LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
561
reliable technique of paternity diagnosis despite current laws and practices such as in Germany and Denmark [8]. A. LANGANEY' AND G. PISON2 REFERENCES 1. CHAKRABORTY R, SHAW M, SCHULL WJ: Exclusion of paternity: the current state of the art. Am J Hum Genet 26:477-488, 1974 2. JAcQUARD A, SALMON D: Sur le diagnostic de paternite. Population 26:677-690, 1971 3. SALMON D, JAcQUARD A: Existe-t-il une probabilite de paternite? Med Leg Domm Corpor (Paris) 4:348-350, 1971 4. LANGANEY A, NADOT R. Detection automatique des anomalies de transmission gen'tique. Ann Genet (Paris) 16:247-253, 1973 5. LANGANEY A: Clos du Doubs: genealogies and blood typing. In preparation 6. PISON G, LANGANEY A: Du mauvais usage des mathematiques: les decisions d'apres des probabilites de paternite. Soc Sci Inf 14:91-105, 1975 7. PISON G, LANGANEY A: Arguments against paternity probability diagnosis: the Clos du Doubs example. In preparation 8. HENNINGSEN K: On blood group examination in cases of disputed paternity in Denmark. Table ronde "Recherche de Patemite," LieZge, 1974. In press, 1975 1 Institut d'Anthropologie, Universit6 de Geneve, and Laboratoire d'Anthropologie du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Musee de 1'Homme, 75116 Paris. 2 Departement de Genetique, Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques, Paris.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF ABNORMAL KARYOTYPES
To the Editor: We have established an International Registry of Abnormal Karyotypes. For inclusion in the registry the data should include information on the person(s) reporting the case, the chromosomal variation or abnormality in as much detail as possible as to the region and band of the chromosome(s) [1], and the case number of the laboratory. The latter item is included to avoid duplication of the data in multiple publications, to facilitate further communications about the case, and to protect the confidential nature of the data. The registry has been computerized. From the data in the registry it will be possible to readily obtain information on any abnormality and to sort data by chromosome, type of abnormality, and location of the reporting laboratory. It is planned to provide computer printouts of the registry two or three times a year at cost. The registry is organized in sections, each headed by an entry number as in the catalog of published chromosomal variants and aberrations also maintained by this department [2, 3]. The entry number has as its first two characters the chromosome number; the third character represents the chromosome arm; and the fourth, fifth, and sixth characters refer to the region, band, and subband. Within each section all reports are arranged alphabetically by first author.
562
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The registry has been established with a view to facilitating access to data which now lie buried in laboratory files. Through the registry these data will be available for such purposes as planning collective studies on specific chromosomal abnormalities, clinically delineating isolated cases with rare chromosomal anomalies, and using cell lines with chromosomal rearrangements in regional gene assignments. A registry of abnormal karyotypes is a desirable compilation from many points of view. For example, the total range and extent of abnormalities for a chromosome or a band would be available at a glance. From a public health point of view such a registry ought to be of some help in proper planning of facilities such as amniocentesis clinics, genetic counseling centers, and management institutions. It is hoped that the system adopted in arranging the data may be used to catalog mammalian X chromosomes, breakpoints in different species such as the house mouse, Mus musculus, for which the chromosome regions have now been well defined. Preliminary financial support for this effort has been received from the National Foundation-March of Dimes and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. DIGAMBER S. BORGAONKAR DAVID R. BOLLING Division of Medical Genetics Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 21205 REFERENCES 1. PARIS CONFERENCE (1971): Standardization in human cytogenetics. Birth Defects: Orig Art Ser 8(7), New York, National Foundation, 1972 2. BORGAONKAR DS, BOLLING DR, PARTRIDGE C, RUDDLE FH, McKusIcK VA: Chromosomal variation in man: a catalog of chromosomal variants and anomalies. Short report, Rotterdam Conference, 1974. Birth Defects: Orig Art Ser. In press, 1975 3. BORGAONKAR DS: Chromosomal Variation in Man: A Catalog of Chromosomal Variants and Anomalies. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1975
561
reliable technique of paternity diagnosis despite current laws and practices such as in Germany and Denmark [8]. A. LANGANEY' AND G. PISON2 REFERENCES 1. CHAKRABORTY R, SHAW M, SCHULL WJ: Exclusion of paternity: the current state of the art. Am J Hum Genet 26:477-488, 1974 2. JAcQUARD A, SALMON D: Sur le diagnostic de paternite. Population 26:677-690, 1971 3. SALMON D, JAcQUARD A: Existe-t-il une probabilite de paternite? Med Leg Domm Corpor (Paris) 4:348-350, 1971 4. LANGANEY A, NADOT R. Detection automatique des anomalies de transmission gen'tique. Ann Genet (Paris) 16:247-253, 1973 5. LANGANEY A: Clos du Doubs: genealogies and blood typing. In preparation 6. PISON G, LANGANEY A: Du mauvais usage des mathematiques: les decisions d'apres des probabilites de paternite. Soc Sci Inf 14:91-105, 1975 7. PISON G, LANGANEY A: Arguments against paternity probability diagnosis: the Clos du Doubs example. In preparation 8. HENNINGSEN K: On blood group examination in cases of disputed paternity in Denmark. Table ronde "Recherche de Patemite," LieZge, 1974. In press, 1975 1 Institut d'Anthropologie, Universit6 de Geneve, and Laboratoire d'Anthropologie du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Musee de 1'Homme, 75116 Paris. 2 Departement de Genetique, Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques, Paris.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF ABNORMAL KARYOTYPES
To the Editor: We have established an International Registry of Abnormal Karyotypes. For inclusion in the registry the data should include information on the person(s) reporting the case, the chromosomal variation or abnormality in as much detail as possible as to the region and band of the chromosome(s) [1], and the case number of the laboratory. The latter item is included to avoid duplication of the data in multiple publications, to facilitate further communications about the case, and to protect the confidential nature of the data. The registry has been computerized. From the data in the registry it will be possible to readily obtain information on any abnormality and to sort data by chromosome, type of abnormality, and location of the reporting laboratory. It is planned to provide computer printouts of the registry two or three times a year at cost. The registry is organized in sections, each headed by an entry number as in the catalog of published chromosomal variants and aberrations also maintained by this department [2, 3]. The entry number has as its first two characters the chromosome number; the third character represents the chromosome arm; and the fourth, fifth, and sixth characters refer to the region, band, and subband. Within each section all reports are arranged alphabetically by first author.
562
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The registry has been established with a view to facilitating access to data which now lie buried in laboratory files. Through the registry these data will be available for such purposes as planning collective studies on specific chromosomal abnormalities, clinically delineating isolated cases with rare chromosomal anomalies, and using cell lines with chromosomal rearrangements in regional gene assignments. A registry of abnormal karyotypes is a desirable compilation from many points of view. For example, the total range and extent of abnormalities for a chromosome or a band would be available at a glance. From a public health point of view such a registry ought to be of some help in proper planning of facilities such as amniocentesis clinics, genetic counseling centers, and management institutions. It is hoped that the system adopted in arranging the data may be used to catalog mammalian X chromosomes, breakpoints in different species such as the house mouse, Mus musculus, for which the chromosome regions have now been well defined. Preliminary financial support for this effort has been received from the National Foundation-March of Dimes and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. DIGAMBER S. BORGAONKAR DAVID R. BOLLING Division of Medical Genetics Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 21205 REFERENCES 1. PARIS CONFERENCE (1971): Standardization in human cytogenetics. Birth Defects: Orig Art Ser 8(7), New York, National Foundation, 1972 2. BORGAONKAR DS, BOLLING DR, PARTRIDGE C, RUDDLE FH, McKusIcK VA: Chromosomal variation in man: a catalog of chromosomal variants and anomalies. Short report, Rotterdam Conference, 1974. Birth Defects: Orig Art Ser. In press, 1975 3. BORGAONKAR DS: Chromosomal Variation in Man: A Catalog of Chromosomal Variants and Anomalies. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1975
