This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Andres Moreno-Estrada, population geneticist and head of the Human Evolutionary Genomics Lab at LANGEBIO in Mexico. They discuss the creation and insights of the Mexican Biobank, the genetic diversity of Latin America, ancient human migration, and the role of locally-led research in shaping public health and scientific equity.

Show Notes: 

0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast

00:58 Welcome to Andres 

01:56 Andres’ motivation to pursue genetics

03:01 How and why Andres established the Mexican biobank with genotyping of more than 6,000 people

07:25 Surprising findings on ancestry and regional similarities from the Mexican biobank

09:26 Links between Indigenous ancestry, BMI, and disease-related traits

12:36 Reconstructing population history from the Mexican biobank

20:16 Tracing a single ancient contact between South America and Polynesia through shared Indigenous DNA

21:58 Collaborative genomics efforts across Latin America and the launch of a regional Human Cell Atlas

26:39 How biobanks can inform national health decisions and why prioritization is the missing link in Mexico

32:10 Public health applications of genetic data and the need for local and regional biobanks

35:17 How ancient DNA reveals early cultural mixing and the deep roots of Mexico’s Day of the Dead traditions

39:12 Closing remarks and a call for support and investment in locally-led science across Latin America and beyond

Find out more

• Moreno Lab (http://www.morenolab.org/)

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