Molecular genetic approaches to cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal genetic disease of white populations. The underlying biochemical defect remains unknown, but recently polymorphic DNA markers linked to the cystic fibrosis gene have been discovered. These markers provide useful tools both for antenatal diagnosis and carrier detection, and for isolating the cystic fibrosis gene. In this paper we present data summarizing the results of retrospective and prospective antenatal series as well as a report on molecular approaches to isolation of the cystic fibrosis gene.