[Rinsho Byori 50 : 869`870, 2002]

Human Germline Genetic Tests : Present and Future - Chairmen's Introductory Remarks

Shinji KOSUGI, MD*1 and Kunikane UEDA, MD*2

We had a symposium on this subject in the Kinki sub-division of the Society of Japanese Clinical Pathology on June 8th at Kyoto because the laboratory tests in this field are now near the clinical application. We focused on the three major fields of genetic tests ; 1) neurodegenerative diseases as most typical Mendelian disorders, 2) diabetes mellitus as a typical common disease, and 3) familial tumor syndromes which can be prevented relatively easily by presymptomatic testing. Further, we also discussed the infrastructure for gene tests and ELSIs(ethical, legal and social issues) of the gene tests.

*2Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507

yKey Wordszneurodegenerative disorders, common diseases, familial tumor, ethical, legal and social issuesFELSI, genetic medicine