Advances in Human Molecular Genetics

Extraordinary advances have been made in the field of human molecular genetics during the past five years. The ability to amplify a specific region of DNA a millionfold in a few hours using the polymerase chain reaction has led to the rapid identification of mutations in human disease and of DNA sequence polymorphisms on every human chromosome.

DNA fragments of up to 1 megabase in length can now be resolved by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to create long-range physical maps of important regions of the genome, and can be cloned in the form of yeast artificial chromosomes. The discovery of highly variable "minisatellite" DNA sequences has led to the development of DNA fingerprinting.

The application of these techniques to the study of the human genome has culminated in major advances such as the cloning of the cystic fibrosis gene, the construction of genetic linkage maps of each human chromosome, the mapping of many genes responsible for human inherited disorders, genetic fingerprinting of forensic specimens, and the detection of mutations involved in the development of human tumors.

Although many of the new techniques in molecular genetics can be learned relatively easily, it is often difficult for a researcher to obtain all of the relevant information necessary for getting up a technique and applying it successfully. The information available in the research literature often lacks the depth of description that the new user requires.