ABSTRACT
Clinical genetics was confined to the study of rare and severe diseases such as Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis, which are caused by a single gene mutation and inherited in a simple Mendelian fashion. Genetic research at Glaxo Wellcome has two principle goals in terms of healthcare provision. Firstly, to enhance the understanding of common diseases with unmet medical needs and secondly, to understand the genetic basis of patients' responses to our medicines, such that treatment can be targeted to those likely to gain most benefit. The ethical, legal and social implications which arise include the potential for discrimination, the psychological impact on the patient and family, the implications for health care of patient and family and the need for pre- and post-test genetic counselling. The chapter presents the associations of genes and disease into three main groups: monogenic diseases, common complex diseases and infectious diseases.
