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.

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What encouraged you to go into this feild of study?
     Courtney Nichols, M.Sc., Sc.M.: I am a genetic counselor who coordinates several research studies aimed at understanding the genetic causes of diseases where multiple genes and other factors are involved, called complex diseases. I work on studies of autism, hypertension, and Hirschsprung disease. Throughout high school and college I was always interested in biology and eventually genetics. I loved the types of information and research question that could be addressed with genetics and I wanted to use that information to help make a difference for people. I also realized that I really enjoyed interacting with people, so I became a genetic counselor. I get to learn about and study genetics, but also get to help patients understand the information and what it means to them.
Shikellamy High School in PA (9th grade student)

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