Fundamentals of Genetic Epidemiology meets the need for a sophisticated approach to the investigation of the causes of complex chronic diseases. This integrated text describes the principles, methods, and approaches of epidemiology and genetics in the study of disease etiology. It provides an historical overview of genetics and epidemiology and their gradual rapprochement, describing the fundamental research strategies of genetic epidemiology including population and family studies. The authors also illustrate the increasing importance of genetic epidemiology in its application to preventive medicine, public health surveillance and the emerging ethical issues regarding the use of genetic information in society.

With the accelerating discovery of human genes, public health professionals are increasingly confronted with a large body of scientific information that will guide public health action. Because the broad mission of public health is to fulfill society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy, the integration of new genetic information in public health research, policy and program development is unavoidable. Public health leadership is urgently needed to use genetic information to improve health and prevent disease, and to address ethical, legal and social issues resulting from inappropriate use of such information. In the not too-distant future, disease prevention and health promotion programs will routinely consider whether or not to use genetic information to help target behavioral, medical or environmental intervention activities in order to maximize benefit and minimize costs and harm to individuals. In anticipation of the expected growth at the interface of genetics and public health, this book delineates a framework for the integration of advances in human genetics into public health practice. It provides a comprehensive review of public health genetics, including chapters on important general issues such as newborn and other genetic screening, the delivery of genetic services, and the ethical, legal and social implications of the use of genetics within public health. It also reviews relevant clinical topics, the historical background, cross-cultural aspects, and communication issues. Contributors come from a wide range of fields including epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management, health services research, behavioral and social sciences, ethics, law, health economics, and laboratory sciences.