DNA chips

DNA chip technology is a growing industry that could revolutionise disease diagnosis. Current laboratory techniques for detecting genetic mutations responsible for disease are both time-consuming and expensive, whereas, a DNA chip - once developed - should only take minutes or, at most, hours to detect the gene mutations at the root of particular diseases. A handful of companies are working on developing DNA chips and a California-based company has launched three for research use. However, the eventual aim is to use them for diagnostic purposes. But the prospect of easy genetic screening for disease susceptibility raises some generic ethical issues, which include anxiety about the technology's use for non-medical predispositions.