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DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

By: Kira Dineen Gene Pool Media
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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 380+ episodes) at DNAtoday.com. You can contact the show at info@DNAtoday.com.


This show is part of "Gene Pool Media: The Science Podcast Network" head to GenePoolMedia.com to explore all our science themed shows.

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Episodes
  • #397 ABGC Recertification Changes: Learning Scenarios Explained for Genetic Counselors

    #397 ABGC Recertification Changes: Learning Scenarios Explained for Genetic Counselors
    Jun 5 2026
    Recertification is changing for genetic counselors. The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) now requires completion of new Continuing Competence Learning Scenarios as part of maintaining the CGC credential. These are not traditional quizzes with one correct answer. Each scenario presents a complex genetic counseling situation, followed by reflective questions, peer rationales, and educational resources designed to support lifelong learning and continuing competence. To help us understand why this change was made and what genetic counselors need to know, we are joined by three guests from ABGC: Monica Marvin and Dr. Claire Davis, co-chairs of ABGC’s Continuing Competence Committee, and Heather Rich, Executive Director at Smithbucklin, who manages ABGC operations. We break down why these Learning Scenarios were created, how the requirement works, what counts toward recertification, and how ABGC is approaching competence in a field where many real-world situations are nuanced, reflective, and shaped by context. In This Episode, We Discuss: Why ABGC reevaluated the recertification process for certified genetic counselorsWhat was missing from a recertification model based primarily on CEUs or reexaminationWhat Continuing Competence Learning Scenarios are, and what they are notHow these scenarios differ from traditional quizzes or testsWhy there may be more than one thoughtful way to respond to a complex genetic counseling situationHow panelist rationales help Diplomates understand the reasoning of other competent practitionersHow the new requirement is being phased in based on recertification cycleWhat genetic counselors in current recertification cycles need to know about voluntary scenario completionHow each scenario earns 0.1 CEU and how those CEUs fit into existing recertification requirementsHow often new Learning Scenarios will be publishedHow scenarios are developed and reviewed by ABGC’s Continuing Competence CommitteeWhy review by the DEIJ Committee is an important part of the processHow Learning Scenarios can address complex topics such as bias, cultural humility, access, identity, and patient-centered careWhether future scenarios may expand beyond patient-facing clinical roles to include genetic counselors working as medical science liaisons, variant curators, educators, and other nontraditional roles The Panel: Monica Marvin, MS, CGC, is the Program Director for the University of Michigan Genetic Counseling Graduate Program and Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Human Genetics at the University of Michigan. Monica was the inaugural President of the Michigan Association of Genetic Counselors, the 2011 Chair of the National Society of Genetic Counselors Access and Service Delivery Committee and the 2014 Chair of the National Society of Genetic Counselors Payor Subcommittee. She also served on the Board of Directors for the National Society of Genetic Counselors in 2016 and 2017 and is a current member of the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counselors Program Review Committee. In addition, Monica serves on the Advisory Board for multiple genetic counseling programs, and is the co-chair of the American Board of Genetic Counselors Continuing Competence Committee. She received the 2014 Strategic Leader award from the National Society of Genetic Counselors and was instrumental in the 2018 passage of legislation to license genetic counselors in the state of Michigan. She is passionate about the provision of high-quality genetic counseling services. Claire Davis, EDD, MS, CGC has contributed to the learning, growth, and development of genetic counselors for 19 years. She received her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2007. She earned a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, completing a dissertation on how genetic counselors learn to incorporate innovations into their practice. A deep love of GC education prompted her to serve as a genetic counseling program director, course director, clinical supervisor, thesis advisor, simulation facilitator, committee volunteer, and author of articles and a book. She is currently Director of Curriculum for the Institute for Genomics at Sarah Lawrence College and Co-director of the Genome Health Analysis master’s program co-created with NYU Langone’s Grossman School of Medicine. Heather Rich, MPA, ICE-CCP, is an Executive Director with Smithbucklin, bringing over 20 years of experience in certification, including oversight of more than 23 credentialing programs. She currently serves as Executive Director for the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). Ms. Rich possesses extensive expertise across all facets of certification, including governance, program development, and accreditation standards. She has successfully led multiple organizations through reaccreditation processes with both the American Board of Specialty ...
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    32 mins
  • #396 Gene Therapy for Anxiety? Precision Psychiatry through CRISPR & RNA

    #396 Gene Therapy for Anxiety? Precision Psychiatry through CRISPR & RNA
    May 29 2026
    Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions, but for many people, it can also feel deeply isolating. Current treatments such as therapy, SSRIs, and benzodiazepines can be life-changing, but they do not work for everyone, and they often manage symptoms rather than addressing the underlying biology of anxiety. In this episode of DNA Today, host Kira Dineen is joined by Dr. Troy Rohn, neuroscientist, professor at Boise State University, and Co-founder and Director of Preclinical Studies at Cognigenics. Dr. Rohn is also the author of Brain Medicine: Breakthroughs in Gene Therapy for Anxiety & Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders, a brand new book exploring how CRISPR, RNA interference, neurogenetics, and precision psychiatry could reshape the future of mental health treatment. We take a deeply personal and scientific look at anxiety. Dr. Rohn shares how his own experiences with chronic anxiety and PTSD helped inspire his work, while also explaining the brain biology behind anxiety, including the roles of serotonin, GABA, the amygdala, hippocampus, insula, and thalamus. A major focus of the episode is the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, produced through the HTR2A gene, and why this receptor has become an important target in Dr. Rohn’s preclinical research. Kira and Dr. Rohn explore how today’s treatments broadly influence serotonin signaling, while emerging gene-based approaches may someday allow researchers to more precisely reduce or silence specific pathways involved in anxiety. The episode also breaks down the difference between CRISPR gene editing and RNA interference, including why reversibility, safety, off-target effects, and long-term consequences matter so much when discussing potential therapies for the brain. Dr. Rohn also explains one of the biggest challenges in the field: getting therapies across the blood-brain barrier. Because this science is still preclinical, the conversation also focuses on how to talk about hope responsibly. Could gene therapy someday help treat anxiety at its source? Possibly. But there are major scientific, regulatory, ethical, and access questions that need to be answered before these approaches could become part of clinical care. In This Episode, We Discuss: The lived experience of anxiety, PTSD, and chronic hypervigilanceWhy anxiety is shaped by both genes and environmentHow current anxiety treatments work, including SSRIs, benzodiazepines, CBT, and service animalsWhy SSRIs can help some people but fall short for othersThe role of serotonin, GABA, and brain circuits in anxietyWhat the 5-HT2A receptor is and why it mattersHow the HTR2A gene leads to production of the 5-HT2A receptor proteinThe difference between broadly changing serotonin levels and targeting a specific receptor pathwayHow CRISPR could be used to make more permanent DNA changesHow RNA interference could offer a more temporary or reversible way to reduce gene expressionWhat preclinical animal studies can and cannot tell usWhy the blood-brain barrier is such a major challenge for brain-targeted therapiesEthical questions around using gene therapy for mental health conditionsHow to balance scientific excitement with caution and realistic expectations Guest Bio Dr. Troy Rohn is a neuroscientist, professor at Boise State University, and Co-founder and Director of Preclinical Studies at Cognigenics. His research has focused on neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and memory impairment. In his book Brain Medicine: Breakthroughs in Gene Therapy for Anxiety & Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Dr. Rohn explores how gene therapy, CRISPR, RNA interference, and precision psychiatry could open new possibilities for treating anxiety and other brain-based conditions. About the Book Brain Medicine: Breakthroughs in Gene Therapy for Anxiety & Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders explores the future of mental health treatment through the lens of gene therapy and neurogenetics. Blending personal story with neuroscience, Dr. Troy Rohn examines how technologies like CRISPR and RNA interference may one day allow researchers to target anxiety-related pathways with greater precision than current medications. The book also addresses the scientific and ethical complexities of this field, including safety, access, regulatory approval, the blood-brain barrier, and the challenge of moving from promising preclinical research to human clinical trials. Key Terms 5-HT2A receptor: A serotonin receptor involved in brain signaling, mood, perception, cognition, and emotional processing. HTR2A gene: The gene that provides instructions for making the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. SSRI: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a class of medications commonly used to treat anxiety and depression by increasing serotonin availability in the brain. Examples are Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, among others. CRISPR: A gene-editing technology that can be used to make targeted changes to DNA. RNA ...
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    32 mins
  • #395 Mapping Melanoma: How Spatial Biology Is Advancing Cancer Research

    #395 Mapping Melanoma: How Spatial Biology Is Advancing Cancer Research
    May 22 2026
    What if we could study melanoma not just cell by cell, but in the exact place those cells live inside the tumor? That is the promise of spatial biology. In this episode of DNA Today, we explore how emerging genomic technologies are transforming melanoma research by allowing scientists to examine not only which cells are present in a tumor, but where they are located, how they interact, and why those relationships matter. May is Melanoma Awareness Month, making this an important time to spotlight how tools like spatial transcriptomics, single-cell sequencing, and multiomics approaches are helping researchers better understand tumor behavior, immune response, and treatment resistance. Joining us are Professors Thomas Tüting and Andreas Braun, German dermatologists and researchers whose work focuses on melanoma, tumor immunology, and translational cancer research. We are also joined by Dr. Jia Hui Khoo, Product Manager at MGI, who brings expertise in spatial biology and the technologies helping make this research possible. Together, we discuss an exciting melanoma research project profiling human melanoma samples from the University Hospital Magdeburg’s biobank, using MGI’s DCSP approach, which spans DNA, cell omics, spatial omics, and proteomics. This work has the potential to deepen our understanding of melanoma biology, tumor heterogeneity, immune landscapes, and the future of precision oncology. In this Episode, We Discuss: How melanoma research and treatment have evolved, especially with the rise of immunology and immunotherapy.Why human melanoma biobanks are so valuable for translational cancer research.How spatial biology helps researchers understand tumors in context, not just as isolated cells.Why the location of cells within a tumor matters for understanding melanoma progression and immune response.How spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing can reveal differences between patients who respond well to immunotherapy and those who do not.What researchers hope to learn by profiling STOmics spatial transcriptomics datasets alongside matched single-cell datasets from human melanoma and mouse models.How MGI’s DNBSEQ and STOmics technologies support oncology research.What MGI’s DCSP approach brings to melanoma research by integrating DNA, cell omics, spatial omics, and proteomics.Why high-resolution spatial technologies like Stereo-seq may be especially important for studying the tumor microenvironment.How multiomics research could eventually inform biomarker discovery, patient stratification, therapeutic development, and the future of human pathology. Guests: Professor Thomas Tüting, MD is Professor and Chairman of Dermatology at University Hospital Magdeburg in Germany, where his work focuses on tumor immunology, melanoma progression, metastasis, and resistance to cancer immunotherapy. He trained in dermatology at University Hospital Mainz and completed research training in experimental tumor immunology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research has explored how the immune system shapes melanoma biology, including the role of inflammation, tumor plasticity, and the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression and treatment response. In 2024, Professor Tüting was awarded an ERC Synergy Grant with collaborators at Uppsala University to advance immunotherapy research for malignant melanoma and brain tumors, with a focus on the vascular-immune interface and local anti-tumor immune activation. Professor Andreas D. Braun, MD is a dermatologist and researcher in the Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology at the University Hospital Schlewsig-Holstein in Lübeck. His research centers on melanoma biology, tumor progression, metastatic spread, and mechanisms that influence response or resistance to immunotherapy. Professor Braun has co-authored studies on topics including Hgf-Met and BRAF signaling in melanoma, tumor-intrinsic Toll-like receptor 4 signaling, MHC-I downregulation, CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and metastatic spread in melanoma. His work bridges clinical dermatology and translational cancer research, with a focus on using molecular and immunologic insights to better understand melanoma behavior and treatment response. Dr. Jia Hui Khoo specializes in spatial biology and single-cell technologies. She leads the DCS portfolio at MGI EU&AF, advancing the adoption of spatial biology solutions. DCS represents MGI’s three core technology areas: DNA genomics, cell omics, and spatial omics. She began her work at MGI by leading collaborations using Stereo-seq with research institutions across Europe and now drives product strategy for the company’s spatial multi-omics portfolio. Resources & Links MGI’s Stereo-seq Technology MGI’s Spatial Temporal Omics MGI Tech and NUS Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Collaborate on Multi-Omics DCS Lab Researchers from Uppsala and Magdeburg obtain an ERC Synergy Grant to advance cancer immunotherapy Relevant DNA ...
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    28 mins
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