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Genetics Home Reference Merged into MedlinePlus

Genetics Home Reference Merged into MedlinePlus. NLM Tech Bull. 2020 Sept-Oct;(436):e1.

September 02, 2020 [posted]

As of October 1, 2020, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) will no longer offer Genetics Home Reference as a stand-alone website. Most of the content from Genetics Home Reference will be available in MedlinePlus, the NLM flagship website for health information for patients, families, and the general public. Please visit https://medlineplus.gov/genetics to access genetics content in MedlinePlus.

The decision to merge Genetics Home Reference into MedlinePlus is in line with our commitment to the NLM Strategic Plan 2017-2027: A Platform for Biomedical Discovery and Data-Powered Health.  This change is also part of the initiative to align and consolidate the Library's consumer health information to make it easier for online health information seekers to find and navigate trusted health information from NLM.

The genetics section of MedlinePlus includes information on more than 1300 genetic conditions, 1475 genes, all of the human chromosomes, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). There you will also find the Help Me Understand Genetics primer, which offers a basic explanation of how genes work and how mutations cause disorders, as well as current information about genetic testing, gene therapy, genetics research, and precision medicine. As knowledge of the genetic basis of diseases steadily increases and genetic testing becomes more prevalent, MedlinePlus will continue to produce reliable genetic disease information.

Starting on October 1, 2020, the URLs for Genetics Home Reference content that has been integrated will redirect to the corresponding pages on MedlinePlus. Additionally, selected information from Genetics Home Reference will be available via data files and API, and via MedlinePlus Connect.

Additional information is available on the MedlinePlus is the New Home of Genetics Home Reference page.

NLM welcomes feedback on its products and services. Please contact the NLM Support Center with any questions.