Without PCR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCR) almost none of the biotech research of the past 20 years would have been possibl

Without PCR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCR) almost none of the biotech research of the past 20 years would have been possible. In the past few years PCR has got absurdly fast and convenient. I think RT-PCR is kind of mind-blowing. You can get an off-the-shelf solution that will (in about half an hour) screen your blood for a set of known virii. Or snoop or your food for toxins. Or whatever else you want to do with DNA...