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.

522
Is a baby's DNA less complicated than a grown ups?
     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. The DNA you are born with is the DNA you will have the rest of your life, for the most part. The organization of DNA into chromosomes doesn't change, nor does the amount of DNA. Over time, though, mutations or changes in the DNA may occur in specific cells which could lead to disease.
East Haven High School in CT (10th grade student)

< View ALL questions and answers from 2010



(short, single keywords work best at first)