The first steps following gene discovery have become somewhat routine: completing sequencing of the gene, matching the sequence to a known protein pattern (if possible), deciphering gene expression through tissue and time, and finding new mutations. Then, the direction of research branches. Many geneticists working with newly discovered genes are looking to developments in cystic fibrosis (CF) research for guidance. Consider a sampling of current CF research efforts:
To Screen Or Not To Screen
At Imperial College in London, geneticist Robert Williamson is evaluating the advisability of screening the general population for CF carriers (R. Williamson, Nature Genetics, 3:195, 1993). In the United States, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) cautioned against general screening just months after the gene's discovery, advising the test only for those with affected relatives.
In March 1990, a National Institutes of Health panel echoed that advice, which was reaffirmed by ASHG in December 1992, ...
