The Genetics Podcast

This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Andres Moreno-Estrada, population geneticist and head of the Human Evolutionary Genomics Lab at LANGEBIO in Mexico. They discuss the creation and insights of the Mexican Biobank, the genetic diversity of Latin America, ancient human migration, and the role of locally-led research in shaping public health and scientific equity.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast

00:58 Welcome to Andres

01:56 Andres’ motivation to pursue genetics

03:01 How and why Andres established the Mexican biobank with genotyping of more than 6,000 people

07:25 Surprising findings on ancestry and regional similarities from the Mexican biobank

09:26 Links between Indigenous ancestry, BMI, and disease-related traits

12:36 Reconstructing population history from the Mexican biobank

20:16 Tracing a single ancient contact between South America and Polynesia through shared Indigenous DNA

21:58 Collaborative genomics efforts across Latin America and the launch of a regional Human Cell Atlas

26:39 How biobanks can inform national health decisions and why prioritization is the missing link in Mexico

32:10 Public health applications of genetic data and the need for local and regional biobanks

35:17 How ancient DNA reveals early cultural mixing and the deep roots of Mexico’s Day of the Dead traditions

39:12 Closing remarks and a call for support and investment in locally-led science across Latin America and beyond

Find out more

• Moreno Lab (http://www.morenolab.org/)

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link

This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Michelle Werner, CEO at Alltrna and CEO/Partner at Flagship Pioneering. They discuss Alltrna’s promising findings from its first preclinical study on using tRNA to rescue stop codon disease, the strategic use of basket trials, and more!

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast

01:00 Welcome to Michelle

02:13 Overview of Alltrna’s aims and the advantages of using tRNA to tackle stop codon disease

5:27 Using basket trials for genetic diseases

08:03 Highlights from Alltrna’s first preclinical study using tRNA to restore protein production to clinically meaningful levels in methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) and phenylketonuria (PKU)

14:02 Considerations in delivery techniques and Alltrna’s use of nanoparticles

19:22 Stability of tRNA and how engineered tRNAs are recognized in vivo

23:12 Strategic design of basket trials and diseases that are covered

26:16 Adaptive trial design in the rare genetic disease setting

28:15 Michelle’s experience with regulatory organizations on new approaches to trial design

32:14 Insights from spearheading Alltrna and Flagship Pioneering’s innovative approaches

37:26 Michelle’s lessons from working in big pharma versus a small biotech start-up

40:50 Closing remarks and a call for collaborators

Find out more

• Alltrna ( https://www.alltrna.com/)

Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link

Summary:

This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Helen O’Neill, molecular geneticist, founder of Hertility Health, and associate professor at University College London (UCL). They discuss how Helen’s experience as an identical twin sparked her interest in genetics, her firsthand account of the CRISPR baby controversy, and why stubborn perceptions and sensational headlines continue to cast a shadow over the gene editing field, despite major scientific progress.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast

00:59 Welcome to Helen and an overview of her career path and how being an identical twin sparked her interest in genetics

04:57 Technology shifts in embryonic and fetal biology over the span of Helen’s career

06:44 Helen’s firsthand account and reflections on the 2018 CRISPR baby controversy

11:56 Evolution of gene editing in the face of a stubborn perception of it

15:17 Findings from Helen’s recent study on the impact of genetic screening on embryo viability and the case for genome editing in IVF patients

20:09 The stalled progress of germline genome editing in the context of regulation and public opinion

24:08 How newborn genome sequencing could transform early diagnosis and reproductive decision-making

26:13 The origin story for Hertility Health and how it’s transforming women’s access to fertility care

32:14 The strong impact of personalized health recommendations

33:19 Challenges in using genetics to diagnose women’s health conditions and the vision for a longitudinal biobank

35:54 Future directions in Helen’s work on women’s health and genome editing

37:21 Closing remarks

Find out more

• Hertility Health ( https://hertilityhealth.com/)

Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link