title: [DNA diagnosis and laboratory tests].
abstract: Recent progresses in DNA technology have made DNA diagnosis possible in clinical laboratories. The diagnosis is characterized by a potential to unveil genetic abnormalities and dispositions in the absence of symptoms, using any tissues not directly affected. Routinization of DNA diagnosis requires nonradioactive probes with sufficient sensitivities for detection and automated systems to use them. These requirements are being met by the latest technology such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and time-controlled temperature cyclers. Nonradioactive probes commercially available today, as tested in our laboratory, are not sensitive enough for practical use in single-copy gene analysis, unless combined with PCR. DNA diagnosis is extending to analyses of cDNA or mRNA. Our recent studies using a Northern blot technique and a ribonuclease protection assay indicated that the expression of mRNAs for those amyloid beta-protein precursors that harbor a protease inhibitor increases in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D000682:Amyloid / Q000235:genetics*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA