According to the Human Genome Project, as well as numerous medical research groups, significant new findings on genetic disorders occur nearly every week. Information on many of these disorders, however, is extremely difficult to come by -- until now. The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders addresses the need for current, hard-to-find facts on these emerging discoveries. The 2-vol. Encyclopedia provides clear, complete information on genetic disorders, including conditions, tests, procedures, treatments and therapies, in articles that are both comprehensive and easy to understand in language accessible to laypersons. Students will want to consult the Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders for useful information on a range of well known disorders, including Down Syndrome, Trisomy, Hemophilia and Tourette Syndrome, and rarely seen diseases such as Meckel Syndrome, Neuraminidase Deficiency and Phenylketonuria. Presented in a single alphabetical sequence, entries range in length from 1,500 to 5,000 words. Entries relating to genetic disorders are presented in articles arranged in a standardised format for quick comparison and ease of use, while nondisorder topics are covered in detail with extended entries.

Articles contain some or all of the following sections:

Definitions -- brief dictionary-style definition of the disorder
Demographics -- statistics on the occurrence of the disorder within demographic groups
Descriptions -- overview of the disorder; who gets it and why
Diagnosis -- overview of prenatal and other genetic tests and procedures used to diagnose the condition. Normal and abnormal test results are described
Genetic Profile -- for those conditions where this information is known, the inheritance pattern, location of gene and other pertinent details are presented
Key terms -- technical and scientific terms used in the entry are defined
Prognosis -- probable outcome of the disease
Resources -- bibliographies or contact information are provided for books, Web sites, national organisations and support groups
Symptoms -- physical and mental signs of the disorder
Treatment & Management -- overview of conventional methods of care or management of the condition, such as medication, therapies and diets. Social and psychological methodologies, such as main-streaming, are also presented