[The impact of molecular biology in medicine]

Over 30 years ago the genetic material of most organisms was shown to be deoxyribonucleic acid. A considerable amount of information on the fine structure and function of cells has accumulated during this time and important methodological and conceptual advances have occurred. The molecular biology techniques, restricted for many years to basic biologic research, are now being introduced in several areas of clinical medicine. These new ideas are changing the way scientists and physicians think about normal cell function and disease. The DNA recombinant methods allow us to define the molecular mechanisms of several genetic diseases and consider new therapeutic approaches. The biotechnological industry is now producing hormones, peptides and several vaccines by manipulation of genes in bacteria and cell cultures. Our understanding of cell growth and cell differentiation is opening new ways in cancer research; the use of DNA probes in the diagnostic laboratory is exciting to the clinical microbiologist. Molecular biology will continue to advance in the next decades with increasing economic, social and ethical implications.