Genetics intros from Khan Academy & 23andme

Featured

Genetics intros from Khan Academy & 23andme

A couple weeks ago 23andme and Khan Academy teamed up to offer some genetics 101 video tutorials. Have 20 minutes? There is currently a 4 part series of 5 minute tutorials, What are genes, What are SNPs, Where do your genes come from? and What are Phenotypes? I’ve watched them all and I find them
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About Us

Genomes Are Us (http://www.personalgenomics.com) was started by two friends who are biologists and study and teach genomics (Trey Lathe and Mary Mangan). You can learn more about us on our about pages. We realized early on that the personal genomics era was upon us, yet the average person on the street had little knowledge of genetics, genomics nor the impact this new era is about to have on them in the realms of politics, health, insurance, ethics, social implications and so much more. Our humble goal is to help a few more people understand the basics behind genomics and be prepared for this new, exciting and somewhat scary era. Genomes Are Us offers daily news and opinion on genomics-related topics, educational and helpful video tips to understand concepts, books reviews, webinars and more. Please come join us to learn and learn to love genomics.

Featured

Genetics intros from Khan Academy & 23andme Genetics intros from Khan Academy & 23andme

A couple weeks ago 23andme and Khan Academy teamed up to offer some genetics 101 video tutorials. Have 20 minutes? There is currently a 4 part series of 5 minute tutorials, What are genes, What are SNPs, Where do your genes come from? and What are Phenotypes? I’ve watched them all and I find them
[continue reading...]

Last week in Personal Genomics: Favorite and not so favorite genes Last week in Personal Genomics: Favorite and not so favorite genes

The c0-discoverer of DNA’s structure picks his favorite gene: “One gene fascinates me: POMC, on chromosome 2, which is a recipe for a protein called ­pro-opiomelanocortin. In the body it gets broken up into different proteins, including melanotropin, which makes the skin darker when you’ve been in the sun, and beta-endorphin, a natural opioid that
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Epigenetics. And clones that join the circus.

There’s a great deal of buzz these days even in the public sphere about epigenetics. To learn more about it, check out this handy talking glossary of genetics entry, and listen to Laura Elnitski talk about it. But I just saw on Google+ another very engaging video that tries to explain the concepts of epigenetics.
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We love Neandertals (and ourselves). We love Neandertals (and ourselves).

We do love our Neandertals. Mary let her freak flag fly when she found out, through Interpretome’s tool (short tutorial here) that she had  substantial (heh) Neandertal genetic heritage. I marched in pride when I found mine. 23andme has a new ancestry tool that determines percentage also. Checking on mine… suggests I’m 3.2% Neandertal. Yipee.
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African-American genetics & 23andme, an initiative (w/ small reservations) African-American genetics & 23andme, an initiative (w/ small reservations)

23andme has announced a new initiative, Roots into the Future, as reported nicely by Daniel McArthur at Genetic Future. This project gives African-American individuals access to the 23andme testing for free (if they are over 18 and willing to answer health surveys). They will do this for 10,000 individuals. There are obvious benefits to this. African-Americans,
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Social & Ethics

Why assume genetic information is so omnipotent?

via John Hawks, Misha asks:  Some of my postmodernist friends tend to look down their noses at genetic ancestry testing.  I would argue that they are genetic determinists. Why assume that genetic information is so omnipotent as to irrevocably unravel one’s identity? Why must one narrative trump another? “Because it’s TECHNOLOGY! It’s GENETICS! It is
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Politics & Law

Elizabeth Warren, Native American? Elizabeth Warren, Native American?

(read update below) Apparently, Elizabeth Warren has claimed some Native American heritage. Of course, this has brought out the normal racial politics and handwringing, nearly a birtherism reborn (which I’m not claiming Razib is dabbling in). I expect that from some circles, but But, from those of a scientific bent, it’s a bit disappointing to not
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Ancestry

Why assume genetic information is so omnipotent?

via John Hawks, Misha asks:  Some of my postmodernist friends tend to look down their noses at genetic ancestry testing.  I would argue that they are genetic determinists. Why assume that genetic information is so omnipotent as to irrevocably unravel one’s identity? Why must one narrative trump another? “Because it’s TECHNOLOGY! It’s GENETICS! It is
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Health

Last week in personal genomics & genetics: foundations for the future? Last week in personal genomics & genetics: foundations for the future?

So, it was an eventful week in the area of personal genomics, genetics and more. Here is a round up of some of them. Open-data project: “Together with other funders, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, based in Kansas City, Missouri, is now launching a product that aims to “create the world’s largest pool of openly
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Genes

Last week in Personal Genomics: Favorite and not so favorite genes Last week in Personal Genomics: Favorite and not so favorite genes

The c0-discoverer of DNA’s structure picks his favorite gene: “One gene fascinates me: POMC, on chromosome 2, which is a recipe for a protein called ­pro-opiomelanocortin. In the body it gets broken up into different proteins, including melanotropin, which makes the skin darker when you’ve been in the sun, and beta-endorphin, a natural opioid that
[continue reading...]

Companies

23andMe: subscriptions ending–then what?

So a few weeks back I was thinking about what to do at the end of my subscription commitment with the 23andMe service.  I am glad to have gone through the process so that I understand it now, and understand the resulting data output and format. But I hadn’t decided on whether to keep subscribing.
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