4 Topic Commentaries

DNA Doesn’t Have to Die with Us

DNA Doesn’t Have to Die with Us

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  Elizabeth M. McNally, MD, PhD

  Genetic medicine and cardiology

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  Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

  It's very important for state and county medical examiners to save blood samples, because analyzing those samples can give families options about testing themselves after sudden death of a young individual.

  Source
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  Steven White, MD, PhD

  Pathology and forensic pathology

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  Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

  While genetic testing may help in understanding the underlying pathology in sudden, unexpected death, the greatest benefit is to surviving family members with the hope of preventing future deaths, further highlighting that autopsies, whether conventional or molecular, are performed to benefit the living.

  Source
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  Martin Tristani-Firouzi, MD

  Pediatric cardiology and inherited arrhythmias

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  University of Utah Health

  So the term "molecular autopsy" refers to the ability to do DNA analysis of the deceased victim and that really goes the step beyond the traditional histological autopsy.

  Source
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  Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD

  Genetic cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology

  •

  Mayo Clinic

  When the pursuit of the genotype gets in front of the establishment of the phenotype, bad things happen.

  Source