Genetic Disorders

The Genetic Disorders website (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/), provided by the University of Utah is a free, comprehensive learing tool for understanding the definitions and different types of genetic disorders. It is truly a one stop shop for information about genetic disorders, including how to contact a genetic counselor and possible obtain genetic testing.

The site is exceptionally simple and easy to navigate, with two basic columns of visually appealing links entitled: "What are genetic disorders?" and "Issues in health." The links on the former offers drill down to specific examples of each disorder. Huntington's and Sickle Cell Diseases are under Single Gene Disorders, for which "the protein the gene codes for is either altered or missing". Down Syndrome and Turn syndrome are under Chromosomal Abnormalities for which "entire chromosomes, or large segments of them, are missing, duplicated, or otherwise altered". Alzheimer's Disease, breast and colon cancer fall under Multifactorial Disorders where "variations in multiple genes, often coupled with environmental causes" are the culprits.

Each of the disorder categories list between 4 and 12 specific, example disease pages. Drilling down into each of disease page offers a detailed and comprehensive look at the disorder, defining it in detail with graphics about the loci or specific chromosome abnormality, but most importantly it asks and answers key questions: What are the symptoms? What is the disorder? How do you get it? What therapies/treatments exist? How is it diagnosed? And finally, statistics about the disorder and whom it affects..

The rest of the site is less about education and more about information about genetic counseling and how to seek it. There also a link for “New born genetic screening”; which is an insightful page about the science, including about video describing the process and what information about abnormal chromosome can be provided to expecting parents.

The Genetic Disorders web site at the University of Utah is a great educational resource for genetic disorders. It explains each type of disorder by example. With each example going into vibrant detail about the cause and effect, all to great visual effect. In addition, the site provides information about what a genetic counselor is and how to see the advice of one. The site is exceptionally simple and easy to navigate, all while providing a wealth of information.

Genetic Disorders. University of Utah, n.d., learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/. Accessed Web. 17 Nov. 2016.