The Discovery of Genetic Markers for Disease
Overview
Genetic markers are sequences of DNA located near defective or disease-causing genes that can be used to indicate the presence or absence of these genes. Genetic markers are always at the same place on a chromosome.
Several scientists hit upon the idea of markers at the same time. The association of a gene with a particular chromosome forms the basis of the field of cytogenetics. Cytogentics is a subdiscipline within genetics that links chromosomal variations to specific traits. Beginning with single-gene diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, and cystic fibrosis, the search for genetic markers has mushroomed to an all-out hunt.
Along with these discoveries have come social and ethical debates over the use of genetic markers. To these debates has been added the idea of changing the problematic gene using gene therapy, creating one of the most controversial issues of the twentieth century.
Background
The idea of mapping the human genome actually began in 1950 with the goal of associating a particular chromosome with a specific physical trait. Geneticists created linkage maps, looking especially at large families with an aberration in a chromosome.
The development of technology has underlain the search for genetic markers.
This page contains 201 words.
The Discovery of Genetic Markers for Disease article
Read the rest of this article.
This article contains 1,620 words
(approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page).
Order our Genetic marker Article
