Quirky Genes

My first week of genetics has been pretty awesome. I have seen people with all kinds of genetic disorders. It's pretty amazing, though occasionally sad.

I love telling a woman that she does NOT have the breast cancer gene.

I love telling new parents that their baby may have tested positive for cystic fibrosis, but in reality they DON'T have the disease.

I love the symptoms some of these patients come in with, my favorite being a girl who suffered from rage anytime she ate certain foods.

I hate the sad stories, though, like REALLY hate them. Today I met the brightest, coolest 7 year-old. She likely won't live very long due to her disease. She has two parents who love her dearly, who allegedly found her in a trash can at a restaurant in Cambodia when she was a newborn.

Then there was the little boy adopted from Russia who beats people up, hurts animals, has even killed a dog. His biological mother was a drug-addicted, alcoholic prostitute who fed him vodka as a baby to shut him up and physically, verbally and even sexually abused him along with her MANY MANY other children. I know he doesn't have a genetic disorder... poor thing is just broken.

With all the good and the bad, it still seems like I will be going for genetics. I love it and I know there will only be bigger and better advancements by the time I get there.