| Medical Genetics |
Article Index for Medical |
Website Links For Medical |
Information AboutMedical Genetics |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MEDICAL GENETICS | |
| medical specialties | |
| medical geneticsmedical specialties | |
| medical genetics | |
| genetics | |
| medical specialties | |
|
Each of the individual fields within medical genetics is a hybrid. Clinical genetics is a hybrid of clinical medicine with genetics. Biochemical genetics is a hybrid of biochemistry, mainly the biochemistry of Amino Acids and Proteins , with genetics. Molecular genetics is a hybrid of the biochemistry of DNA and RNA with genetics. Cytogenetics is a hybrid of Cytology and genetics; it involves the study of Chromosomes under the microscope. And genetic counseling is a hybrid of genetics with nondirectional counseling. Nomenclature Human Genetics differs from medical genetics in that human genetics may or may not apply to medicine. Medical genetics always applies to medicine. The study of Huntington Disease (the progressive neurologic disease from which the folksinger Woody Guthrie died) is properly part of both human genetics and medical genetics, whereas the study of eye color (except in situations such as albinism) is part of human genetics but not medical genetics. Genetic Medicine is a newer (and some would say more fitting) term for medical genetics. A Short History Although genetics has its roots back in the 19th century with the work of the Bohemian monk Gregor Mendel and other pioneering scientists, human genetics came along somewhat later. It started to develop, albeit slowly, during the first half of the 20th century . Mendelian (single-gene) inheritance was studied in a number of inmportant disorders such as albinism, Brachydactyly (short fingers and toes), and Hemophilia . Mathematical appoaches were also devised and applied to human genetics. Population Genetics was created. Medical genetics was a late bloomer. It emerged largely after the close of World War II (1945) when the Eugenics movement fell into disrepute. The Nazi misuse of eugenics sounded its death knell. Shorn of eugenics, a scientific approach could be taken and was taken to human and medical genetics. Medical genetics saw an increasingly rapid rise in the second half of the 20th century and now in the 21st century. Organizations The more scientific approach to human and medical genetics was formalized by the founding in 1948 of the American Society Of Human Genetics . The Society first began meeting annually that year (1948) and its international counterpart, the International Congress Of Human Genetics , began meeting (every 5 years) in 1956. Medical genetics is now recognized as a distinct medical specialty with its own approved board (the American Board Of Medical Genetics ) and clinical specialty college (the American College Of Medical Genetics ). |
|
|