Genetics and Health

Genetics Interview #11: Trisha of Ideas for Women

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on August 10th, 2006

This week, I interviewed Trisha of Ideas for Women for the Genetics and Health interview series. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t passionate about science, health, and women’s issues so I’m especially pleased to see more blogs by intelligent women devoted to making our world a better place.

1. How did you get the idea for the Ideas for Women website? You seem to be well-versed in health and science. What’s your background?

I have a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois, a M.S. in Biochemistry from Purdue and did research in molecular biology for a number of years, including graduate school and in industry. My research in graduate school involved vaccinia virus transcription factors and I worked in a high-throughput sequencing lab in a genomics department in my industry job.

I became interested in science when I was in the fifth grade. I remember a science teacher talking about the bases in DNA and something about ATP/ADP and I was fascinated that us humans were able to understand that much about what we are in that much detail and complexity.

Later I discovered Carl Sagan and watched the Cosmos series very religiously. I am a huge fan of his! I even have a special place on my book shelves for Carl Sagan books. He was my biggest influence in having a career in science. I wonder - if he was still alive today - would he have a blog? I think he would!

Trisha’s Carl Sagan bookshelf where she keeps her “Marvin the Martian and Tribbles on the same shelf since Carl Sagan was so interested in finding life on other planets.”

I honestly don’t remember how I got the original concept for ideasforwomen.com. I’ve had the site for three or so years now and it has just kind of evolved over time. I had a blog on it one other time around a couple years ago. I was too new to blogging though and didn’t know what to do with it and eventually took it down. Several months ago I felt I had a better feel for blogging and so I started it up again. I decided to focus most of the blog on health/science topics since that is what I know the best. My dream is to start up a general science blog someday when I have the time.

2. Do you think women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves? What do you think still needs to be done? What are the key women’s health issues today?

I think women’s health is starting to get the attention it deserves. What still needs to be done is things like earlier detection of diseases such as ovarian cancer, more individualized treatment and better screening methods. And of course, as women we need to have control over our own bodies.

3. Commercially available DNA tests are popping up left and right. What would entice you to try one?

Probably a lower price, since I doubt that our health insurance will pay for it!

4. How do you perceive geneticists and scientists? Are they working for good or evil?

For good! Science is the way forward. So much of our potential as a species and as individuals is tied to our progress in science. This includes progress in disease prevention and treatment as well as in understanding the nature of matter, space and time. For us to continue to survive as a species we need this knowledge of who and what we are.

Unfortunately we live in a time where there is much apathy toward science. A large percent of the population has at most a poor understanding of even the basic concepts of biology, physics and other scientific disciplines. Many are even against science - preferring instead to base their lives on superstition and illogical beliefs.

How do we increase interest and knowledge of science? I wish I knew the answer to this question.

5. Bioethicist Arthur Caplan believes genetic engineering will be the changing force of the 21st century. How does that make you feel? Do you fear it or eagerly anticipate it?

I eagerly anticipate it!

Thank you, Trisha! We’ll need lots of positive-thinking women like you to go forward in the genome revolution.

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