Much research has been conducted to identify the alphabet of the human cellular language otherwise known as the human genome. This identification or roadmap of the human genetic material has opened the door to the mainstreaming of molecular diagnostics within the clinical laboratory setting.

While the mapping of the human genome project is complete, many times it is not necessary to be able to identify the entire sequence; rather, we can use the specific portion of the code that is unique to the disease or condition in question.

These short portions of the genetic molecular sequence or oligonucleotides, can then be used as probes to seek out and detect or amplify the target sequence.