title: Genes, patients, families, doctors-mutation analysis in clinical practice.
abstract: Developments in mutation analysis have led to significant benefits for patients with inherited metabolic disorders and their families. This is particularly the case where new methodologies have prevented the need for invasive tissue biopsies or have allowed carrier detection or first trimester prenatal testing to be undertaken. Whereas in the past it may have only been possible to identify specific 'common' mutations, the availability of techniques, such as automated sequencing, and novel technologies including mutation scanning techniques, multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification, and array technologies, have vastly improved the diagnostic efficiency of molecular testing.
authors.affiliation: Inherited Metabolic Disease, Willink Biochemical Genetics Unit, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester M27 4HA, UK john.walter@cmft.nhs.uk
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D020739:Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients; D010375:Pedigree; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011364:Professional Practice; D011368:Professional-Family Relations