2010 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2010. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

202
What have you found out about lung cancer, diabetes and brain cancer?
     Jessica Hooks, M.S.: I am a prenatal genetic counselor who sees preconception and prenatal patients for a variety of indications. I also serve as the genetic counselor for the Charlotte Fetal Care Center, which is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to the prenatal treatment of complex birth defects and obstetrical complications. To my knowledge, we have not found a genetic predisposition to lung and brain cancer, although there is a specific genetic disorder called von Hipple Lindau where brain tumors can be a symptom. As far as diabetes, we know there is a stronger genetic predisposition for Type II over Type I but that environment (eating habits, exercise, weight, etc.) play a huge role in who is actually going to develop diabetes and when.
Flint Northern High School in MI (11th grade student)

< View ALL questions and answers from 2010



(short, single keywords work best at first)