Abstract
A study of the ethnic distribution of families attending genetic clinics in Birmingham has shown a deficit of Afro-Caribbean and Pakistani families. The former may be because of a deficiency of autosomal recessive diseases other than sickle cell disease, but the numbers are too small to be certain of this. The deficit of Pakistani families is probably for a variety of causes, such as a poorer attendance rate at clinics unless there is some encouragement, and a lack of awareness of, or interest in, genetic issues.