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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I want to continue my medical education in molecular biology of emerging infectious diseases. How can I apply genomic biology to infectious disease study?
     Tracy Futch, M.S., Ph.D.: I am a genetic counselor working at DNA Direct in San Francisco. We provide genetic counseling as well as guidance and decision support for genomic medicine to patients, providers, and payors. We know that certain individuals are more or less resistant to particular infectious diseases. Comparing the genomes of these individuals could lead to discovery of genes or DNA changes that are protective in these individuals. Understanding how those gene products work could potentially shed light on possible vaccines or even treatments for that disease.
ABABU CBIT,RAJAHMUNDRY (A.P.), INDIA (Higher Education student)

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