GALLIERA GENETIC BANK: DNA, CELL AND TISSUE BANK

The "Galliera Genetic Bank" of the Human Genetic Laboratory - Galliera Hospital in Genoa, started in 1983.Since then, several cases of human genetic diseases, identified in pre and postnatal diagnosis, have been collected.A large increase in samples stored has been registered during the last years due to the always growing level activity of the Laboratory of Human Genetics, from other laboratories and from collaborations to different research projects.To date the bank are stores: amniotic fluid, trophoblast and fibroblast cell cultures, lymphocytes, lymphoblastoid cell lines, skin biopsies, chorionic villi, fetal tissues, DNA and RNA samples of subjects affected from different genetic diseases.The genetic disorders mostly represented in the GGB bank are: Down S., chromosome rearrangements, Fragile X S., mental retardation nd, epilepsy, skeletal dysplasias, deafness, Sotos S. Moreover there are samples of rare genetic diseases as: IPEX, Aarskog s., FRAXE, Bor S.Sample data are collected in a database with information referring to code number, personal data, diagnosis and type of biological material. An informed consent was obtained from donors or their legal representatives. Personal details are always kept confidential., according to Legislation on Privacy (D.L. 196 30/6/2003).All the information regarding GGB collection and services (distribution, storage, production of EBV cell lines, etc.) can be found at web site: http://ggb.galliera.it. All cases stored are available free of charge on request. The aims of GGB are:-to support research aiming to identify the molecular mechanisms that cause genetic diseases thus offering a service to researchers for the development of their studies-to offer a service to patients affected from genetic diseases still undiagnosed, and their families, in order to evaluate reproduction risks of carriers, make possible to perform retrospective studies , genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.