Includes bibliographical references and index.

Genetics: Global Challenge, Regional Focus: Advances in Community and Preventive Genetics / Al-Gazali, L.; Eapen, V. -- Community Genetics: A Bridge between Clinical Genetics and Public Health / ten Kate, L.P. -- Genetics and Global Health Care / Raeburn, S. -- Endogamy, Consanguinity and Community Disease Profiles / Bittles, A.H. -- Genetic Diversity among the Arabs / Teebi, A.S.; Teebi, S. A. -- Common Autosomal Recessive Diseases in Oman - Derived from a Hospital-Based Registry / Rajab, A.; Bappal, B.; Al-Shaikh, H.; Al-Khusaibi, S. ; Mohammed, A.J. -- Genetic Contribution to High Neonatally Lethal Malformation Rate in the United Arab Emirates / Dawodu, A.; Al-Gazali, L.; Varady, E.; Varghese, M.; Nath, K.; Rajan, V. -- Molecular Heterogeneity of Beta-Thalassemia in the United Arab Emirates / Baysal, E. -- DNA Diagnosis of Single Gene Disorders in Patients of Non-European Origin: Experience from Kuwait / Samilchuk, E. -- Recently Available Techniques Applicable to Genetic Problems in the Middle East / Ozand, P.T.; Al Odaib, A.; Sakati, N.; Al-Hellani, A.M. -- Attitudes toward Genetic Counseling in the United Arab Emirates / Al-Gazali, L.I. -- Campaign to Control Genetic Blood Diseases in Bahrain / Al Arrayed, S. -- A Family Study in Oman: Large, Consanguineous, Polygamous Omani Arab Pedigrees. A Planned Model for the Study of Complex Diseases / Hassan, M.O.; Albarwani, S.; Al Yahyaee, S.; Al Haddabi, S.; Rizwi, S.; Jaffer, A.; Al-Lawati, J. ; Cai, G.; Anthony, G.; Comuzzie, A.G. ; Bayoumi, R.A. -- Familial Predictors of Childhood Shyness: A Study of the United Arab Emirates Population / Eapen, V. Ghubash, R. ; Salem, M.O.; Sabri, S.

Clinical genetics and public health differ in their subjects. Community genetics combines the best from clinical genetics and public health. It shares with clinical genetics its aim of empowerment, its methods of information and support, its outcome measures and its possibility to handle sensitive issues. It has in common with public health its subjects; the origin of its initiatives, and non-reproductive prevention. In general, communities can be defined at different levels: geographically, linguistically, socially or genetically. Genetic communities can also be defined at different levels: on the basis of common heritage, on the basis of common practice, or on the basis of common problems. Arab nations have some of the highest rates of genetic disorders in the world, according to the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS). More than 900 different genetic diseases have been identified, around 200 of them prevalent only within the Gulf Cooperation Council states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). The figures appear to include diabetes and breast cancer; it is worth noting that the majority of cases of these conditions arise from a combination of environmental and genetic factors and are not technically 'genetic diseases', although genetic susceptibility to such conditions can be significant. There are additionally sub-groups of these diseases that are effectively inherited as single-gene disorders.