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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Can your DNA predispose you to contracting herpes simplex virus?      Toni Pollin, M.S., Ph.D.: I do research on the genetic factors in complex diseases, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I also teach graduate and medical students and have a background in genetic counseling. Generally your particular genetic makeup does play a role in how likely you are to contract specific infectious diseases, including herpes simplex virus, and some genes potentially involved in that susceptibility have been identified, such as UNC93B1. UConn in CT (Higher Education student)

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