APA Dictionary of Psychology

an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by progressive vision loss due to deterioration of the retina, leading to night blindness, loss of peripheral vision, and blurred central vision. Additional symptoms can include some degree of obesity, polydactyly (extra fingers or toes), hypogonadism (small testicles), intellectual developmental disorder, or developmental delay, and speech disability. At least 14 genes are known to be associated with Bardet–Biedl syndrome, with about 45% of cases caused by mutations of either the BBS1 or BBS10 gene. See also Laurence–Moon–Bardet–Biedl syndrome. [described in 1920 by George Bardet (1885–1970), French physician, and in 1922 by Artur Biedl (1869–1933), Romanian-born Austrian physician]