How genetics and environment work together to shape our destiny: Milena Georgieva at TEDxAUBG

Milena Georgieva is a young scientist in Bulgaria with lots of prestigious awards for best scientific excellence practices. Here, she describes the way our DNA functions. The way we live, the way we talk, the way we breathe and the environment is what shapes our destinies and is controlling our genomes.

About half-way through, she explains the comet assay which is used to evaluate genetic damage caused by chemicals such as food dyes or toxins, and she shows the results of three food dyes and their effect on DNA. In response to a request, I have transcribed this section and it can be seen here.

She graduated from the University of Sofia, Faculty of Biology in 2001 and since then have been working at the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, where she obtained her PhD in Molecular Biology.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.