TED Radio Hour The secrets in your baby's genes
Jan 9, 2026
Dr. Robert C. Green, a genomics researcher and co-founder of Nurture Genomics, discusses the groundbreaking BabySeq project that sequences infants' DNA to uncover hidden health risks. He highlights the balance between potential life-saving information and ethical dilemmas, such as privacy and the fear of eugenics. Parents share powerful stories of how early detection changed their child's health trajectory, while bioethicist Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross raises concerns about overdiagnosis and public trust in genomic testing. The conversation dives deep into the future of preventive genomics.
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Genomics As Preventive Medicine
- Preventive genomics uses DNA to warn about future health risks so families can act to mitigate or prevent disease.
- Robert C. Green frames genomic information like a preventive drug that changes behavior and care when disclosed.
First Healthy Newborn Genome Sequenced
- On April 22, 2015, BabySeq sequenced the first healthy newborn's genome as part of a clinical trial.
- The trial aimed to analyze newborn DNA early to find treatable conditions before irreversible damage occurs.
Many Babies Carry Actionable Risk Variants
- Screening ~400 treatable genes found mutations in about 4% of babies; expanding to ~5,000 genes raised that to ~12%.
- These are risk factors, not certainties, but together represent a large public-health burden.
