[Molecular biology and medicine: basic concepts]. / Biología molecular y medicina: conceptos básicos.

ABSTRACT

Through the advancements of molecular genetics, physicians and researchers are in an extraordinary period of study concerning the molecular basis of medicine. Molecular biology is making a tremendous impact on both diagnosis and treatment of diseases through the clinical introduction of molecular methods. These techniques, restricted for many years to basic biological research, include the polymerase chain reaction, DNA and protein electrophoresis, cloning of genes into viral or bacterial vectors and methods to rapidly sequence DNA and identify mutations. In this article the authors attempt to provide basic concepts on these themes for the non-trained physicians in order to help them to understand recent developments and foresee their future implications.