Recombinant DNA--potential for gene therapy.

Certainly, if progress in recombinant DNA technology continues at its present rate, we have every reason to expect many more major breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. Much of the progress from which we already benefit is not the increased understanding of just the molecular basis of genetic disease, but also of the molecular mechanisms of viral, bacterial, and parasite pathogenicity. Exploiting cloned antigens from pathogens to make vaccines is an ever expanding approach to preventive medicine. The other realm from which we already benefit is that in which we have bacteria produce large quantities of product from normal cloned genes, such as insulin, for treatment of patients deficient in that gene product. Although we cannot expect to eliminate some, or even treat all, genetic disease within the foreseeable future, it is quite clear that research in the area of genetic engineering has vast potential for improving the conditions of mankind.