Dr Bensimon also expects that molecular combing will come in handy for those mapping the human genome.

ECONOMIST: Let��s get this straight

But Dr Bensimon's work has certainly made the task of disentangling tiny molecular structures less hair-raising than it used to be.

ECONOMIST: Let��s get this straight

In recent experiments carried out by Chiara Conti and other members of Dr Bensimon's team, molecular combing was used to identify a genetic defect responsible for cancer of the kidney, which is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early (and therefore treatable) stages.

ECONOMIST: Let��s get this straight