DNA-based diagnostics in the study of heritable and acquired disorders

Recent advances in molecular biology techniques have made DNA diagnostics a reality. A major advance was the development of the polymerase chain reaction, which allows the direct analysis of a region of a known gene from minute quantities of template DNA. The DNA can even be isolated from such sources as saliva, hair roots, microscope slides, paraffin-embedded tissue, and clinical swabs, in addition to blood and biopsy 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 studying the etiology of diseases.