Progress in Medical Genetics

Over the past decade, medical genetics has emerged as an important and powerful medical speciality with increasing appreciation of its role and function among the medical specialities. This emergence is related to a great extent to the progress in the Human Genome Project which promises wide ranging applications in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases. Nevertheless, discussions about the role of genetics in preventive medicine and public health rightfully lead to ethical, legal and social concerns about general applicability of genetic testing in the population. The interpretation of the word prevention in the context of genetic diseases leads to the unavoidable discussions of genetic engineering, prenatal diagnosis and selective termination, as well as broader concerns about discrimination in health care coverage, employment and in society.