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Introduction: Molecular diagnostics is a modern
branch of science/biotechnology which helps in detecting
molecules specifically and at a very high sensitivity.
The application of which is in the area of prenatal
diagnosis, prognostics of diseased condition, forensic
medicine, normal diagnosis for infections and specially
in the diseased conditions like cancer and AIDS. At the
moment, unlike for bacterial and fungal diseases, no
chemicals exist that could be used as a direct field
control of viral or viroid diseases, and therefore the
early detection by means of sensitive diagnostic methods
is the main way to control them.
Applications
In case of prenatal conditions, prognostic approach can
lead in identifying the genetic predisposition of the
new comer to many diseased conditions. Many genetic
disorders can also be identified before the birth and
can be handled accordingly. Until very recently, only
methods based on the protein component of the viral
particle were routinely used in plant virus detection.
Among them, the serological ones (ELISA) are being used
due to their easy use, sensitivity and automation.
However, one disadvantage of serology lies in the fact
that, only 2-5% of the genetic information of viral
genomes, occurs as antigenic determinants on the surface
of the coat protein. The advent of molecular biology has
revolutionized the diagnosis of diseases. Modern
analyses based on the detection of nucleic acids (DNA
and RNA). In case of many diseases for which, it takes
long time to culture the cells to get the detectable
molecule in the required quantity, advanced molecular
diagnostic has made it faster as, the need of growing
cells for a required period of time is not necessary.
PCR like techniques can amplify the DNA/gene/RNA to the
detectable limit within minutes. In case of forensic
medicine, the sample sizes are so small to use them for
diagnostics. In this case also advanced techniques are
useful to target the culprit as they can easily amplify
the samples to be used.
In short these procedures have many advantages over the
routine used other methods:
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Detect viruses, bacteria, and parasites more rapidly
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Predict with very high sensitivity, precision and
accuracy
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Suitable to develop specific therapy
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It is time saving
Molecular diagnostics includes many techniques for
example: ELISA, RIA (radio immunoassay), immunoblotting,
FIA (florescence immunoassay), FISH (fluorescence in
situ hybridization), FACS, PCR, RT–PCR, molecular
hybridization, bhiochips and micro-arrays etc. In all
these, we target the presence/amount of proteins
(antigens) or Nucleic acid (RNA/DNA) in the sample. Like
many other areas, this technology also needs support
from other areas of science, for example: molecular
biology, bioinformatics, computer biology, biomedical
engineering, instrumentation, physiology, parasitology
and statistics etc., all these are required to perform
and finally analyze the desired the information.
The extraordinary progress made on the nucleic acid
research, during the last few years, and the application
of recombinant DNA technology to plant virology have
permitted using diagnostic methods based on the
nucleotide sequences of the genome component of viruses
and viroids. Some other fields of application are:
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