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23 & You: The Future Science & Ethics of Genetics
Friday, November 22, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
Donations at the door or when you watch online are voluntary and only partially cover program costs. If you agree that continuing education is worth the investment, We’d love to hear from you.
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There’s enough DNA in all your cells to stretch from Earth to Saturn 9 whole times! But what can all that genetic information really tell us? Apparently – at least according to popular personalized genomics kits being sold online – everything from your health risks to your ideal music playlist or romantic partner… And while your DNA is rich and full of instructions for building and maintaining our bodies, the latest genetics research suggests we’re putting the cart way ahead of the horse, with potentially dangerous consequences. Let’s get up to date on the latest research, and discuss future ethical concerns we need to be considering in policy and health discussions today in this friendly but informative session.
BIOGRAPHY:
SAMANTHA YAMMINE, (she/her) is a neuroscientist, science communicator, and digital content producer. She earned her PhD from the University of Toronto researching how stem cells build the mammalian brain before birth and maintain it throughout adulthood. Samantha is passionate about empowering people to explore science by making it more familiar, accessible, and inclusive, taking an audience-first approach to share complex topics in clear and entertaining ways. She shares interactive science commentary and research updates on Instagram as @science.sam and regularly appears as a guest expert on popular media to discuss a range of scientific concepts. Samantha is a member of the Editorial Committee for the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers and the Program Committee for the Royal Canadian Institute for Science.