Mircea Iliescu, researcher at the University of Cambridge and visiting professor at the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), joined us for a conversation about genetics and what it reveals about our similarities and differences.
Among other things, we learned that humans are 99,9% genetically identical, with our genes significantly influencing our appearance and even our interests in specific fields. However, the environment we live in also plays a key role: our lifestyle can mitigate certain genetic predispositions, including those related to health. In this context, UB Dose of Science asked Mircea Iliescu how lifestyle choices can help prevent genetic predispositions to serious medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. We also discussed how studying genes can help improve our understanding and ability to fight these diseases.
What exactly is genetics, and what does medical genomics entail? To what extent are we shaped by our genetics versus our environment? How can genetics help prevent serious illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes? When was the first human genome draft completed, and how much did it cost? How is genome sequencing performed today, and what are its real-world applications? What will the future of medicine look like, and how will genetics influence it?
Geneticist Mircea Iliescu answers all these questions and more in this episode of UB Dose of Science.
Episode 19 of the series UB Dose of Science is just one click away!
As Mircea Iliescu explains from the start, genetics is a challenging field. It aims to unravel the complexities of our biology and to study DNA, the genetic code found in every cell of our bodies that defines who we are. In other words, it’s the collection of genes we inherit from our parents that shape our physical, psychological, and behavioral traits.
So, what exactly is DNA? Simply put, DNA is a code that can be compared to a “string of pearls,” and it differs from person to person, from animal to animal, and from plant to plant, each organism having its own unique genetic code. In humans, this genetic code shapes our biology and features, such as eye, hair, and skin color, height, metabolism, immune response, disease susceptibility, and even our dietary preferences and intolerances.
The human genetic code consists of three billion units, and while we are 99,9% identical, the small differences, whether visible or not, make each of us one-of-a-kind. In addition to influencing our appearance and behavior, genes can also predispose us to various medical conditions, some of which can be quite serious. As Mircea Iliescu emphasizes, this is where genetics becomes invaluable, by identifying the genetic variants responsible for these diseases.
Genetics and its applications in medicine are essential for understanding issues directly related to the human genome. Consequently, the fields of medical genomics and personalized medicine are emerging as key trends, offering significant benefits to society.
As our guest further explains, while researchers have not yet fully uncovered the exact function of every gene or how certain genes contribute to specific predispositions, the ability to analyze genomes more efficiently and use real-time computational tools means that, in the future, we will be able to identify the genetic causes of various conditions with greater precision.
In episode 19 of UB Dose of Science, Mircea Iliescu delves deeper into DNA, genetics, and medical genomics, discussing the role of genetics in personalized medicine, its significance for the future of healthcare, and the current state of genetics research both globally and in Romania.
Mircea Iliescu holds a PhD in human genetics and evolution from the University of Cambridge, UK. Throughout his career, he has traveled across multiple continents to study the genetic evolution of different populations worldwide.
He currently leads international research projects bringing together scientists from Romania, India, and the UK to explore the origins and evolution of diversity in groups with complex histories, such as the Romani minority and various populations in India. These studies aim to enhance the effective use of genetics in personalized medicine.
Mircea Iliescu is also a visiting professor at the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB). More details about his work are available on the University of Cambridge website here.
The UB Dose of Science proposes a concentrated and dynamic manner of sharing scientific information in a lively, expressive and inciting format, establishing a dialogue platform, establishing a dialogue platform with the broad public interested in science.
The guests featured in this series, designed to be a synthetic yet captivating communication manner of various scientific fields, are primarily professors and researchers within the academic community of the University of Bucharest.
The materials presented in the UB Science Dose include short and dynamic presentations of subjects relevant for contemporary society: pollution, climate change, education, digitalization, significant contributions to research, and others. Next to the fundamental need to communicate scientifically proven information, the Dose proposes an important component of social responsibility, confirming the role and mission of the University of Bucharest in society and contributing to increasing awareness on acute contemporary problems and finding and promoting possible solutions for them.
SECŢIUNE ACCESIBILIZATĂ PENTRU PERSOANELE CU DIZABILITĂŢI DE VEDERE
Postări asemănătoare:
ArchaeoSciences Round Table: Palaeogenetic and Archaeological Perspectives in Romania. Speaker: Dr. Mircea Iliescu, researcher at the University of Cambridge and visiting professor at ICUB
The Rare Diseases Institute of Aix-Marseille University, unique opportunity in the field of genetics for PhD students. Master’s students or UB researchers are also invited to apply
