These days everyone is looking for genes. Grant money, media interviews, self-esteem, Nobel prizes, and lots of interesting biology lure researchers into molecular genetics, and diseases as diverse as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer will soon be mastered by brave new understanding. All true, but will it make any difference? Cystic fibrosis got there first, and 10 years after the discovery of the CF gene it is a good time to take stock. Compared with polygenic diseases, cystic fibrosis is easy and therefore paints the rosiest picture of what can be achieved by genetic research. If the CF gene has helped patients, then the discovery of genes associated with other diseases may do the same. The steps involved in the genetic revolution were well illustrated in a recent review article¹ as shown in fig 1.

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By sequencing the CF gene, the protein was deduced and found . . . [Full text of this article]