I have joined the About Weblogs Network as their newest blogger. My Genetics and Public Health Blog went live today.

From my inaugaural post:

Whoever you are and whatever you do, genetics play a big part in your life. From genetically modified food to genetic testing, genetic technology is changing our world. And soon, it will be changing you too.

Since I was in grade school, I?ve been fascinated by genetics and public health. My prize-winning sixth grade science fair project had DNA helices made of pipe cleaners and a family tree composed of old baby photos. In college, I learned about epidemiology–a public health discipline investigating the distribution and causes of disease in the population. It was the perfect chance for me to merge my two interests. In 1998, I graduated from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a PhD in epidemiology, division of genetic epidemiology.

With this background, I bring you the Genetics and Public Health Blog. I will help you connect the dots between scientific studies and real life. I’ll also show you what I think you need to know about the genetic revolution. How will understanding genetics help you maintain optimal health? How will genetics affect the medical care you receive? What genetic enhancements are in your future?

NB: If you need a refresher course on genetics, check out the animated primers created by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.