Nussbaum R.L., McInnes R.R., Willard H.F., editors. Thomp-son & Thompson Genetics in Medicine, Sixth Edition.Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders; 2001:464 pages. Price:$45.00.

According to the preface in this text, the first edition ofGenetics In Medicine was published 35 years ago. (I think Iused the third edition when I took a Human Genetics coursein college.) It is one of the most commonly used geneticstextbooks in medical schools, and for good reason. Previouseditions have maintained a well-organized introduction ofbasic genetic topics. Given the rapid pace of advances ingenetic research, this textbook has necessarily undergonesignificant updating during the years. This latest edition willnot disappoint anyone. The authors have maintained theclear and presentable format that has made this a highly usedprimer, and now have added significant clinical component,in the form of 29 “Clinical Case Studies” in the midsectionof the book. These are two-page case presentations with abrief description of the pathogenesis and management of avariety of genetic disorders that run the gamut of inheritancepatterns. High-quality photographs, many in color, accom-pany these case scenarios. They will be useful to students inunderstanding the real-life impact of genetic disease, as wellas to clinicians who do not see these conditions on a regularbasis and to faculty who can use them for instructionalpurposes.

This book will be most useful to the medical student fora core course in medical genetics. However, the audiencewill easily include residents from virtually all specialties. Itshould be required reading for Ob-Gyn residents. Most fel-lows would likewise benefit from it as a starting point formore in-depth genetic texts and journals. The practicingphysician would do well to read this if he or she needs areintroduction to basic genetic principles, and descriptions ofgenetic analysis technologies.

The chapters are well-organized, concise, and easy tounderstand. There is a generous quantity of truly usefuldiagrams and photos. At the end of each chapter are twosections of References: a General References, which typi-cally lists authoritative genetics textbooks, or a particularchapter from such texts, and a References Specific to Par-

ticular Topics, which are relevant journal articles, many ascurrent as 1999. There are also a series of review questionsat the end of each chapter (with answers!) that place thechapter’s information into a clinically relevant context. An-other nice feature is the 15-page glossary at the end. Internetaddresses of useful web sites abound throughout the book.

As with all medical textbooks, new discoveries and tech-nologies are absent from this edition (which apparently wentto press shortly before completion of the Human GenomeProject). For example, there is no mention of microarraytechnology.

By necessity, some clinically important genetic condi-tions relevant to Ob-Gyn are given a superficial discussion.There is brief mention of the Rh factor, and its clinicalramifications in obstetrics, but without mentioning the Cc, D,and Ee antigens that are all part of the Rh factor. There is nomention of use of prenatal corticosteroids in the managementof pregnancies at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia, oneof the few genetic disorders for which prenatal therapy hasdocumented benefit. There is, however, mention of the re-cent developments in first trimester prenatal screening in theform of fetal nuchal translucency evaluation and measure-ment of serum markers.

It is hard to find fault with this time-proven and road-tested book. It more than meets its goal of providing “aframework for understanding the field of medical geneticswhile giving [them] a basis on which to establish a programof continuing education in this area.” Overall, this textbookhas an admirable selection of chapter topics, given the needto keep the total page number limited. The concluding chap-ter contains a useful discussion of some of the ethical andprivacy issues in the field facing not only geneticists, but alsoall practitioners. I recommend this book highly to anyoneneeding a solid starting point for general genetic informa-tion. It is modestly priced, and represents a truly good dealfor such an informative text.

Jeff Dungan, M.D.Assistant Professor, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, Texas

PII S0015-0282(02)03084-4

BOOK REVIEWFERTILITY AND STERILITY�VOL. 77, NO. 5, MAY 2002Copyright ©2002 American Society for Reproductive MedicinePublished by Elsevier Science Inc.Printed on acid-free paper in U.S.A.

1091