Molecular pathology is an emerging discipline within pathology which is focused on the use of nucleic acid-based techniques such as DNA sequencing, fluorescent in-situ hybridization, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and nucleic acid microarrays for specialised studies of disease. Molecular pathology shares some aspects of practice with both anatomic and clinical pathology, and is sometimes considered a "crossover" discipline. Applications are found in studies of both hereditary and acquired disorders including genetic diseases, malignant tumors, hematological diseases (leukemias and lymphomas), and infectious diseases. DNA testing is the most common method for identity testing with applications such as bone marrow engraftment monitoring, paternity testing, and forensic identification.
