Ward, David

The meeting, Molecular Cytogenetics: Bridging the Resolution Gap, examined new strategies for handling and analyzing DNA intermediate in size between the DNAs studied by cytogenetics and by cloning techniques. It seems that although one can optimize techniques and strategies, a considerable element of luck is involved in finding a sought-after gene in kilobases of DNA.

The Future of DNA-based Diagnosis, funded by Helix Partners Inc., was held to review some of the new research strategies being developed to move these mutation detection systems into routine large-scale application. Thus, a number of talks discussed the use of robot systems to increase the reliability and speed of tests, and there was a critical evaulation of advances in DNA sequencing by hybridization.