Introducing Your Stories

Geneforum announces a new mode of interaction--the personal story. We already have three stories posted--each is different in content, subject, and length. Tomorrow, another story will be posted and several days later, another.

All these stories have one thing in common--they all deal with people's personal experiences with genetics. Vern, a student in a class at Portland State University, volunteered to have his DNA tested for the presence of a hemochromatosis gene. His story tells us what happened in the testing and how he dealt with the results.

A parent of a child conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) tells about the problems they had identifying the problem with their child--finally pegged as a de novo deletion (a new removal of some DNA bases) of the type known as ISCI.

And, I share a story of what I learned when my first child was born.

Check out these stories or--better yet--write one of your own. If you're uncomfortable writing it yourself, please write to me (mgodfrey39@mindspring.com) and I will help you write, edit, or whatever you wish.

Also, if you see a story in the news that you would like to know more about, or a person you would like to "meet", let me know and I'll try to obtain a more personal story for our pages.

Your Story is just that--your story, and mine, and any others who would like to share their experiences. You have to supply a name and email address to use the Geneforum site--but we will not share these with our readers. Just go to the Your Stories tab at the top of any Geneforum page and you will have the form and directions you need to submit Your Story.

It's even fun!

Marie Godfrey, PhD