GENETICS OF BONE BIOLOGY AND SKELETAL DISEASE

Bone disorders are common and represent a major burden on health economic costs. Our understanding of bone development has had tremendous advances in the last ten years due primarily to focusing on genetics. For example, osteoporosis and related fractures are the leading cause of hospital admission in women over the age of 50 years, and 80% of adults over 55 years of age will suffer from osteoarthritis. Treatments of some metabolic disorders have been greatly improved by an increased understanding of bone biology which has been facilitated by advances in unravelling the genetics underlying bone disorders. These interactions between bone biology / physiology and genetics have also greatly enhanced the understanding of normal bone function as well as the molecular pathogenesis of metabolic bone disorders. The purpose of this book is to identify and analyse the genetic basis of bone disorders in humans and to demonstrate the utility of mouse models in furthering the knowledge of mechanisms and evaluations of treatments. The book is aimed at all students of bone biology and genetics and with this in mind it includes general introductory chapters on genetics and bone biology; and more specific disease orientated chapters, which comprehensively summarize the clinical, genetic, molecular genetic, animal model, functional and molecular pathology, diagnostic, counselling and treatment aspects of each disorder. Imagem Meramente Ilustrativa.