August 2003

New Genetics Home Reference
New NIH Web Site Takes the Mystery Out of Genes, Chromosomes and DNA
by Melanie Modlin

What is a gene, exactly? And what's a chromosome? How does DNA come into this picture? And now that you're asking, how can it be that diseases like Alzheimer's and breast cancer are inherited in some cases, but not in all?

By now, most of us have heard and read about the mapping of the human genome — the "instructional manual," if you will, for a person. You probably have countless questions about the genome and other topics in genetics now that genes are making headlines on an almost daily basis.

A new web site from NIH's National Library of Medicine (NLM) called Genetics Home Reference, at http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov, is a great place to start looking for answers. Created for the general public, the site's explanations are straight and simple, and written in easily understandable, jargon-free English.

Many of you may grasp the basics of genetics but want to learn more. If you're the sort of person who remembers "a little from their high school biology class," you can take a quick refresher course by clicking the "Help Me Understand Genetics" page. There you will learn about, for example, how genes can be turned on and off in cells, what it means if a disorder seems to run in a family, and the principles of gene mutation.

If you have questions about a specific disease, you can browse by disease/condition or even by gene. If you type in "Alzheimer's disease," for instance, a page appears where the information is written in a question and answer format. You'll find out how people inherit Alzheimer's, the disease's symptoms, and what treatments are available. There's also a geographic listing of genetic counselors and information for caregivers. In addition, you can easily find details on the specific genes related to Alzheimer's.

Other features of the new web site are a glossary of genetic terms, links that take you to clinical trials related to the disorder you're researching, and more advanced genetic information. Genetics Home Reference will be adding genetic diseases on a regular basis, and the information will be updated as needed.

"The American public is increasingly turning to the Web for medical information," Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg, director of the National Library of Medicine, explains. "The launch of Genetics Home Reference was a logical step in making genetics and its relationship to disease more understandable to the general public."

More and more, genetics will become a key component of medicine and science. Many people already need to make life-altering decisions because of their genetic background. The biotechnology revolution is well underway and will unquestionably continue to alter medical practice. If you want a better grasp of genetics, here's your chance. Visit Genetics Home Reference at http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov.

— a report from The NIH Word on Health, August 2003

For more information, contact:
Melanie Modlin
Public Affairs Specialist
National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
301-496-7771 (phone)
301-496-7831 (fax)
mm354i@nih.gov