San Diego Blood Donors Get Free Genome Sequencing
By David Wagner,
KPBS
| 11. 24. 2015
Untitled Document
A select group of blood donors at this year's Chargers Blood Drive gave one extra tube of blood. That's because they're not just donating blood — they're also getting their genome sequenced.
San Diego-based Illumina is providing free sequencing to 70 San Diego Blood Bank donors. The Blood Bank's goal is to compile a DNA database for researchers to comb through in hopes of pinpointing genes linked with health outcomes.
La Mesa resident Penelope Navarro was one of the pre-selected participants. She signed up to learn about the diseases her family may need to look out for.
"I'm a breast cancer survivor," Navarro said. "And I have children and grandchildren. So I thought an experience like this would help in perhaps finding out whether or not that's something they might need to be looking into as they grow older."
By participating, Navarro agreed to provide her DNA for research purposes, letting scientists search her genes for correlations with diseases like breast cancer. She'll also be able to access her genome online and learn more about it at an...
Related Articles
By Annika Inampudi, Science | 08.01.2025
In June, Sara* received a message asking whether she wanted to continue to participate in a massive, multicenter research project led by scientists at Aarhus University in Denmark. The iPsych study, the message said, had sequenced her genetic data from...
The Center for Genetics and Society is delighted to recommend the current edition of GMWatch Review – Number 589. UK-based GMWatch, a long-standing ally, was founded in 1998 by Jonathan Matthews as an independent organization seeking to counter the enormous corporate political power and propaganda of the GMO industry and its supporters. Matthews and Claire Robinson are its directors and managing editors.
CGS works to ensure that social justice, equity, human rights, and democratic governance are front...
By Katherine Drabiak, Journal of Medical Ethics Forum | 08.07.2025
Adapted from Mitochondrial DNA at
National Human Genome Research Institute
Recently, media outlets around the world have been reporting on children born from pronuclear genome transfer (sometimes called “3-parent IVF,” “mitochondrial donation” or “mitochondrial replacement therapy”) at Newcastle Fertility Center...
By Annika Inampudi, Science | 07.10.2025
Before a baby in the United States reaches a few days old, doctors will run biochemical tests on a few drops of their blood to catch certain genetic diseases that need immediate care to prevent brain damage or other serious...
