These days, the line between science fiction and real news might seem surprisingly thin as headlines address clones, 23-and-Me, de-extinction, and gene-editing therapies. Most of us here can probably attest to the fact that ADHD runs in families… but what do words like genetic and heritable really mean? If you’ve searched the internet to learn more, you may have found the two types of results: “yes, ADHD is genetic” and “an update to our understanding of the genetics of ADHD for clinicians.” In order to bridge the chasm between those two categories, this session will help attendees understand the basic principles of genetics (what’s a gene, how does it work, and more!), and of what we know about the genetics of ADHD (why polygenic risk scores are easier to understand than you might guess, what’s up with epigenetics, how do we decide what to research, and what have we found so far). Be prepared, though, for bad puns and good metaphors - this talk is 100% safe for the nonbiologists among us!