Virologist Trudy Rey explains the complex world of viruses, their genetic makeup, how they infect cells, and the future of mRNA technology in vaccines and cancer treatment. For anyone curious about viral genetics and the science behind vaccines.

Key words:

viruses, viral genetics, mRNA vaccines, COVID-19, HIV, virus evolution, vaccine misconceptions, cancer vaccines, virology, immune response

Key Topics:

• Differences between DNA and RNA viruses
• Viral mutation rates and evolution
• How viruses hijack host cell machinery
• The science behind mRNA vaccines
• Myths and misconceptions about vaccines
• Future directions in vaccine technology and cancer treatment

Guest bio:

Gertrud Rey (who also goes by Trudy Rey) is a trained virologist who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She has a PhD in molecular genetics and biochemistry from Georgia State University, where her studies involved the analysis of various aspects of the genetics of West Nile virus and simian hemorrhagic fever virus. After finishing the PhD program in 2007, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she continued to study virology in the context of respiratory syncytial virus, with a more pronounced focus on immunology. During that time, she was also a lecturer at Georgia State University, where she designed an undergraduate biology course and supervised teaching assistants at the university’s biology laboratory. In 2012, she decided to shift her professional path and began pursuing a career in patent law. She is now registered as a patent agent at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and works for a major law firm. Her day to day responsibilities include preparing and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications in the field of molecular and cell biology, virology, biochemistry, genetic engineering, tissue engineering, transgenic biology, stem cell research, immunology, drug delivery, phage therapeutics, and medical devices. However, Trudy still spends much of her free time communicating science, both for virology blog, and for her very own YouTube channel, where she hosts a show about viruses called “Catch This.” Facebook - "Trudy Rey"; X and Bluesky - "Dr. T"; Instagram - "TrudyURey"

Resources related to today’s topic:

• Trudy’s YouTube page
• Virus Classification
• International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses

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Note that this podcast is for entertainment and education and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician with any questions you may have regarding your health.

The All Access DNA team includes: host, producer and editor Kate Wilson. The logo is designed by Designs by NKJ. Our Social Media Lead is Aryanah Estinvil.

In today's conversation, Kate Wilson welcomes Emalyn Cork to explore the complexities of the MTHFR gene, a topic that has sparked curiosity and confusion alike in both clinical settings and the general public. Emalyn explains the complexities of the MTHFR gene, debunks common misconceptions, and discusses when genetic testing is truly necessary.

Key words:

MTHFR, genetics, homocysteine, genetic testing, medical misinformation, folic acid, genetic variants, health risks, clinical utility, genetic counseling

Key Topics:

• What the MTHFR gene does in the body
• Common misconceptions about MTHFR variants
• When genetic testing for MTHFR is clinically relevant
• Risks of unnecessary genetic testing and treatments
• How to interpret genetic test results responsibly

Guest bio:

Emalyn is the Assistant Director of Genetic Counseling at Emory Healthcare. She works with pediatric and adult clinical genetics patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She graduated from Mount Sinai's genetic counseling training program in 2018 and worked as a genetic counselor in their clinic for inborn errors of metabolism before moving to Atlanta to join Emory's team in 2021. She has a special interest in metabolic and mitochondrial diseases and is passionate about the education and mentorship of genetics trainees.

Resources related to today’s topic:

• Findageneticcounselor.org to search for a genetic counselor near you
• Information on MTHFR from Cleveland Clinic

Give your feedback and help shape All Access DNA! Take our listener survey here: https://forms.gle/x82MKLRftpKH987s7

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.allaccessdna.com/newsletter

Please subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on new episodes of All Access DNA. Listen to past episodes on your favorite podcast play by searching “All Access DNA” or by streaming from our website at allaccessdna.podbean.com

Any inquiries on the podcast can be sent to AllAccessDNA@gmail.com

Note that this podcast is for entertainment and education and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician with any questions you may have regarding your health.

The All Access DNA team includes: host, producer and editor Kate Wilson. The logo is designed by Designs by NKJ. Our Social Media Lead is Aryanah Estinvil.

Dr. Betty Cohn discusses the complexities, ethical considerations, and current state of polygenic embryo screening and risk scores, highlighting the scientific, ethical, and societal challenges involved.

Key words: polygenic embryo screening, genetic testing, reproductive ethics, risk scores, embryo selection, genetic diversity, clinical validity, reproductive autonomy, bioethics

Key Topics:

• What polygenic embryo screening is and how it differs from single-gene testing
• The probabilistic nature of polygenic risk scores and their limitations
• Ethical implications of embryo selection based on risk scores
• Disparities and biases in polygenic risk scoring across ancestry groups
• The influence of commercial companies and lack of regulation in direct-to-consumer genetic testing
• The impact of societal values in embryo selection

Guest bio:

Betty Cohn is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Anna Wexler at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a PhD in Public Health Genetics from the University of Washington, a Master of Bioethics from the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, and a B.A. from Binghamton University. Her research examines the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging biotechnologies, including direct-to-consumer genetic testing, brain organoids, and polygenic risk scores. Her doctoral dissertation used qualitative methods to explore how individuals who discover a misattributed parentage experience through genetic testing navigate these findings, with a focus on online communities as sources of social support.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettycohn/

Twitter/X: @bettyccohn

Resources related to today’s topic:

• “Ethical and social implications of implementing polygenic embryo screening into clinical care: A scoping review” by Betty Cohn, Dorit Barlevy, Gabriel Lazaro-Munoz
• “Polygenic risk scores in the clinic: Health-system leaders and primary care providers weigh in” by Susan Brown Trinidad, Stephanie M Fullerton, Betty Cohn, David R Crosslin, Gail P Jarvik
• “Human Demographic History Impacts Genetic Risk Prediction across Diverse Populations” by Martin et al.

Give your feedback and help shape All Access DNA! Take our listener survey here: https://forms.gle/x82MKLRftpKH987s7

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Please subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on new episodes of All Access DNA. Listen to past episodes on your favorite podcast play by searching “All Access DNA” or by streaming from our website at allaccessdna.podbean.com

Any inquiries on the podcast can be sent to AllAccessDNA@gmail.com

Note that this podcast is for entertainment and education and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician with any questions you may have regarding your health.

The All Access DNA team includes: host, producer and editor Kate Wilson. The logo is designed by Designs by NKJ. Our Social Media Lead is Aryanah Estinvil.