fundamentals
Genetic Diagnostic Technologies
Introduction
Genetic diagnostic technologies are scientific methods that are used to understand and evaluate an organism's genes. (See also Genes and Chromosomes .) Genes are segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that contain the code for a specific protein that functions in one or more types of cells in the body or code for functional RNA molecules. Genetic diagnostic technology is rapidly improving. Various methods may be used to copy segments of a gene or to find changes in genes. In the foreseeable future, it may become affordable for people to obtain detailed information about their entire genotype (a person’s unique combination of genes or genetic makeup). 