DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

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...

In this episode we are discussing inborn errors of immunity, with a particular focus on chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Joining us for this episode is rare disease advocate, Felicia Morton, and genetic counselor, Torry Howell.    Felicia Morton, is the Founder and Executive Director of the CGD Association of America . Felicia has been a well-known advocate for the CGD community for more than...

This episode was originally recorded for It Happened To Me: A Rare Disease podcast, where our host Kira Dineen is the Executive Producer. Sometimes Kira joins this podcast as a guest host especially when there will be genetic topics, like in this episode.    This episode was extra special as DNA Today’s Communications Lead Corinne Merlino was the guest! Corinne was also a guest on Episodes 245 and...

Currently, an overwhelming number of DNA samples used for research are from people of European ancestry, making many populations from across the globe underrepresented in genomics research. ( NHGRI ) In this episode, we explore an important issue in healthcare, diversifying genetic research, with two experts from 23andMe   Dr. Ruth Tennen is a product scientist at 23andMe. In this role Dr. Tennen...

We are celebrating the 250th episode of DNA Today and the 10 year anniversary of Orphan Black premiere with Madeline Ashby who was a writer for Orphan Black: The Next Chapter. In our conversation we will dive into some of the genetic concepts explored in the show. Warning there will be spoilers for both the TV show and the podcast!!!   Madeline Ashby (she/her) is an author among many other creativ...

In this episode we are joined by two genetic counselors to explore the experience of being a male in our field.    John Zimmerman, MS, CGC, is a certified genetic counselor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. John completed his genetic counseling training at the University of Minnesota in 2017 and has since worked as a clinical genetic counselor with the UT Southwestern Cancer Genetics Program. Rec...

In this episode we are learning about Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, an X-linked genetic disorder that prevents the breakdown and excretion of ammonia.  When ammonia builds up in the body, it can rise to toxic levels where it affects the central nervous system. This allows ammonia to accumulate in the bloodstream, rising to toxic levels where it affects the central nervous system. OT...

In lieu of this episode, I want to provide you with other DNA Today episodes about DMD.    In Episode #156 I interview Rich Horgan . He opens up about his brother’s experience living with DMD and how it inspired him to start Cure Rare Diseases, which is an organization that focuses on developing personalized treatments for rare diseases.    In Episode #202 I interview two experts about DMD. Geneti...

PART TWO, stream episode #245 before this episode!    Some of our most popular episodes over the years of DNA Today are those that provide insight into the genetic counseling graduate program application process. So much has changed since we recorded those episodes back in 2018-2022 (many programs have removed the GRE requirement, interviews are virtual, etc.) these episodes include #87 #97 #101 #...

Some of our most popular episodes over the years of DNA Today are those that provide insight into the genetic counseling graduate program application process. So much has changed since we recorded those episodes back in 2018-2022 (many programs have removed the GRE requirement, interviews are virtual, etc.) these episodes include #87 #97 #101 #193 and #194 .    That’s why we are revisiting these t...

Step into our time machine as we transport you back to the early heydays of genetic counseling (aka the 70s) with our esteemed guest, Virginia Corson. Virginia is a veteran genetic counselor who has weathered the changing tides of this field over the last 50 years, and she's here to share her incredible journey with us. Virginia has spent the vast majority of her career as a prenatal genetic couns...

We are closing out Pride Month with a recent installment of the PhenoTips Speaker Series. DNA Today’s host Kira Dineen is also one of the hosts of the PhenoTips Speaker Series . This live webinar focuses on relevant genetics topics by featuring discussions with thought leaders and experts in genomic medicine. This episode is the 24th installment of the PhenoTips’ Speaker Series, “Navigating Barrie...

In 2020, a direct-to-consumer DNA test revealed that our guest Richard Wenzel's father was not his genetic father. Moreover, evidence indicates that his conception resulted from a sexual assault of his mother and that his pediatrician (who was also his mother's obstetrician) helped conceal this crime; unfortunately, all involved individuals are deceased. Since that troubling discovery, Richard has...