2008 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2008. 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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Do you have to know about DNA to be a nurse?      Dale Lea, R.N., M.P.H., C.G.C., F.A.A.N.: Developing genetics, health education and community involvement programs and resources, and translating genetic and genomic information for the public. As a result of human genome research we are learning that genes play a role in rare and common diseases. Also, genetic testing is now being used to find out whether a particular medicine or dose of medicine will work for a patient. This is called personalized medicine. Nurses administer medications and educate patients about their disease and treatments, so having knowledge of DNA and basic genetics is becoming increasingly important for nurses. There are now specific nursing competencies in genetics and genomics that are being taught in nursing school. Shikellamy High School in PA (9th grade student)

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