OMIA has been under construction since 1980. It contains references to publications on any trait or disorder for which familial inheritance has been claimed, except for a gap for the years 1982-88, which is gradually being filled. It does not contain sequence data. Each reference has been indexed to one or more phenes and/or genes, and to species. At present, an entry consists solely of references arranged chronologically for each phene in each species. Over the next few months, gene information will also be included and textual material will begin to appear, providing synonyms for phenes, summaries of current knowledge, clinical and diagnostic features and cross-references to other knowledgebases.
The compilers are aware of many inadequacies in the material presently available, but believe that it is still useful. Constructive suggestions for improvements will always be gratefully received.
* A phene is a word or words that identify a familial trait. For
single-locus traits, the word(s) correspond to one of the phenotypes that
arise from segregation at that locus. For example, CITRULLINAEMIA is the
phene for the ARGININOSUCCINATE SYNTHETASE locus; and FECUNDITY, BOOROOLA
is the phene for a locus that has not yet been identified at the
biochemical/molecular level. OMIA also includes multifactorial traits and
disorders. Thus, for example, HIP DYSPLASIA is a phene.