Molecular medicine: a primer for clinicians. Part I. Essential concepts of human gene expression.

Molecular medicine refers to the application of the tools of modern molecular biology to the practice of medicine. The impact of molecular medicine will be increasingly felt by the practicing clinician as increased understanding of disease etiology, significantly improved diagnostic methods and patient care techniques designed to affect a cure rather than treat symptoms. This first paper in an on-going series provides a basic review of human gene expression as a framework for understanding how molecular medicine is irreversibly altering how clinicians will practice medicine. Subsequent papers will detail the application of molecular biology's tools to the practice of medicine.