagnostics of both genetic, malignant and infectious diseases.