Molecular pathology

Molecular Pathology is a scientific discipline that encompasses the study of molecular mechanisms of disease. It is a multi-disciplinary field that integrates various aspects of biology, chemistry, and medicine to understand the nature of diseases at a molecular level.

Overview

Molecular pathology primarily focuses on the sub-microscopic aspects of disease. It involves the study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of molecules within organs, tissues, or bodily fluids. Molecular pathology shares some aspects of practice with both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology, genetics, and precision medicine.

Techniques

Molecular pathology employs several techniques such as in-situ hybridization, DNA sequencing, microarray, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

Applications

The applications of molecular pathology are vast and include the diagnosis of various diseases, predicting disease progression, and guiding therapies. It is particularly relevant in oncology, infectious diseases, pharmacogenetics, human genetics, and predictive testing.

Molecular Oncology

In oncology, molecular pathology is used to diagnose cancer and other tumors. It helps in identifying genetic alterations that lead to the development of cancer. Molecular pathology can also be used to determine the prognosis of a cancer patient and to predict the response to specific therapies.

Infectious Diseases

In the field of infectious diseases, molecular pathology is used to detect and identify infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. It can also be used to determine the susceptibility of the infectious agent to specific drugs.

Pharmacogenetics

In pharmacogenetics, molecular pathology is used to determine the genetic basis for the variation in response to drugs. It can help in predicting the efficacy and toxicity of a drug in a particular individual.

Human Genetics

In human genetics, molecular pathology is used to identify genetic disorders and to predict the risk of developing certain diseases. It can also be used to determine carrier status for certain genetic disorders.

Predictive Testing

In predictive testing, molecular pathology is used to identify individuals who have a genetic predisposition to certain diseases. It can help in early detection and prevention of diseases.