In recent years, the clinical diagnosis of genetic and infectious dis- eases has relied on the analysis of specific DNA nucleotide sequences. And for molecular biolo gists, the task of finding a particular target strand, only a minute fraction of the total DNA, has been a burdensome challenge—like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Now, however, GeneAmp PCR, a product based on proprietary technology of Cetus Corp., Emeryville, Calif., not only helps scientists find that one needle in the haystack, it also allows them to make millions of copies of it—in effect creating a whole new stack of only target needles, thus simplifying the study of the previously tiny traces of the DNA.
The technology has broad applications in research into genetic disease such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, into genetic predisposition to diseases such as diabetes, and into somatic mutations involved in the development of cancer. ...
