The Italian Society of Human Genetics (SIGU) was set up on 14 November 1997, as a result of the merger of the pre-existing Italian Association of Medical Genetics and the Italian Association of Medical Cytogenetics, which simultaneously ceased their activities. In addition to the predominantly scientific objectives of the Association, the new Society proposes itself as a reference and advisory structure for problems of scientific and health interest concerning Human Genetics in all its aspects of application to man.