HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is opening its doors to the public next month for a discussion on the fast-moving world of genetics.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Kelly East, the institute’s vice president of educational outreach and a certified genetic counselor, will lead the latest installment of “HudsonAlpha U,” a community series designed to demystify advances in genomics. The talk will begin at 6 p.m. at the Jackson Center, 6001 Moquin Drive, in Huntsville.

East will discuss polygenic risk scores, explain what they are, the research behind them and how they may shape the future of healthcare. Participants will explore the field of ancestry genetics and learn how genetic testing can help unlock details about the past. East will also highlight recent research and news stories highlighting ethical and social considerations involved in ancestry genetics.

DNA is like a recipe book for the body—and within its pages are countless changes that can influence health. For many common conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s, risk isn’t determined by a single DNA change, but by a combination of many genetic factors, each contributing a small part to the bigger picture.

Combining all these factors provides a clearer picture of how the risk of developing a particular disease stacks up. That’s where polygenic risk scores come in. By combining information from across the genome, these scores can help estimate genetic risk for certain diseases—opening the door to more personalized, proactive approaches to health and medicine.

“HudsonAlpha U” is the name for HudsonAlpha public education programs and resources. Cultivating genomic literacy is a strategic goal of both HudsonAlpha and the HudsonAlpha Educational Outreach team. Events like this help citizens understand genomics concepts in an engaging way and bring new discoveries and biotechnology applications to life through in-person events and online resources. Additional “HudsonAlpha U” events will be scheduled for next year. The discussion topic changes at each event.

HudsonAlpha U events are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. To register, visit https://donate.hudsonalpha.org/event/hudsonalpha-u-nights-understanding-dna-and-disease-risk/e706311. This event is made possible thanks to support from the following sponsors: The James Cecil and Margaret Ashburn Foundation, The Jackson Center, Longview Financial Advisors Inc., and the HudsonAlpha Alumni Association.