Take the leap, reap the benefits The day before we closed the doors to our office in Ann Arbor, Michigan due to the COVID-19 pandemic last March, we interviewed a potential employee. After the interview, we had a nice conversation at a local restaurant. Looking back,...
When the pandemic began forcing companies to close their physical doors in March 2020, SoundRocket’s Founder and Chief Vision Officer Scott D. Crawford packed up a few belongings and told employees, “Let’s see how this goes. I’m sure we’ll return in a couple of...
Returning home from the 2020 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in Seattle, Washington in February of last year, it was clear to me that the world was about to change. I attended AAAS to explore new fields of science that could...
Based on a 2020 survey by dating app Plenty of Fish, 90% of US-based daters feel chemistry, not attractiveness, is the key to a lasting successful relationship. Genetic matchmaking sites that offer DNA testing to predict biological compatibility (i.e.: chemistry) couldn’t agree more.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we are taking a peek at these direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests and the science behind DNA–based dating . . .
More news in the consumer genomics space came this month when direct-to-consumer genetic testing company Ancestry announced they are discontinuing their AncestryHealth business. This move comes just months after receiving FDA approval for a direct-to-consumer...
Helix made headlines when they announced authorization from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for a whole exome sequencing platform, called the Helix Laboratory Platform. In the same breath, they also announced they obtained 510(k) clearance for their new...
If you’re looking for a last minute gift for friends or family this holiday season, you may be considering direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing kits. These saliva-based at-home DNA tests (offered by companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com) are available for quick...
The NHGRI, as an institute of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), is focused on the role of genomics in human health and disease. Working with key members of the genomics community, the NHGRI recently published its strategic vision in Nature.
With hope and anticipation, the NHGRI boldly predicts that . . .
One of the most common questions I am fielding today—with COVID-19 spreading across the nation, is now a good time to conduct surveys? Is the pandemic having an impact on response rates?
As one of my favorite grad school professors, Mick Couper, loved to say, “It depends.”
Whether one engages in a survey right now will depend on their current status. This may not be a good time to survey emergency department staff. Professionals who are engaged in conducting online surveys may also have their hands full of work (from home) and may not have much extra time to spare. But if you are surveying the general population, with exploding rates of unemployment, you may have better luck. Students in higher education have been ripped from their regular social routines and disconnected from others. They may welcome an opportunity to share their experiences . . .