ELLSWORTH — The Center for Human Genetics will hold a free genetics clinic by appointment Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital.

According to Dr. Melba C. Wilson, director for the Center for Human Genetics in Bar Harbor, the clinic is a joint effort of area physicians and the staff from the center. The service is offered free of charge to Maine residents.

Some of the familial problems that have been brought to the attention of the clinic in the past, Wilson said, have included Down syndrome, many types of eye disease, early heart attacks, alcoholism, diabetes, hemophilia, cancer, cystic fibrosis, polycystic kidneys, icthyosis, Marfan syndrome, hemochromatosis, Huntington’s disease, Klinefelter’s syndrome, pending marriage between relatives, and exposure to drugs or pesticides.

Two topics which will be discussed on Saturday will be the fragile-X syndrome and the familial cancer of the colon.

Local health professionals who contribute their time and expertise to the genetics clinics benefit by receiving continued medical education credits, Wilson said. More than 20 professionals have been a part of the clinics during the past year.

Appointments for the clinic may be made by calling the Center for Human Genetics at 288-5815.