2012 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2012. 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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Why do people have different eye shapes and face shapes? As in, why and how did that variation occur?
     Barbara Biesecker, Ph.D.: I am an Associate Investigator and Genetic Counselor in NHGRI's Social and Behavioral Research Branch. I direct the JHU/NHGRI Genetic Counseling Training Program and have been doing genetic counseling for thirty years. My primary interests are in achieving quality of life for those affected with a genetic condition or at risk. Facial characteristics are determined by a cascade of many genes inherited from both parents. We each have a small number of unique genetic variations and the way that genes are inherited includes spontaneous rearrangement that leads to a mix-up of our parents genes. The result is that we resemble our relatives but also have a unique appearance.
Peru High School in IN (9th grade student)

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