Mendelspod Podcast

Some Americans still resist genetic testing for fear they will be discriminated against by insurance companies. Why? in 2008, Congress passed GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, to protect us from insurance companies choosing to include us or not for policies based on the genes we came with. Then in 2010, Congress passed the ACA, or Affordable Care Act, and with it protection against preexisting conditions. This includes genetic predispositions.

It’s the kind of plot that makes great science. There are genes that have been hiding in plain sight, undetected until now. They’ve gone unseen, that is, by short read sequencing. Today’s guest and his colleagues call them “camouflage genes,” and a couple in particular may play functional roles in Alzheimer’s disease...

We’ve interviewed several CEOs over the years since the Theranos fiasco who avoided any mention of the blighted company whenever the comparison came up. But today’s guest, Murielle Thinard McLane, the CEO of Ontera, jumped at the chance before Theral could get to it. "Some people might say, well that's the Theranos model. They (Theranos) didn't get it wrong. The demand for a fast, comprehensive point-of-care solution near the patient is there...

We’ve interviewed several CEOs over the years since the Theranos fiasco who avoided any mention or comparison of the blighted company whenever their product came close in appearance. But today’s guest, Murielle Thinard McLane, the CEO of Ontera, jumped at the comparison before Theral could get to it. "Some people might say, well that's the Theranos model. They (Theranos) didn't get it wrong. The demand for a fast, comprehensive point-of-care solution near the patient is there...

If you’re not on the long read sequencing train, you’re not landing in the world of genomics. A new paper out begins, "Structural variants contribute greater diversity at the nucleotide level between two human genomes than another form of genetic variation.”

If you’re not on the long read sequencing train, you’re not landing in the world of genomics. A new paper out begins, "Structural variants contribute greater diversity at the nucleotide level between two human genomes than another form of genetic variation.”

The great promise of liquid biopsy technology is in early cancer detection. That is, it's the great future promise. Right? This past month at the annual cancer conference, ASCO, we heard about one such flagship company announcing just which technology they were going to use to do it--DNA methylation.

Nathan and Laura join Theral for our final review show before the summer break. Have you already headed out on vacation? Take us along and stay current with the top stories in genomics. This month it's gene patents (yes, Congress is really reviving that debate), another gene therapy with another astronomical price tag, and remembering Dr. Henry Lynch of Lynch Syndrome fame.

Those of us watching every shift in the level of adoption of genomic medicine have our eyes closely glued to Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania. Adam Buchanan is the Co-Director of Geisinger’s MyCode Genomic Screening and Counseling program, and today we talk to him about the rationale of making genomic screening part of routine medical care.

Those of us watching every shift in the level of adoption of genomic medicine have our eyes closely glued to Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania. Adam Buchanan is the Co-Director of Geisinger’s MyCode Genomic Screening and Counseling program, and today we talk to him about the rationale of making genomic screening part of routine medical care.