Dr. Passarge has an international reputation for his extensive studies in clinical genetics. In this book, translated from the 1994 German edition, he aims to describe the current status of genetics, especially medical genetics, at a level appropriate to students but also as an orientation to the field for physicians, biologists, and others.
The book is organized as an atlas in which almost every double page carries colored illustrations on one page, with explanatory material, often little more than captions, on the facing page. The illustrations have been prepared as computer graphics by Jurgen Wirth, in collaboration with the author. The small page size (5 x 7.5 inches) must have presented a challenge to artist and author, although it does allow the book to fit into a lab coat pocket for ready reference.
The author states that his book should be considered a supplement to and not a substitute for a textbook. Viewed in that light, it is a useful addition to our bookshelves. It provides a short review of the history of genetics, fundamental genetics and cell biology, the principles of human genetics, and human genetic disorders, especially metabolic disorders. The book is made interesting and useful by the wide range of genetic subjects covered (even plants, which rarely make an appearance in medical genetics except for Mendel's work). Some sections seem particularly fresh and clear, e.g., the section on linkage and lod scores. Although the book's breadth and brevity result in a rather superficial coverage of many topics, the references given in each section direct readers to additional information. Surprisingly, in view of Dr. Passarge's own contributions, there are no references to the leading classics in the field of dysmorphogenesis, often the chief attraction of genetics for physicians. There is an extensive glossary of some 350 genetic terms.
Not all the hot topics in medical genetics are discussed or even mentioned. Imprinting, trinucleotide