Human genetics

Human genetics became a predominant field of 20th-century science once techniques in molecular biology were applied to medical knowlege and to pedigree studies in families with inherited disease.

Development of human genetics as a field in medicine and clinical laboratory science

In the USA, "MD clinical geneticists comprise the primary medical specialist group trained and certified in clinical genetics, although their numbers are small when compared with other medical specialties. In 2005, there were only 1,178 board-certified MD clinical geneticists among the more than 697,000 board-certified physicians."(reference:Cooksey JA. Forte G. Benkendorf J. Blitzer MG. The state of the medical geneticist workforce: findings of the 2003 survey of American Board of Medical Genetics certified geneticists. Genetics in Medicine. 7(6):439-43, 2005 Jul-Aug. UI: 1602497)

Important leaders in human genetics

• James V. Neel

External links

American Board of Human Genetics http://genetics.faseb.org/genetics/abmg/abmgmenu.htm