Praise for the previous edition: "...recommended for college, university, and public libraries."--;Choice "...an excellent, definitive, authoritative and reliable all-in-one reference which provides the very latest health information."--;Midwest Book Review In recent years, doctors and scientists have made great strides in increasing our knowledge of hundreds of genetic disorders. Many serious disorders have now been identified as having a genetic basis, and treatment for birth defects has improved substantially. The Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects, Third Edition offers lay readers and professionals alike the most comprehensive single-volume reference to congenital disorders and birth defects. This accessible volume contains more than 1,000 expertly written entries--;including 141 new or revised, extensive appendixes providing updated tables of statistics and directories of service and support groups, and a concise introductory history of human genetics. This new edition has been extensively updated to reflect the most current research. Topics include: *Albinism *Chromosomal abnormalities *Ethical issues in genetics *Genetic linkage *Heart defects *Muscular dystrophy *Phenylketonuria *Radial defects *Spina bifida *X chromosome and Y chromosome.