Acknowledgements

I am immensely grateful to the following people, all of whom have contributed to the development of Genes and you in some way. Their support has been an inspiration. Many thanks too to all those who provided technical advice or commented on my original draft. Their input has been vital to the success of the project, although I would like to emphasise that responsibility for any inaccuracies lies solely with the author.
(Director, Genetic Interest Group)

Susan Bevington, Galactosaemia Support Group, Peter Brown, The Haemophilia Society, David and Julie Chandler, Psoriatic Arthropathy, Alliance (PAA, John Dart, Dystrophic' Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DEBRA), Gareth Davies, Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA), Jonathan Farrow, Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults (ACFA) Helen Froyd, Breast Cancer Care, Lesley Greene, Research Trust for Metabolic Diseases in Children (RTMDC) Mary Guest, Usher Syndrome Services

Theo Harris, The Sickle Cell Society Marion Lesage, Vitiligo Society Drina Parker, Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl Society (LMBBS) Honor Rawlings and Ros Smith, Restricted Growth Association, Margaret Read, CMT International UK Wendy Roberts, The Association for Glycogen Storage Disease (UK) Sarah Rutter, Down's Syndrome Association, Cath Stanley, Huntington's Disease Association, Roberta Tweedy, The Neurofibromatosis Association, Morna Wilson, Brittle Bone Society, Katie Yiannikou, UK Thalassaemia Society, Mrs. A. Corellis, St. Richard Gwyn RC School, Ms. B. David, Glan Ely High School, Mrs. S. Gates, Haydon School Mr. P. Heron and Miss P.G. Mason, Mary Linwood ,School, Ms. S. Huda and Mrs. S. Hughes, Bordesley Green Girls' School, Dr. E. Jones, Mrs M. Anderton and Mrs. E. Parkin, Nottingham High School for Girls, Mrs. M.J. Lawrence, Palmers Green High School, Dr. F. Meek and Mrs. H. Phillips, Harvington School, M. J. Mellor, Moorside High School, Mr. J. Morris, Cardiff High School, Mrs. M. Richards, Radyr Comprehensive School, Dr. R.G. Steane, Salesian College, Dr. Micheala Aldred, M r. Elizabeth Anionwu, Jane Belman, Wendy Chorley, Shirley Dalby, Peter Finegold, John Gillott, Hifsa Haroon-lqbal, Dee Heaps, Yalda Jamshid, Dr. Jill Kent, Professor Anna Kessling, Marion McTair, Shirley Quemby, Jane Rybar, Asfa Salim, Dr. Barbara Skene, Jennifer Wiggins, Illustrations by Roger Hood.

Particular thanks to the young people who talked to me so openly about their lives. They include Amit, Andy, Chris, Dianne, Emma, Janet, Joanne, Kate, Matthew, Richard, Roger, Sonia, Stephanie, Steven and Sue.