Oral

This stimulating session will present a wide range of issues in genetic, environmental and molecular epidemiology to participants. Presentations will include discussions of the relationships between air conditioning, particulate matter and health effect estimates, autism genetic meta-analysis, the interleukin-13 gene polymorphisms and allergies, family-based association studies of alcohol dependence, and the relation of the beta2 - adrenergic receptor genetic polymorphism to metabolic syndrome.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss the reasons why there is believed to be genetic linkage in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2. Evaluate the impact of birth order on the manifestation of allergic sensitization in childhood and adolescence. 3. Identify genetic variants associated with alcohol dependence and age at onset.