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Generation Genome: Meet the man mapping healthy baby DNA

Geneticist Dr. Robert Green is sequencing the DNA of healthy newborns to find hidden disease risks. This knowledge can save lives — but gene sequencing is not a crystal ball.

About Robert C. Green

Dr. Robert C. Green, MD, MPH is a medical geneticist and physician-scientist who directs the Genomes2People Research Program in preventative genomics and health outcomes at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. He serves as a principal investigator of the REVEAL, MedSeq, BabySeq and BEACONS projects. He is also the co-founder of the company Nurture Genomics.

About Bethany Zettler

Bethany Zettler is a senior genetic counselor and certified project manager with the Genomes2People Research Program.

About Lainie Friedman Ross

Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross is a physician and bioethicist at the University of Rochester as the Mark and Lois Taubman Distinguished Professor and inaugural Chair, Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics. She holds an MD and a PhD in philosophy.

This segment of the TED Radio Hour was produced by Phoebe Lett and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour and Manoush Zomorodi. You can follow us on Facebook and email us at TEDRadioHour@npr.org.

Web Resources

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Copyright 2026 NPR

Manoush Zomorodi
Manoush Zomorodi is the host of TED Radio Hour. She is a journalist, podcaster and media entrepreneur, and her work reflects her passion for investigating how technology and business are transforming humanity.
Phoebe Lett
Sanaz Meshkinpour
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
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