CGS-authored
The Poikonen family's first stop at the State Fair Thursday morning was for nine pronto pups.
Their second? The University of Minnesota building, where Melissa Poikonen and three of her children answered health questions and gave DNA samples as part of an ambitious new research project on human genetics.
Consenting to the U's "Gopher Kids'' study wasn't part of the Poikonens' fair plan, but a recruiter quickly convinced the Mound, Minn., family to take part.
"My son just wanted a sweatshirt," said Darren Poikonen, who watched as volunteers took his kids' blood pressure. "We didn't know about this until we were in here."
U of M researchers, who announced plans for the research project earlier this summer, were surprised by the wave of volunteers who arrived early on the fair's first day. Their goal by Labor Day is to collect DNA and health information from 500 children, along with their biological parents, for research that could ultimately map out the genetics of healthy children -- and thereby identify the genetics that lead to childhood diseases.
Lead researcher Logan Spector anticipated...