Oceanic islands--a unique opportunity for medical research

Island populations have a great deal to offer the medical geneticist, ranging from the curiosity value of their individual diseases to the elucidation of the genetic contribution to aetiologies of specific disorders and the understanding of the complexity of morbidity patterns. In the light of our own experiences, upon which this article is based, we recommend oceanic islands to colleagues as a source of fruitful and rewarding research.