Molecular biologists at the University of Texas at Austin are exploring the role of Darwinian evolution in medicine, particularly in regard to the overuse of antibiotics in causing resistance to tuberculosis. The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston are studying alternative medicine - including evaluation of herbal and biopharmaceuticals espoused by some for cancer treatment. Studies are being reported on psychoneuroimmunology and its relation to disease. I n the last few years we have entered the age of super tests where diagnoses are made with nuclear magnetic imaging, positron emisson tomography, evoked potentials, and mapping of the brain. Childbirth has entered a new era with invitro fertilization, embryo transfer, surrogate mothers, sex selection, cloning, and fetal surgery.
Surgical techniques are minimally invasive and laparoscopic.
A laser's beam has been turned against many disease including cataracts, dermatologic disease, blocked arteries, endometriosis, enlarged prostates, and cancer. We've entered the world of genetic medicine with gene mapping, DNA probes, prenatal screening, gene therapy, genetically engineered natural drugs and vaccines, and genetic screening in the workplace. Mapping of the human genome with its 100,000 genes, the isolation of the expected 50,000 gene products by which genes carry out their functions, and elucidation of how these genes and products might be used for therapy are but a few goals of the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project is a 15 year project with several institutions working to elucidate the complete genetic blueprint of humans and several other organisms. A complete understanding of the human genetic blueprint will allow physicians to more efficiently identify genes associated with thousands of diseases.