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About Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC

Morgan is a certified genetic counselor who received her master’s degree in human genetics and genetic counseling from Emory University in 2017. She currently works at Emory University as a genetic counselor specializing in Lysosomal Storage Diseases and is a regular ThinkGenetic blog author. Morgan also offers general information and resources to those who reach out to ThinkGenetic via email and social media.

Could a Biological Trojan Horse Help Us Cure Genetic Diseases?

August 8, 2018 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 10 Comments

Lab - Cells - Gene Therapy - Morgan Simmons -ThinkGenetic

Most medical treatments fall into four broad categories based on their goal: Preventive/prophylactic – avoiding the disease altogether Disease management – taking steps to ensure a long and healthy life… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: clinical trials, disease management, DNA, gene therapy, genes, genetic condition, genetic counseling, genetic counselor, genetic disease, genetic disorder, genetic testing, germ line cells, inherited condition, Morgan Simmons, personalized medicine, Rare Disease, somatic cells, treatment genetic disease

How Being Your Own Best Advocate Can Lead to Better Care for Genetic Conditions

May 2, 2018 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 2 Comments

by Deon Durst, Guest Contributor, Patient Advocate Living with Cat Eye Syndrome Editor’s Note: I am overjoyed to share this informative piece written by a gentleman who first contacted us… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Advocacy, Education Tagged With: Cat Eye Syndrome, diagnosis, genetic diagnosis, ocular coloboma, patient advocacy, patient advocate, self-advocacy, ThinkGenetic

Do You Love Your Genetic Condition?

March 14, 2018 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC Leave a Comment

ThinkGenetic Blog - Genetic Condition - Bottom Story - Morgan Simmons

Over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with patients at various stages in their diagnostic odyssey. I’ve seen people who have lived their whole lives knowing… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education, News Tagged With: diagnosis, diagnostic odyssey, genes, genetic condition, genetic counseling, genetic diagnosis, genetic disease, Marfan syndrome, Morgan Simmons, Rare Disease Day

The FDA Adds Gene Therapy to the Menu

January 24, 2018 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 1 Comment

Sometimes (read: most of the time), I think we as a society are pretty spoiled. Unlike our ancestors, we live in an age where many medical conditions and ailments can… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education, News Tagged With: blindness, FDA, gene therapy, genetic condition, genetic disease, inherited disease, Jesse Gelsinger, Leber congenital amaurosis, Luxturna, Morgan Simmons, rare diseases, Retinitis pigmentosa, RPE65 gene

A Millennial’s Guide to Family Health History

November 15, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 1 Comment

I am a millennial. There, I said it. If you’re wondering what I’m referring to, the word “millennial” typically refers to the generation that reached adulthood around the turn of… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: #NationalFamilyHealthHistoryDay, Alex’s Lemonade Stands, family health history, family history, genetic counselor, genetic disease, millennial, Morgan Simmons, National Family Health History Day, Susan G. Komen 3-Days, Thanksgiving

Before You Click to Order That Test – Tips for Understanding Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

October 10, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 6 Comments

Using advertising such as, ”Begin your genetics journey” to reach an innate desire we have to know what makes us unique, companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com have made direct-to-consumer (DTC)… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: direct-to-consumer, DTC, family history, genetic carrier, genetic disease, genetic testing, Morgan Simmons

Everyone’s a Mutant, After All – The Difference between Gene Mutations and Polymorphisms

September 13, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 1 Comment

If DNA is our body’s instructions for how to grow, develop, and function, then a change in these instructions must be bad, right? Turns out, not so much. In fact,… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: direct-to-consumer testing, DNA, DTC genetic testing, gene mutation, genes, Morgan Simmons, mutation, polymorphism, VOUS, VUS

Genetic disease. Genetic condition. Genetic disorder. Is there a difference?

August 23, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 8 Comments

This question comes up often. To be honest, even after my training in genetic counseling, I’ve had to Google the difference between these terms not just once, but multiple times…. CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: genetic condition, genetic disease, genetic disorder, Morgan Simmons

How Animals Help Us Understand Genetic Disease

August 2, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC Leave a Comment

Genetic Condition and Animals - ThinkGenetic

Did you know that more than 50% of Americans own pets? Whether they have cats, dogs, horses, birds, or tropical fish – Americans are pet lovers. And while ThinkGenetic focuses… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: animals and genes, Batten disease, CLHN6, CLN5, Ehlers-Danlos, Ernest Hemingway, Gaucher disease, gene mutations, genetic condition, genetic disease, genetic sequencing, Gregor Mendel, NCL, neuronal ceroid lipfuscinosis, pets, polydactyly, Thomas Hunt Morgan

“Something Smells… Fishy”: The Use of Smell in Genetic Diagnoses

June 2, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 4 Comments

Use of Smell in Genetic Diagnoses

Genetic diseases can be diagnosed using a variety of methods: physical exam, personal/family medical history, or tests performed in a laboratory.  But, did you know that smells can also be… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: genetic condition, getting diangosed, Isovaleric acidemia, maple syrup urine disease, Morgan Simmons, MSUD, olfactory receptors, PAH, Phenylketonuria, PKU, TMA, TMAU, Trimethylamiruria

Napoleon Bonaparte and Hereditary Cancer

April 10, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC Leave a Comment

He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat. – Napoleon Bonaparte Today we know that there are hereditary cancer syndromes that predispose families to develop various types of cancer…. CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Angelina Jolie, BRCA1, cancer, CDH1, E-cadherin, gene, hereditary cancer, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Morgan Simmons, Napoleon Bonaparte, No Stomach for Cancer, Parry Guildford, research, Society for Investigating Nature

In the Gray – Understanding Variants of Uncertain Significance or VUS in Your Genetic Testing

February 3, 2017 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 4 Comments

The acronyms VUS and VOUS stands for “variant of uncertain significance.” Just as it sounds, a VUS means that your genetic testing found a variant or change in one or… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: disease, family studies, genes, genetic testing, genetics, health issue, laboratories, labs, Morgan Simmons, nucleotides, variant of uncertain significance, VOUS, VUS

Tips for Compiling Your Family Health History

December 20, 2016 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 9 Comments

Scientists have long maintained that they can track human origins back to one region in Africa.  From there, our human ancestors spread up to Europe and outwards to settle in… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: chronic disease, family, family history, generations, genetic conditions, health history, medical conditions, Morgan Simmons, pedigree

The Inside Scoop on Genetic Counseling

November 14, 2016 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 5 Comments

Inside Scoop

If I were to ask you to sit back, close your eyes, remember your childhood, and ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up, what would you… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: genetic counseling, genetic counselor, genetics, Morgan Simmons, National Society of Genetic Counselors, NSGC, ThinkGenetic

Top Five Reasons to Join a Support Group

September 21, 2016 Morgan Simmons, MMSc, CGC 4 Comments

Living with or being the caregiver, family member, or friend of someone living with a genetic condition can be overwhelming at times. In addition to having questions and concerns, many… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: advocacy group, community, genetic condition, genetic disease, genetic disorder, Morgan Simmons, support group

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