DNA probes. Fruits of the new biotechnology
F. E. Young
Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md. 20857.
The emergence of recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s has given rise to
new diagnostic techniques based on DNA probes. The Food and Drug
Administration's interest in these probes stems from its regulatory
responsibilities regarding DNA probes as medical devices. The agency also
sees DNA probes as valuable tools in meeting its mission of identifying,
preventing, and resolving public health problems, especially in the area of
food safety. The development of DNA probes for genetic diseases is raising
medical and ethical questions that must be addressed by the medical
community, whose ultimate responsibility must be to see that this new
technology is used wisely, appropriately, and correctly.