DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

#53 Ginger Nichols on MotherToBaby

Genetic counselor, Ginger Nichols, shares about what the MotherToBaby service offers (1-860-679-6199 for CT), her role as a genetic counselor, her expertise of the impact of the Zika Virus on pregnancy, the recommendation of flu shots for pregnant women, the effect of drugs on pregnancy, and October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Ginger also offers her insight into becoming a genetic counselor.  Ginger Nichols is a certified genetic counselor. She currently works for MotherToBaby CT, which is housed at UCONN Health in the Human Genetics department. Previously she worked in cytogenetic laboratories, taught undergraduate biology/genetics, and counseled adults with Down syndrome and other genetic disorders. She received her bachelor’s in Biology and Sociology at Juniata College followed by a Master’s in Medical Genetics at the University of Cincinnati. If you want to find a genetic counselor in your area, please go to nsgc.org, there you can find a search feature that allows you to locate a genetic counselor near you or genetic counselors that offer phone session. To learn more about the field check out NSGC's new website, aboutgeneticcounselors.com. 

#52 Charcot Marie Tooth Interview

September is national awareness month for Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT)! It’s perfect timing for Bernadette Scarduzio and Allison Moore to educate us on CMT in honor of the awareness month.  "Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), named after the three doctors who first identified it, is one of the most common inherited nerve disorders. CMT affects an estimated 1 in 2,500 people in the United States and 2.6 million people worldwide, although experts believe the number could be much higher." (hnf-cure.org) Bernadette Scarduzio and Allison Moore are a passionate advocates for Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) syndrome working for the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation. Allison is the Founder and CEO and Bernadette is the Social Media Coordinator. Bernadette was born with CMT and lives with the syndrome every day. To raise awareness for the disease Bernadette’s life and family were featured in her self titled documentary, supported by HNF. Many of Bernadette’s family members also have the syndrome and she has made it her mission to fight for CMT. To check out the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation’s Patient-Centered Charcot-Marie-Tooth Summit you can visit the webpage.  Follow Bernadette and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation on social media to stay updated on Twitter (@BernsLife13 and @CMTNeuropathy), Facebook (@BernsLife and  @Bernadettecmtmovie).

#51 Nevena Hristozova on Stress Proteins in Plants

Nevena Hristozova joins me on the show all the way from Brussels! She is in the field of research working with chaperones - stress related proteins, in plants under unfavorable environmental conditions. Nevena maps the molecular interactions of those proteins and their client proteins. We discuss the relationship between chaperons and plants, different types of stress related proteins, chaperons in humans and GMOs. She started her education in Biotechnology in her home country of Bulgaria, then moved to Helsinki for a master's degree in Natural resources, and is now last year PhD student in the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology in Brussels. Nevena's been working on molecular mechanisms of plant resistance and protection against pathogens and environmental conditions. You can check out her blog and follow her on Twitter at @NHristozova.

#50 Dr. Melina Fan about Addgene

Dr. Fan explains what plasmids are, highlights cool genes that are inserted into plasmids and how Addgene's plasmid repository works.

#49 Brittany Gancarz on Prenatal Genetic Counseling

Prenatal genetic counselor Brittany Gancarz talks about the field of genetic counseling, busts a few genetic counseling myths and announces a new genetic counseling program in Connecticut! She shares her expertise on genetic testing, what patients can expect during a prenatal genetic counseling appointment, and gives advice to students who are pursuing genetic counseling. Brittany Gancarz graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a master’s of science degree in Human Genetics. She is a genetic counselor and a clinical instructor in UCONN Health’s Genetics and Developmental Biology department.

#48 Dr. Ellen Elliott on lncRNAs and CRISPR

Dr. Ellen Elliott discusses her research of lncRNAs in TH2 cells and asthma. One of the technologies she uses to study this is CRISPR, a genetic editing technology. CRISPR has hit the mainstream media fast, it was recently featured on the cover of TIME magazine. Dr. Elliott also gives us a sneak peak at Jackson Laboratory’s new blog series. Dr. Ellen Elliott is a Postdoctoral Associate in Adam Williams’ lab at the gorgeous Jackson Laboratory Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT. Dr. Elliott is studying the function of long non-coding RNAs in TH2 cells and asthma. Her results will hopefully generate lncRNAs that could be used as therapeutic targets or in diagnostic tests. Dr. Elliott graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Biology and a BS in Neuroscience. After she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology.

#47 Sharon Turcotte on lncRNAs

Sharon Turcotte did research on lncRNAs with Williams Lab at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. She teaches us what a lncRNA is, its function in gene expression, diseases lncRNAs have been associated with, using the CRISPR-Cas system and her advice for students joining the biotech industry. If you want to learn more about RNAs, check out the database RNAcentral.org. You can also read more information about Williams Lab.

#46 DNA Day!

National DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953. NHGRI began celebrating DNA Day annually on April 25th after the 108th Congress passed concurrent resolutions designating it as DNA Day. The goal of National DNA Day is to offer students, teachers and the public an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the latest advances in genomic research and explore how those advances might impact their lives. Check out NIH's director, Francis Collin's AMA on Reddit, the Harry Potter and the Genetics of Wizarding webinar and the tweetchat #DNADay16 archives. To celebrate on the show, I talk about what DNA is, the history of humans discovering new aspects of DNA, the fun events you can take part in and careers that all relate to DNA. Any questions about DNA Day and it’s events can be direct to dnaday@nih.gov. You can learn more on their website, https://www.genome.gov/10506367/national-dna-day/.

#45 Hole In The Wall Gang Camp

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is dedicated to providing “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families throughout the Northeast, free of charge. It’s a community that celebrates the fun, friendship and spirit of childhood, where every kid can “raise a little hell.” Former camper and current camp counselor, Ester Wasserman shares the magic of camp, how it was founded, what it offers campers and her own experience through the years.

#44 CRISPR

CRISPR is a genetic editing technology that will change the future of genetics. In the past 3 years it has been used in labs throughout the world. It has the potential to fix point mutations and larger mutations in our genome. Diseases caused by point mutations include Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease. More complex conditions such as cancer, HIV or autism could be cured if the RNA gene editing is developed further. On March 16th, 2016, it was published that RNA was successfully targeted for the first time. This is just the beginning of CRISPR. Listen to hear how CRISPR works and how it was discovered. Get the inside scoop on the current research, ethics, politics, and patents.