April 2016 – Letter from Truman
Hi, Kids!
Have you ever wondered what it is that makes you so special? Of course, there are many things that make each of us unique. One of them is our genetics. We are each made up of genes that determine what we look like as well as other things like whether or not we are likely to get certain diseases. Gregor Mendel is known as the father of modern genetics. It was his work in a monastery garden in the 1800s that laid the foundation for genetic study. Check out the “Connections” section to learn more about him.
Kevin Bishop is a technician within the National Human Genome Research Institute. He is working to understand and cure diseases like cancer. In “What’s It Like to Be …” he talks about the specifics of his work and how genetics plays a role in it.
I think it is great that scientists are studying to learn more about genes and how they work. I am happy with the genes I have. I hope you are, too!