Genetics

[angedemusique]

At this point in time I'm still looking for a science project in either genomics or computer science, but I do have one particular project idea:

The effect of a person's genetic make-up on his/her susceptibility to lung cancer.

My problem, however, is having absolutely no idea how to go about testing it. I'd appreciate any help or other ideas within my two intrest topics.

Thanks.

(ninth grade student)

[Sareena Avadhany]

Hi angedemusique,

Picking a topic can be hard. Because you're interested in genomic or computer sciences, try looking at these two Science Buddies websites:

Computer Science:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ?from=Home

Genomics:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ?from=Home

Now are you going to be in ninth grade, or are you a rising sophomore? Biology is a must if you are interested in genomics. If you don't know much about genetics, or biology, there are some great books and websites out there that give really detailed and solid literary content. Just go to your local library or google it!

Good Luck!

Sareena

[angedemusique]

Thanks Sareena,

I'm still looking around for new topics, though. My latest idea is in population genetics: the effect of genetic diversity on a population's immunity to virus mutations.

I find that all of my project ideas turn out to be untestable- pretty useless.

...oh, and I'm a rising freshman...

[Sareena Avadhany]

Hi angedemusique,

This can be frustrating, when none of your ideas seem untestable. But you really have to think about angedemusique, why are your ideas untestable? From your latest idea, it seems that you are looking at a project that doesn't target a specific object in question, but an entire city or region, which has thousands of people.

You also have to look at your age level, how much you are capable of, and how much you have learned. Since you are a rising freshmen, I'm guessing this is your first time taking biology. Don't let this blanket your enthusiasm. Pick up a text book and start reading. You also want to look at good science weekly websites, or subscribe to Popular Science, Popular Mechanics or Scientifc American. These are all great magazines that talk about the latest techonology and advancements in science. Reading articles will give you an idea of what's out there and what are the problems.

You also have to realize that science fairs have strict rules. I don't think any interaction with viruses are permitted.

This is what I would suggest: Think about something - let's take your latest idea. The effect of genetic diversity on a population's immunity to virus mutations. The first question you need to ask yourself, what are the tools that are needed to start my project? If you can't answer that, then you definitely need to ask for some help. Talk to experts in the field your interested in. A great starting point is here! There are many accomplished scientists that are experts on this forum that can answer your question. Or, find friends/family friends/family that are affiliated with what you're interested in...find a local university, contact a professor in a biology department and email her. You'll be surprised how gracious people are in giving advice.

You also want to find connections to your own personal life. How is studying the affect of virus mutations on a population related to you? Judges are very interested in learning what started your interest...where did your passion originate. I would caution you not to do complicated projects "just because their complicated." Do a science project that you really are passionate about!

In my case, for example, my parents are South East Asians. Ayurveda is an ancient science of India. I became really interested in this hollistic study of medicine, and through this I found an article of a girl who studied the effect of curcumin, a traditional Indian herb, on alzheimer's disease. This is how I became interested in the bridge that connects eastern and western medicine.

My interest in this study was of genuine passion. Try to find something in your life that really connects with your project. It makes your mission much more realistic and tangible.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Sareena

[carolinethorn]

Hi angedemusique,

Sareena has some great advice about finding something that you are really passionate about. It can be hard though to find a project that seems immediately relevant and is within your skills range and budget. Even when you get to be an experienced researcher you often can't do the ultimate experiment that would really prove your theory because its too expensive! So often scientists have to be creative about finding a way to make the idea testable. Sometimes people use model systems - for example using yeast cells to look at experimental cancer drugs that it wouldn't be possible to test in a human or even an animal until they are shown to be effective. You said that you are interested in genomics. Doing experiments "in silico" (with a computer instead of "in vitro" in a test tube) can be another way to make it possible to look at things that cannot be tested otherwise.

One of your original ideas was about lung cancer and genetics. It might be possible to do a genomics project in that area. Many research groups make their data available so that other researchers and students can work with it. There are databases that have information from experiments that use microarray technology to look at thousands of genes in a patient sample. ( a microarray is a kind of experiment to measure which genes are active in a sample). You might be able to find some data from lung cancer samples. Then you could use software that finds patterns in the data to look for genes that are switched on in the cancer samples compared to a group of control samples.

Keep posting with your ideas so that people can help you along. I can certainly point you to places to find microarray data if you are interested in that.

best of luck,
Caroline

[angedemusique]

Thank you Sareena! You were a lot of help to my thinking process. And Caroline, I'm posting the latest status on my endeavor of a science project.

My new science teacher has shot down a project idea that I came up with. I was looking at the inheritance of a disease (cystic fibrosis) "in silico", as I think you put it. I was going to model the different genotypes possible for generations and how things like genetic drift and natural selection affected it... I suppose I have to take my teacher's word for it that it's not really trying anything new in the topic area.

Your information on lung cancer and genetics is intriguing, now that I have to start all over again. Doing a project like that using a database and a computer would definately be an advantage to me, since I have at the very most three months before my final paper is due.

Thank you for your help,

Jesika

[carolinethorn]

Hi Jesika,

Why don't you start looking at what microarrays are and at the database GEO to see if working with microarray data might be something you are interested in. It could be looking at lung cancer genetics or genes involved in all kinds of other processes.

Websites with microarray descriptions
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/prime ... rrays.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_microarray

GEO website
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/

GEO has hundreds of datasets from researchers all over the world studying all different kinds of things using microarrays. I searched lung cancer and found 32 datasets each with many samples. Most of the researchers have looked at the data within one dataset but you might be able to do something novel looking at data from different datasets or using a different analysis software to re-test data. A project that I think might be interesting is to look to see how many genes overlap between different lung cancer datasets and then do the same for another type of cancer and then see how many are common to them both.

Best of luck,
Caroline