Introduction

Since the middle of the past century, we have witnessed an explosion of knowl-

edge in many fields that has served medicine exceptionally well. All the same,

prospects for further advances and progress are virtually infinite. The develop-

ment and completion of the Human Genome Project has led forward-looking

scientists and physicians to conceptualize and operationalize molecular therapies.

For these therapies to be fully effective, however, it will be necessary to identify

(and observe) the molecular disorders that need to be corrected and treated.