Engineering in genomics-genetic disease diagnosis: challenges and opportunities

The following topics in genetic disease diagnosis are discussed: the characteristics of the ideal testing machine; accurate detection of any disease; studying any tissue; inexpensive/easy to run tests; regulatory agency approval; testing for predisposition to common diseases; getting started in genetic disease testing. The first conclusion one should draw from this discussion is that one cannot start to develop genetic testing devices by considering the machine first. All testing device development must start with an examination of the biology to be tested. Because of the many different kinds of genetic diseases at the molecular level, it is clear that a wide range of devices will be required