ABSTRACT
The development of sophisticated and powerful recombinant techniques for manipulating and analyzing genetic material has led to the emergence of a new biologic discipline, often termed molecular biology. The tools of molecular biology have enabled scientists to begin to understand many of the fundamental processes of life, generally through the identification, isolation, and structural and functional analysis of individual or, at best, limited numbers of genes. Biology is now at a point where it is feasible to begin a more ambitious endeavor — the complete genetic analysis of entire genomes. Genome analysis aims not only to identify and molecularly characterize all the genes that orchestrate the development of an organism but also to understand the complex and interactive regulatory mechanisms of these genes, their organization in the genome, and the role of genetic variation in disease, adaptability, and individuality. Additionally, the study of homologous genetic regions across species can provide important insight into their evolutionary history.
