前身為1951年由弗朗切蒂、拉米和范博格特共同創(chuàng)辦的《人類遺傳學(xué)》雜志，在38年的時(shí)間里，以法語發(fā)表了大量有關(guān)臨床和人類遺傳學(xué)的重要論文。為了建立一個(gè)更廣泛的國際投稿者和讀者論壇，新編輯委員會(huì)決定將《人類遺傳學(xué)》雜志納入一份新的英文雜志:《遺傳學(xué)咨詢》。在過去幾年中，遺傳咨詢對面臨不同類型遺傳疾病和/或先天性畸形的個(gè)人、夫婦和家庭的影響日益重要。有幾個(gè)原因促成了這一發(fā)展，即不同的遺傳技術(shù)的出現(xiàn)，更重要的是，公眾對診斷和預(yù)防遺傳疾病的興趣日益增加。基因咨詢的目的是結(jié)合《人類遺傳學(xué)》雜志，發(fā)表涉及該領(lǐng)域不同主題和問題的論文。除醫(yī)學(xué)方面外，還將高度重視社會(huì)心理和倫理問題。

Formerly Journal de Génétique Humaine founded in 1951 by Pr A. Franceschetti, M. Lamy and L. Van Bogaert, during 38 years this journal has published in French a large number of important contributions on different topics related to clinical and human genetics. With the aim of a broader international forum of contributors and readers the new editorial board decided to incorporate the Journal de Génétique Humaine in a new English language Journal: Genetic Counseling. During the past few years the impact of genetic counseling on individuals, couples and families confronted with different types of hereditary disorders, and/or congenital malformations has progressively become more important. Several reasons have contributed to this development, i.e. the advent of different genetic techniques and, even more important, the increasing interest of the public in diagnosis and prevention of genetic diseases. The purpose of Genetic Counseling, incorporating the Journal de Génétique Humaine, is to publish papers covering different topics and problems in the field. In addition to the medical aspects, much attention will be given to psychosocial and ethical problems.