Molecular medicine

Abstract

The introduction of new methods into medicine, such as recombinant DNA, production of monoclonal antibodies, and particularly polymerase chain reactions, yielded much knowledge and information in fields like preventive medicine (prenatal screening), reproduction strategies (preimplantation diagnosis of genetic defects), molecular diagnosis (oncological and infectious diseases), gene therapy, etc. In many areas the practical use of these sophisticated approaches has become technically feasible yet due to the high cost involved it is still limited. The introduction of some screening programs will be associated with ethical problems of serious impact. To date we can already establish presymptomatic diagnosis of some progressive diseases for which however no therapy is available. Potential abuse of confidential genetic information as well as the possibilities of using gene therapy for "corrective eugenics" are loaded with serious ethical problems. Prospective doctors have to be prepared for this situation in the course of undergraduate studies of medicine. (Ref. 11.)