TED Radio Hour
TED Radio Hour

The secrets in your baby's genes

January 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Speakers & Context

  • The Format: Host-led interview expanding on a TED Talk, with guest deep-dive and counterpoint from a bioethicist.
  • The Key Players:
    • Guest: Dr. Robert Green, Professor of Medicine at Harvard/Mass General Brigham, pioneer in preventive genomics, co-leader of BabySeq/BabySeek trials, co-founder of Nurture Genomics—credible via 20+ years of RCTs proving low-distress genetic disclosure and high hidden-risk prevalence.
    • Counterpoint: Dr. Laney Friedman Ross, pediatrician/bioethicist—represents traditional medical caution on newborn screening expansion.
    • Host: Minoosh Zamarodi (NPR/TED Radio Hour), framing tech optimism vs. ethical risks.
  • The Vibe: Optimistic-technical with ⚖️ contrarian tension; reflective on ethics amid genomics hype.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Dr. Robert Green**
  • 2 (03:32) **Preventive Genomics Explained**
  • 3 (05:56) **Trials on Disclosing Genetic Risks**
  • 4 (08:26) **Launch of BabySeq Newborn Project**
  • 5 (12:52) **BabySeq Findings and Prevalence**
  • 6 (19:19) **Medical Community Backlash**
  • 7 (23:26) **Parent Stories and Treatable Conditions**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Genomics researcher Dr. Robert Green explains how sequencing babies’ DNA can reveal hidden health risks. This hour we explore where the benefits end and the ethical dilemmas begin.

Guests include Dr. Robert Green, bioethicist and pediatrician Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross and genetic counselor Bethany Zettler.

TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
TED Radio Hour

More from this podcast

TED Radio Hour →