Large-Scale Analysis of Yeast and Human DNA 
of analytical biochemistry. Although the ultimate 
goal is fully automated methodology, the princi- 
ples that underlie DNA analysis are too poorly 
understood to support immediate instrumenta- 
tion development. One key will be to obtain a 
better grasp of the information flow that accom- 
panies the mapping and sequencing of DNA. In 
collaboration with Will Gillett (Washington Uni- 
versity), we have analyzed the computational 
problems posed by DNA-mapping methods in 
which large blocks of DNA are broken down into 
smaller segments by subcloning. Powerful, flexi- 
ble software devoted to this problem is under de- 
velopment. Parallel efforts to achieve a better un- 
derstanding of the experimental steps are also 
under way. 
It is difficult to overestimate the extent to 
which the analysis of DNA — cloning, mapping, 
and sequencing — has come to underlie progress 
in biology and biomedical research. Biological 
research has been driven by advances in method- 
ology, and the systematic analysis of DNA is one 
of the field's critical technologies. However, in 
proportion to the challenges posed by the genetic 
complexity and diversity of organisms, the devel- 
opment of this technology is still in its infancy. 
Dr. Olson is now Professor of Molecular Bio- 
technology at the University of Washington, 
Seattle. 
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