Looking good in those genes...
With the advent of new and exciting technologies, gene-related buzzwords are in the news all the time. But what's the science behind it all?
How exactly does gene editing work? What are the ethical issues surrounding it? What are the genetics of attraction? Find out with talks from Kwanha Yu, Rebecca Lunstroth, Jennifer Zieba, and a special presentation from sponsor and Pheramor founder Brittany Barreto.
CRISPRs: the Moneyball in Molecular Biology
Dr. Kwanha Yu
Baylor College of Medicine
CRISPRs… why is there no ‘E’?... and what does it have to do with baseball?... 1, it’s an acronym and 2, nothing to do with baseball. But it has huge implications in patent law, pharmaceutics, and designer babies among other things. If any of these interests you or you just want to leave a little smarter, come by and have a listen. Put simply, CRISPRs have revolutionized research, taking tasks that were reserved for big research groups and leveled the playing field. I’ll tell you how and why.
I am postdoctoral associated at Baylor College of Medicine in the lab of Benjamin Deneen. The primary focus of my research has been on brain cancer.
Attracted to your genes
Brittany Barreto, Ph.D.
CoFounder and Chief Scientific Officer of Pheramor. Doctorate in genetics from BCM. Originally from New Jersey. Passionate human rights advocate.
Ever heard of the sweaty T-shirt experiment? Well Pheramor is using this study plus many more to match singles based on instant chemistry, common interests, and shared values. But is the science real? Come hear Cofounder and lead geneticist Dr. Brittany Barreto talk about how DNA influences who you are attracted to and how genomics is the future of personalized lifestyle products.
23andYou: What do home genetic testing kits really tell you?
Jennifer Zieba
Baylor College of Medicine
I am a human genetics researcher at Baylor College of Medicine working on the biology behind and treatment of genetic musculoskeletal disorders
Companies like 23andme and AncestryDNA have become incredibly popular over the past decade. Just last year, the number of people to have their DNA analyzed doubled and now exceeds 12 million. But how do these companies actually get your genetic information and what can or can’t you actually do with it? I’ll be discussing the benefits and shortfalls of direct to consumer genetic testing and what it might mean for our future as a whole.