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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune disease with a strong genetic contribution to its pathogenesis. Genetic factors account for the majority of population susceptibility to this disease. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a cluster of genes located on the short arm of chromosome 6 between bands 6p21.31 and 6p32, spans a DNA segment of about 4000 kbp, and represents about 1% of the whole genome in Human. The HLA complex contains over 200 genes, more than 40 of which encode leukocyte antigens. It's polygenic. There are several genes for each class of molecule, and polymorphic, large number of alleles exists in the population for each of the genes. The HLA molecules have been suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as RA, Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, and Multiple Sclerosis.
About the author
Assist Prof. Hanaa N. Abdullah is a Ph.D. degree in Immunogenetics. Dr. Abdullah has taught Genetics and Immunology. Amina N. Al-Thwani is Professor in Genetic Eng.and Biotechnology for postgraduates and a Ph.D. in Immunogenetics. Mohammed I.Nader is a Professor in Genetic Eng.and Biotechnology for postgraduate and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology.
Summary
What is it really like to grow up with gay parents?
Abigail Garner was five years old when her mother and father divorced and her dad came out as gay. Growing up immersed in gay culture, she now calls herself a "culturally queer" heterosexual woman. As a child, she often found herself in the middle of the political and moral debates surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parenting. At the age of twenty-two, she began to speak publicly about her family and has since become a nationally recognized advocate for the estimated 10 million children growing up with LGBT parents. The creator of FamiliesLikeMine.com, Garner has written a deeply personal and much-needed book about gay parenting, from the seldom-heard perspective of grown children raised in these families.
Based on eight years of activism, combined with interviews with more than fifty sons and daughters, Families Like Mine debunks the anti-gay myth that these children grow up damaged and confused. At the same time, Garner's book refutes the popular pro-gay sentiment that these children turn out "just like everyone else." In addition to the typical stresses of growing up, the unique pressures these children face are not due to their parents' sexuality, but rather to homophobia and prejudice. Using a rich blend of journalism and memoir, Garner offers empathetic yet unapologetic opinions about the gifts and challenges of being raised in families that are often labeled "controversial."
As more LGBT people are pursuing parenthood and as the visibility of gay parenting is rapidly increasing, many of the questions about these families focus on the "best interests" of their children. Eloquent and sophisticated, Families LikeMine addresses these questions, providing an invaluable insider's perspective for LGBT parents, their families, and their allies.
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"Garner is savvy and thorough.Families Like Mine has enough heart.to make it a must-read."
