Eye on DNA Headlines for 26 August 2007

by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted August 26, 2007 in Eye on DNA Headlines

• Gene Genie #14: Bugs and Beyond is up at MicrobiologyBytes. Ouch!
• Welcome the 22nd blog to join The DNA Network - Genomics Revolution.
• Misha Angrist, Science Editor for the Duke University Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, has started GenomeBoy.com where he also talks about being one of the Personal Genome Project’s first 10 participants. I first “met” Misha when he interviewed me for Duke GenomeLIFE Magazine (pdf).
• The Economist’s August 23rd issue looks at genetics, medicine and insurance in Do Not Ask or Do Not Answer? Misha and I picked up on the same paragraph that said those who tested positive for the APOE4 gene linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s were five times more likely to up their insurance but women who test positive for BRCA genes do not do the same. This finding is in line with an earlier Canadian study which showed that more women than might be expected do not seek preventive action after testing positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2.
• Yet another reason I should never have left the San Francisco Bay Area! Biotech Partners supports students interested in biotechnology by providing them internships and co-op jobs in biotechnoloogy. More in the San Francisco Chronicle.
• On Tuesday, the SF Chronicle looked at home DNA tests. My boss, Ryan Phelan of DNA Direct, is quoted.

  We try to help consumers understand genes are not destiny, but they provide valuable information. You can’t get that in a vacuum. The criticism of at-home tests is that (patients) are going to get something they don’t understand because the only results they’ve seen are results written for doctors.

  DNA Direct provides personalized reports written for patients as well as a physician letter containing clinical details for patients to take to their doctors. And, a board-certified genetic consultant is available to customers toll-free.

By the way, I’m back from vacation! Here’s proof I actually did go somewhere relaxing:

Tags: genetics, genes, dna direct, dna, genetic testing, dna tests, biotech, biotechnology, genome, genomics

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4 Comments »

Comment by Misha Angrist

2007-08-26 20:00:40

Thanks for the link, Hsien! BTW, regarding your post on DNA extraction, there’s almost nothing more fun than taking a roomful of elementary schoolers and having them salt out their own DNA with table salt, dishwashing liquid and rubbing alcohol…

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Comment by Hsien

2007-08-27 10:48:30

Good idea. I have to admit that I haven’t been too good about getting my five-year-old involved in doing experiments. Maybe because I tend towards observational science rather than experimental….

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Comment by Jasmine Chng

2007-08-27 15:21:17

Is that a picture of Sentosa beach? Welcome back from vacation!

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Comment by Hsien

2007-08-27 15:46:20

You got it! It’s a pic of Tanjong Beach where my son and I spent an hour digging holes and making sand castles.

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