DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

Welcome to the first episode of DNA Dialogues, the official podcast of the Journal of Genetic Counseling. DNA Today’s Host/Producer Kira Dineen is on the production team of DNA Dialogues and is excited to share the first episode of the podcast!   Rare diseases can impact so many people - from patients themselves, to families, to broader communities. To celebrate rare disease day, we are going to d...

To continue our rare disease month celebrations (leading up to rare disease day on Feb 29th, the rarest day in the year), in this episode we chat with Sarita Edwards who’s son Elijah has Trisomy 18.    Sarita Edwards (she/her) is the CEO & President at the E.WE Foundation , a global healthcare advocacy organization for families living with Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and other rare diseases....

In this episode, we're diving deep into the realm of targeted DNA methylation sequencing, a cutting-edge technology with vast implications for clinical diagnostics and research. Joining us are Chad Pollard, CEO and Co-Founder of Wasatch BioLabs, and Dr. Jonathon Hill, an expert in genomic and bioinformatic methods. Together, they shed light on the importance of DNA methylation, the intricacies of...

In this episode we're delving into the intricate landscape of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Returning to the show is Dr. Patrick Short, CEO and Co-Founder of the healthtech platform Sano Genetics . With his expertise in researching large-scale genome sequencing and rare disorders, Dr. Short provides invaluable insights into the genetics of ALS.   Dr....

Happy Rare Disease Month! Did you know why February was chosen? It's because it harbors the rarest day of the year, February 29th, which coincides with Rare Disease Day. To kick off this special month, we're thrilled to share a poignant episode of the " It Happened To Me Podcast ," where rare diseases take center stage.    Our host, Kira Dineen, is the Executive Producer of the "It Happened To Me"...

As we delve into the intricacies of ENPP1 Deficiency Disorders, Dr. Yves Sabbagh and Christine O’Brien provide invaluable insights into genetics, diagnostics, treatment, and collaborative efforts between the patient community and pharmaceutical companies. Join us in this illuminating conversation, as we navigate the complexities of GACI and explore avenues for a brighter future in managing these c...

This episode was originally released on the Patient Empowerment Program podcast , where our host Kira Dineen serves as a Producer. Sometimes you might even hear Kira’s voice in promos and ads.    In this podcast, Dr. Stan Crooke and Dr. Gleeson discuss the importance of genomics for neurology and how genetic information is changing how the medical community approaches neurological diseases.   Dr....

This episode was originally released on It Happened To Me: A Rare Disease podcast, where our host Kira Dineen is the Executive Producer. Sometimes you might even hear Kira join as a guest host especially when there will be genetic topics.    It Happened To Me is a rare disease and medical challenges podcast. The mission of the show is to create community as listeners confront the toughest challeng...

In this episode we dive deep into two crucial reproductive genetic topics with the knowledgeable and experienced genetic counselor, Kelly Loggenberg. Joining us from Next Biosciences, a Female-led South African Biotechnology company specializing in Reproductive Genetic Testing, Kelly sheds light on Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) and Genetic Testing of Miscarriage, also know...

Can computers diagnose genetic conditions? Could we train computers to analyze photos of people to help geneticists and other healthcare providers diagnose conditions based on physical features?    Join the visionary journey as our host Kira Dineen sits across from the insightful Robert Boscacci, the mind behind "The Spring of Sight," and unravels the intertwining of computer vision and genetic di...

We are diving deep into genetic technology, specifically optical genome mapping and transcriptome analysis. Joining us to explore these technologies is Dr. Peter Nagy.    Dr. Nagy graduated from Pécs Medical University, Hungary, in 1989. He received his PhD in biochemistry in 1995 from Purdue University. He completed his AP/Molecular genetic pathology residency and postdoctoral fellowship training...

We are thrilled to welcome guest Blair Stevens, a certified genetic counselor and Director of Prenatal Genetic Counseling Services at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and Prenatal Genetics media expert for the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Blair joins this discussion to shed light on the clinical utility of ancestry and its use in reproductive genetic counseling spaces.   Join...

To celebrate the year coming to an end, we are reflecting back on the top genetics and genomics news stories during 2023. It’s hard to fit a year’s worth of genetics in one episode, let alone a half hour so we bring you this special double episode of DNA Today.    Our host Kira Dineen is joined by two leaders in genetics, Dr. Eric Green and Dr. Brendan Lee.    Dr. Eric Green Dr. Eric Green is the...

Nebula Co-Founder Kamal Obbad analyzes our host Kira Dineen’s genome!   Whole genome sequencing, once a futuristic concept, has now become an integral part of the genetic landscape. When this groundbreaking technology first emerged, it came with a staggering price tag.    Picture this: It's 2003, and the Human Genome Project has just been completed, costing nearly $3 billion to sequence a single h...

Ryan is the president and founder of California based non-profit, Living with XXY. Ryan is a 37 year-old with Klinefelter syndrome or 47,XXY. Klinefelter syndrome is the result of an extra X chromosome, affecting roughly 1 in 500 males. Ryan’s parents learned about his XXY diagnosis during his mother’s pregnancy. His experiences navigating XXY and those of the over 600 families he’s met along the...

We return in person to record at NBC Stamford Studios to learn about Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, we are joined by cardiovascular genetic counselor, patient advocate, and YouTuber Izzy Kornblau. Izzy Kornblau, MS, CGC, is a cardiovascular genetic counselor at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Izzy has over 3 years of research experience in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). Her current resea...

On DNA Today we are often exploring how genomic data is altering healthcare. We will continue to do so in this episode with the CEO of Igentify, Dr. Doron Behar. He holds MD and PhD degrees from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. We are going to dive into the genetic counseling bottleneck and how companies like Igentify, are working to alleviate it.    Dr. Doron M. Behar, CEO, Igentify...

In this episode we are learning about tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and are joined by guest Dr. Ian Miller.    Dr. Ian Miller is a pediatric epileptologist who specializes in pediatric epilepsy, including genetic epilepsy. He is an advocate for genetic testing in every individual with epilepsy, even if they already have a "syndrome".   He serves as Vice President in Clinical Development at Mari...

We are sharing the twenty-fifth installment of the PhenoTips Speaker Series, which was hosted by our own, Kira Dineen. She interviewed a panel of international industry leaders in clinical genomics, Dr. Eric Green, Dr. Julian Barwell, and Dr. Fiona Brinkman, discuss the benefits, roadblocks, and practical implications of applying population genomics in clinical practice.   Applying population geno...

We want to acknowledge the war in the Middle East and its impact on this conference from a canceled session to protests close to the conference center. Regardless of how we view the war, it’s important we listen and support one another.    You might be wondering why this episode was not released Friday morning like all of our episodes for the last few years… Well, we were busy at The National Soci...

Prepare to uncover the mystifying realm of genetics as we bring you a thought-provoking conversation with Meena Mahey Kumar and Laura Fuqua from Blueprint Genetics. Together, we'll explore the pivotal role that human touch plays in interpreting genetic data, emphasizing the irreplaceable importance of meticulous analysis and individualized patient care. You'll learn how their unwavering dedication...

If you are a long time listener of DNA Today you know how fascinating and frightening we find CRISPR, you must be too if you clicked on this episode. So I wanted to share with you a new podcast I have started listening to called A CRISPR Bite. This is the first episode to get you hooked.    CRISPR gene-editing technology came out as a massive biotech breakthrough in the last decade, but most peopl...

This is the second half of our conversation about an important topic in genetic counseling that is not talked about enough, burnout and transitioning to roles outside of the field. Joining us for this conversation are genetic counselors, Tiana Rogers and Nira Johnson. Before you listen to this episode please listen to the first part of the discussion on Episode #255. Tiana Rogers is an aspiring di...

Over the next two episodes, we are discussing an important topic in genetic counseling that definitely is not talked about enough, burnout and transitioning to roles outside of the field. Joining us for this conversation are genetic counselors, Tiana Rogers and Nira Johnson. Tiana Rogers is an aspiring digital designer and board-certified genetic counselor with direct patient care experience in pr...

This episode was originally released on It Happened To Me: A Rare Disease podcast, where our host Kira Dineen is the Executive Producer. Sometimes Kira joins the podcast as a guest host especially for genetic topics, like in this episode.  It Happened To Me is a rare disease and medical challenges podcast. The mission of the show is to create community as listeners confront the toughest challenges...