Characterization of biomaterials

Mutagenesis is the underlying molecular mechanism through which natural selection acts and evolution progresses, creating the great genetic diversity seen on the planet. Since the middle of the twentieth century and the determination of the molecular structure of DNA, numerous methods have been developed to detect mutations at the molecular and chromosomal level. These methods have developed at a remarkable speed, and we now are approaching the point where entire genomes will be affordably sequenced, stored and analyzed, leading to a time when information of an individual’s genome becomes a standard activity in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease.