“Something old, something new…”

“… something borrowed, something blue!”

Nah, no one is getting married from Genetics and Health. But the quote is apt at describing the changes at this site in the next few weeks.

Genetics and Health has been a terrific place to get information on (almost) every topic covered by the fields of genetics, health and medicine. But I am so thrilled about the upbeat direction that the site is headed, because it will reach a wider base of readers, be more reader-friendly and you will love the new look!

Genetics can be intimidating (even I feel that way, believe me), and that’s what I want to change. At least I’ll try my best to. So we’ll have a weekly feature that explains genes in simpler terms. We’ll have fun with mini-quizzes and stuff that students can use. I’m interested in bringing in more stories from those who know family or have personal genetic conditions. Mine is a very strong family history of allergies. I absorb anything in the literature that help me understand it better and help my family manage our allergies. I am sure my stories can help someone else, and vice versa.

So anyway, these are some of the changes I have in mind. Do you have other things you want Genetics and Health to cover? I welcome suggestions!

Now, if you’ve been following the site, you can tell that my love for research shows through in what I mostly covered. I’ll definitely keep up with the research, because these are exciting times! The media carry at least one story about breakthroughs in genetics. The hope is getting brighter that someday (soon), we will find successful therapies and treatments to various diseases. Personalized medicine – knowing what your gene sequence and genetic risks are – is revolutionizing the way people manage their health. And it’s just going to get better! At the same time, the issues surrounding genetically modified food, gene therapies, and stem cells are still as controversial as ever. And that’s a good thing.

But like I wrote above, I will try my best to make research easier to absorb. So tell me if it’s going over your head! I will gladly explain them better.

So that’s it for now. Stay tuned!

Image:Newscom