Diagnosis of human genetic disease using recombinant DNA

Recombinant DNA methodology has greatly increased our knowledge of the molecular pathology of the human genome at the same time as providing the means of diagnosing inherited disease at the DNA level. Direct detection and analysis of a wide range of genetic lesions are now possible using cloned gene or oligonucleotide probes or by direct sequencing of the disease gene(s). In addition, the use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) within and around these genes as indirect genetic markers has potentiated the tracking of disease alleles in affected pedigrees in cases where direct analysis is not yet feasible. RFLPs associated with linked anonymous DNA segments may also be used not only to diagnose hitherto undetectable disease states, but also for the chromosomal localization of the loci responsible. We present here an update to our previous list of reports describing the direct and indirect analysis/diagnosis of human inherited disease. This compilation is intended to serve as a guide to current molecular genetic approaches in diagnostic medicine.