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The polymerase chain reaction: Miracle or mirage? A critical review of its uses and limitations in diagnosis and research
Author(s) -
Wright Pat A.,
WynfordThomas David
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711620203
Subject(s) - polymerase chain reaction , miracle , diagnostic test , computational biology , medicine , medical physics , biology , computer science , genetics , pediatrics , political science , law , gene
Since publication of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in 1985 (Saiki et al. Science 1985; 230 : 1350–1354), there has been an explosion of reports on its use in medicine and science. We critically review its use both as a diagnostic technique and as a research tool, and show the pathologist how to evaluate PCR data and how to avoid the pitfalls of overinterpretation. We discuss the value of PCR in the characterization of genetic defects, prenatal diagnosis, carrier testing, H LA typing, detecting micro‐organisms, identifying activated oncogenes, and in the characterization of leukaemias and lymphomas, and summarize the main applications in biomedical research.