DNA-BASED DIAGNOSTICS IN THE STUDY OF HERITABLE AND ACQUIRED DISORDERS

Recent advances in molecular biology techniques have made DNA diagnost ics a reality. A major advance was the development of the polymerase c hain reaction, which allows the direct analysis of a region of a known gene from minute quantities of template DNA. The DNA can even be isol ated from such sources as saliva, hair roots, microscope slides, paraf fin-embedded tissue, and clinical swabs, in addition to blood and biop sy material. Another major improvement is the development of automated procedures suitable for robotic stations. Together these improvements make DNA analysis an important part of diagnostic procedures in study ing the etiology of diseases.