13th Nerd Night on Friday, December 14th:
Ancestry
Help us Celebrate our One Year Anniversary!
Have you spit in a tube, plucked a hair follicle, or taken a cheek swab yet? Are you considering an over-the-counter genetic testing kit as a ‘the perfect’ holiday gift this year? Most of us want to know more about where our ancestors came from and what genetic traits we may have inherited from them. If you’d like to learn more about the science, accuracy, and broader societal implications of genetic testing kits, then don’t miss our next Nerd Night!
Speakers
- Dr. Michèle Shuster, an Associate Professor of Biology at NMSU with a background in cancer genetics and current focus on biology education will give a background on genetic testing, then discuss some of the concerns and limitations of genetic testing.
- Rebecca Hong, B.S., a Scientific Program Analyst at the Policy and Program Analysis Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute will discuss NIH studies on public concerns about genetic privacy raised by the Golden State Killer case.
- Dr. Ophra Leyser-Whalen, Assistant Professor at UTEP focusing on medical sociology, will discuss the broader sociological implications of human DNA tests and the data it generates
Where: Thunderbird Taproom inside of Whole Foods
When: Friday, December 14th at 7 pm