• DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

  • By: Kira Dineen
  • Podcast
DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast By cover art

DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

By: Kira Dineen
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  • Summary

  • Discover New Advances in the world of genetics, from technology like CRISPR to rare diseases to new research. For over a decade, multi-award winning podcast ”DNA Today” has brought you the voices of leaders in genetics. Host Kira Dineen brings her genetics expertise to interview geneticists, genetic counselors, patient advocates, biotech leaders, researchers, and more. ***Best 2020, 2021, and 2022 Science and Medicine Podcast Award Winner*** Learn more (and stream all 250+ episodes) at DNAtoday.com. You can contact the show at info@DNAtoday.com.
    DNA Today, LLC 2012-2024
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Episodes
  • #291 AFAP with Advocate Dan Dry Dock Shockley

    #291 AFAP with Advocate Dan Dry Dock Shockley
    May 31 2024

    In this episode, we are joined by Dan Dry Dock Shockley, a retired Navy veteran and advocate living with a hereditary colon cancer syndrome. Dan’s journey from military service to becoming a passionate advocate for hereditary cancer awareness is both inspiring and educational. Tune in as we delve into his personal experiences, the importance of early detection, and his ongoing mission to educate others.

    Discussion Topics

    • Dan's Diagnosis and Perspective: Diagnosed at age 51 with no symptoms and no family history of colon cancer. He shares how this diagnosis shaped his perspective on health and life.
    • Genetic Testing Journey: Details about who ordered Dan's genetic testing and the education and counseling he received and the information about his specific genetic variant.
    • Understanding Attenuated FAP: Explanation of attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) and its impact on Dan’s life.
    • Advocacy and Inspiration:What inspired Dan to become an advocate for hereditary colon cancer syndrome and pancreatic cancer awareness.
    • Importance of Early Detection: The crucial role of colonoscopies in early cancer detection and treatment, especially in the context of hereditary cancer syndromes like AFAP.
    • Meeting Dr. Henry Lynch: Dan’s experience meeting Dr. Henry Lynch, a pioneer in cancer genetics and the significance of Dr. Lynch's groundbreaking work.
    • Continuing Dr. Lynch's Legacy: Dan's motivation to continue Dr. Henry T. Lynch's legacy of educating medical students and professionals about AFAP.
    • Navigating with a Positive Attitude: How Dan’s mantra, "Always Forge Ahead with a Purpose," and its significance in guiding him.
    • Myth-busting Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Common misconceptions about hereditary cancer syndromes and how Dan addresses them.
    • Advice for Others: Dan’s advice for individuals diagnosed with hereditary cancer syndromes or undergoing cancer treatment.

    Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today next Friday! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 290 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel, this includes some episodes recorded at NBC Universal Stamford Studios.

    DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our logo Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.

    See what else we are up to on Instagram, X (Twitter), Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com.

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    32 mins
  • #290 Genetic Ethics with Dr. Arthur Caplan

    #290 Genetic Ethics with Dr. Arthur Caplan
    May 24 2024
    To discuss ethics in genetics, we are honored to host Dr. Arthur Caplan (he/him), a renowned bioethicist and a pivotal figure in the field of medical ethics. He is currently the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Topics Covered: Evolution of Bioethics in Genetics: Insights into how the landscape of bioethics within genetics has evolved over the years. CRISPR Technology: Ethical concerns surrounding the use of CRISPR technology for editing the human germ line.Discussion of Dr. Caplan's influential 2015 paper on CRISPR, cited over 200 times.Examination of international treaties and policies governing CRISPR use, and their effectiveness, especially in the context of the controversial case of the Chinese scientist who edited embryos. Ethical Concerns with CRISPR: Issues of accessibility, cost, and informed consent for CRISPR-based therapies.Risks associated with the misuse of CRISPR for bioterrorism or biowarfare, and mitigation strategies through regulation and oversight. AI in Genetics: Potential impact of rapidly advancing AI technology in genetics.Concerns about privacy and confidentiality related to AI applications in genetic data. IVF and Legal Rulings: Discussion of the February 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos created through IVF should be considered children.Implications for IVF clinics in Alabama and potential repercussions if other states follow suit.Impact on individuals using IVF with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to prevent genetic conditions. Dr. Caplan was the Sidney D. Caplan Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he created the Center for Bioethics and the Department of Medical Ethics. Caplan has also taught at the University of Minnesota, where he founded the Center for Biomedical Ethics, the University of Pittsburgh, and Columbia University. He received his PhD from Columbia University. Dr. Caplan is the author or editor of thirty-five books and over 860 papers in peer reviewed journals. His most recent books are Vaccination Ethics and Policy, with Jason Schwartz and, Getting to Good: Research Integrity in Biomedicine with Barbara Redman. He has served on a number of national and international committees including as the chair of the National Cancer Institute Biobanking Ethics Working Group, chair of the Advisory Committee to the United Nations on Human Cloning; chair of the Advisory Committee to the Department of Health and Human Services on Blood Safety and Availability. He has also served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses, the special advisory committee to the International Olympic Committee on genetics and gene therapy, the Special Advisory Panel to the National Institutes of Mental Health on Human Experimentation on Vulnerable Subjects, the Wellcome Trust Advisory Panel on Research in Humanitarian Crises, and the co-director of the Joint Council of Europe/United Nations Study on Trafficking in Organs and Body Parts. Caplan has served since 2015 as the chairperson of the Compassionate Use Advisory Committee (CompAC), an independent group of internationally recognized medical experts, bioethicists and patient representatives which advises Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals about requests for compassionate use of some of its investigational medicines. Dr. Caplan is a regular commentator on bioethics and health care issues for WebMD/Medscape, WGBH radio in Boston, WOR radio in New York City and KNX-CBS radio, Los Angeles. He appears frequently as a guest and commentator on various other national and international media outlets. Dr. Caplan is the recipient of many awards and honors including the McGovern Medal of the American Medical Writers Association and the Franklin Award from the City of Philadelphia. He was a USA Today 2001 “Person of the Year and was described as one of the ten most influential people in science by Discover magazine in 2008. He has also been honored as one of the fifty most influential people in American health care by Modern Health Care magazine, one of the ten most influential people in America in biotechnology by the National Journal, one of the ten most influential people in the ethics of biotechnology by the editors of Nature Biotechnology, and, one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American magazine. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he co-directed an advisory group on sports and recreation for the US Conference of Mayors, created a national working group on coronavirus vaccine challenge studies, developed an ethical framework for distributing drugs and vaccines for J&J, helped develop rationing policies for NYU LMC and many other health systems, was a member of the WHO advisory committee on Covid, ethics and experimental drugs/vaccines, and helped set policy for WIRB/WCG...
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    27 mins
  • #289 CRISPR Cured Victoria Gray’s Sickle Cell: Part 2

    #289 CRISPR Cured Victoria Gray’s Sickle Cell: Part 2
    May 17 2024
    Victoria is a patient advocate and international speaker from Mississippi. She is also a wife and mother of four children. Since being treated with CRISPR she has been featured in nearly every major publication including PBS, NPR, Forbes, Good Morning America, New York Times, and more. In the first part of our conversation she shared about her experiences prior to being cured including her sickle cell pain crisis and the medical racism she faced. If you haven’t heard this episode yet, we very much encourage you to go back to Episode #288 and listen, this is one of the most raw interviews we have had on the show over the last decade. In the second part of our interview in this episode, Victoria talks about inspiring others to pursue the CRISPR treatment and dives into her own CRISPR experience including the decision making process to go for it, the treatment regime itself, and her quality of life today after being cured. Victoria is a patient advocate and international speaker from Mississippi. She is also a wife and mother of four children. Since being treated with CRISPR she has been featured in nearly every major publication including PBS, NPR, Forbes, New York Times, and more. Victoria Gray, the first person in the world to be cured of a genetic condition using CRISPR, shares her experience with sickle cell disease and the challenges she faced in receiving proper care. She describes the frequent pain crises she experienced, the lack of understanding and empathy from healthcare providers, and the stigma associated with sickle cell patients. Victoria highlights the disparities in research funding and support for sickle cell compared to other genetic conditions. She also discusses the importance of mental health care and the need for better education and communication from healthcare providers. Victoria Gray shares her experience as the first person to be treated with CRISPR for sickle cell disease. She discusses the mistreatment and lack of options she faced as a patient, highlighting the ongoing issue of healthcare disparities. Victoria also talks about the impact of her story on others, including a fan who was inspired to pursue CRISPR treatment. She emphasizes the importance of mental health and the role of faith in her journey. The conversation explores the CRISPR procedure, the timeline of the treatment, and the transformation it has brought to Victoria's life. During the interview we mentioned a couple other episodes of DNA Today that also explore sickle cell disease. #197 CRISPR Quality Control with Kiana Aran #201 Sickle Cell Disease with Lifting the Veil #214 2022 Genetics Wrapped with Eric Green #251 Diversifying Genetic Research with 23andMe #266 Genetics Wrapped 2023 You can also binge over 280 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel, this includes some episodes recorded at NBC Universal Stamford Studios. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our logo Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian. See what else we are up to on Instagram, X (Twitter), Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com.
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    26 mins
Biological Sciences
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