Bozeman Magazine

Doctors and scientists have discovered links between certain diseases and specific signatures or markers in DNA. This medical advance is not only revolutionizing disease treatment, it is sometimes now used to prevent diseases. Part 1 of this program will provide an overview of the modern techniques scientists use to uncover information in DNA. We will focus on a few techniques that are commercially available to all of us to predict and treat disease (as well as to uncover human ancestry). Part 2 will explore further the concept of “risk of disease.” We will work through specific examples of how DNA is used to indicate the likelihood of disease (e.g. cancer) and the progression of diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS), and a few non-disease traits (e.g. baldness.) Seth Walk is an Assistant Professor at Montana State University in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. He grew up in Pennsylvania, where he attended Penn State University, and later moved to Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. in Zoology from Michigan State University and postdoctoral training from the University of Michigan. He, his wife Heather, and son David moved to Bozeman in 2013. Wonderlust is for people who want to continue learning throughout their lives. Non-credit (no-grade) classes are taught by knowledgeable experts and provide the opportunity to interact with fellow learners who have similar interests.Wonderlust programs at the Belgrade Community Library are free and open to the public thanks to sponsorship by First Interstate Bank.