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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Can you revive dead red blood cells?      Laura Panos: I am a genetic counselor that evaluates cancer patients and those with a family history of cancer. I counsel patients with any type of hereditary cancer syndrome. I do not believe so. Mature red blood cells do not have nuclei, DNA, or organelles in order to provide more space for hemoglobin to transport oxygen. After about 100 days they are broken down. However, I do think it is possible to create artificial blood cells in the lab. Palms Middle School in CA (7th grade student)

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