From Genes to Genomes: Chances and boundaries of the New Biology

The goal of my lecture is to show the new dimensions of genome research. It is replacing classic recombinant DNA technologies. The search for single genes is being replaced by the analysis of gene activities of whole cells, organs or organisms. This development changes radically basic biomedical research and points to new therapeutic strategies (examples:cancer,Alzheimer's disease). I will also show the rapid changes of our understanding of gene activity. Mendel's definition of genes is now replaced by molecular terms which teach us how gene expression is regulated and controlled. Finally I will try to outline the limits of genetic analysis and how it raises ethical and moral questions. If the analysis of changes in the genetic read-out are related to diseases for which there is no therapy or if such knowledge only predisposes to genetic diseases the handling of such information requires extraordinary care. The genome projects thus have to be and are being pursued in conjunction with careful ethical analyses and assessments.