2011 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2011. 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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Can a human be mutated and get superpowers?      Mike Dougherty, B.A., Ph.D.: I am currently the director of educational activities for the American Society of Human Genetics (www.ashg.org/education). Before joining ASHG, I taught genetics and biochemistry at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and studied the formation and transmission of prions, protein-only infectious agents that can cause disease in humans. I wish! However, that's not really possible. Mutations can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial. The harmful ones can cause inherited disease or cancer, and the beneficial ones can lead to variations on traits that are evolutionarily beneficial. Palms Middle School in CA (7th grade student)

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