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`Blog 2/18

This week my mentor and I discussed new ideas for final product and discussed working on creating a presentation for March 14th. My mentor is doing a presentation on March 14th and she asked if I could help her find videos and put together and design a presentation. I am really excited to do this and I hope that I can add useful and valuable information to her presentation. This sparked our discussion for final product as we discussed numerous misconceptions and gray areas concerning patient understanding of genetic counseling and cancer development. I am planning on creating a portfolio of resources that can be used by both patients and healthcare providers to educate and clarify information for patients. I am very excited to put this together because it will teach me about patient care and education as well as the specifics of cancer development and genetic counseling. It will be challenging because I want to connect cancer development directly to epigenetic theories which isn't done very often. It will require extensive research and support from my mentor but I am very excited to introduce a comprehensive resource for cancer patients will introducing a unique and emerging theory in genetics and cancer. I also prepared for my speech and put together my digital portfolio this week. I had to redo my blog section of my portfolio which took some time but I really like the new format. I also focused on finding a way to begin and end my speech and have a theme/ continuity throughout my speech, which was a little frustrating but I have brainstormed a few ideas.

Blog 2/11

This week during my mentor visit, we discussed the idea from last week, a questionnaire to identify issues associated with the CYP450 gene, and found that it might be difficult to continue. It is a feasible idea, but it is not closely related to my mentor's field. She is a cancer geneticist and this topic has a more psychological connection. Since it is also a very specific gene, I was thinking of changing the gene I am researching or studying a particular type of cancer. Since I already submitted the first draft of the product proposal it was challenging to come discuss completely different ideas and restart my topic proposal. My mentor was very helpful and gave me numerous ideas to research and look into for my final product. We discussed researching how ethnicity affects the CYP gene, or the check 2 gene. I was very interested in the check 2 gene because certain variations only affect certain ethnic groups such as hispanics. I am going to continue researching this and looking into ideas for this for my final product. We also talked about DiGeorge Syndrome, Dystrophin, and inframe and out of frame mutations. My mentor also gave me a few contacts and geneticists’ research to look into. I need to research these topics quickly because I have to submit an updated final product draft to my mentor so she can fill out a form by the 18th. I have a lot of very interesting topic to look into so I am very excited to research and pick a final product

Blog 2/3

During my mentor visit, Mrs. Reeves and I discussed ideas for a final product. After discussing guidelines and requirements for final product we discussed possible products. She suggested two ideas for questionnaires and possible awareness programs. We began our meeting by discussing the scope of psychology within epigenetics. She pointed out that research is very limited and there are very few topics and feasible products. I noticed this when I was researching last semester and trying to complete my original work. There was enough research to finish my educational program but it would be difficult to continue this semester with the same specificity. I completely agree with her so I decided to focus less on the psychological and epigenetic aspect. She also discussed how this particular subfield isn’t part align with her current job. She works with cancer patients and provides genetic counseling which is different from psychology counseling in epigenetics. After this discussion, and the challenges I faced last semester with a very specific topic, I decided to start on all genetics and work from there. Mrs. Reeves mentioned a case where a mother with a newborn was given morphine, but it metabolized too quickly due to a cytochrome change which caused her baby to die after breastfeeding. I was very shocked by this story and I am really interested in researching this further. The next idea we discussed was creating an awareness program to educate patients and the general public on the actual role of genetic counselors. As we talked Mrs. Reeves and I discussed potential misinformation and misunderstanding of the role of genetic counselors in the public’s perception. I personally thought that genetic counseling was more heavily focused on the counseling part but I learned that genetic counselors typically only see their patients one or twice. They focus more on education and explaining test results and recommendation genetic tests. I also thought that genetic counselors often focused on expecting mothers and newborns, but I learned that even neonatal geneticists don’t focus heavily on recommending actions the mother should take during pregnancy. Mrs. Reeves pointed out that patients often believe genetic counselors advise patients on choices to make during pregnancy and alter genes, however, they mainly focus on explaining test results. I was surprised to hear that that was a common public perception because I didn’t associate genetic counselors with baby modeling or eugenics, however, I learned those are both perceived to be a part of this specialty.

Blog 1/27

This week I had Winter Showcase and I presented my board on epigenetic psychology. I had brochures to give out to guests and had a speech prepared. I had a lot of people come up to me and ask about the topic since it wasn't familiar to them. One psychologist came and spoke to me about the epigenetics and it was very encouraging. I had a lot of students that I teach and parents from dance and I was able to share a different aspect of my life with them. At the beginning of the symposium my board was falling apart while I was in the restroom. However, by the time I came back my teachers and classmates were helping me put everything back together. I was so grateful that everyone came together to help me fix everything. When I was talking to guests I had to make connections with topics they were more familiar with such as nature vs. nurture. I had a lot of middle school and underclassmen from high schools talk to me about opportunities in highschool to gain a foundation in the medical field or psychology. I had a really great time at Winter Showcase and I learned a lot as I looked at other students' presentation. It was a great experience to improve my communication skills and become more confident and comfortable with my topic. It was tiring and I said the same thing numerous times but it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it.

Blog 12/2

This week I researched the role of eating habits, exercise, drug and alcohol abuse, and sleep habits on epigenetics. I was very surprised to read the vast difference in the levels of sleep students receive. As they get older they tend to receive less sleep but I was unaware that a majority of students fit under one or multiple sleep disorders according to their responses. I will need to research the data in the United States and specifically in North Texas to confirm my assumption, but I believe an education program can spark change towards the direction of improvement. I want to show students this data so they are aware of their current condition and help them understand the consequences of their habits. I hope this can help students understand the value of sleep and a healthy diet as well as balance so they can effectively plan their schedule prioritizing sleep. For my original work, I hope to bring awareness and educate students on what happens biologically when they struggle with a disorder. The articles I read this week were very eye-opening and helped me understand the issue of implementation in regards to healthy habits. Although students know that they need sleep, it is difficult for them to prioritize it which causes a lack of consistency and value of healthy habits in their lifestyle. These articles also gave me the idea of focusing on helping students identify a holistic health plan which incorporates their understanding of the role of genetics and environmental factors in their mental health. I want to help students understand the complex relationship between these factors and their impact on overall health. Next week I would like to understand sleep habits in our community so I can create a targeted education method for our school.

Blog 11/18

This week I decided on what my original work would be for this semester. I know I want to spread awareness on epigenetics in psychological diseases, but I need to look into the methods I can use. I would like to contact the APs and the counselors to get permission to begin my original work with the school. I want to talk to the student council as well to see if I can see their previous presentations and find the gap in education. Right now I know that students don’t know the environmental and biological interactions that lead to the cause of disorders, but I’m not sure if teaching students this can actually lead to change. It might confuse them more, or it might just make them more cautious of all of their actions. I want to take a look at the presentations and research the environmental factors that can impact disorders that affect teenagers. Right now, I’m thinking of creating a proposal for my original work and conducting one presentation. For my final product, I would like to actually create the program/support group. I had an interview scheduled this week but it got canceled so I am contacting more professionals this week to schedule another interview. Next week I want to pick a certain disease to focus on and decide what I want to focus on(aspects of the disorder)for my presentation.

Blog 11/4

This week I had an interview with an ENT doctor in Frisco. Dr. Huang discussed her experience through medical school and college and through her residency. She emphasized the importance of doctors to be well-rounded and build character. Reading books for fun, and participating in extracurricular activities help build exposure and gives students an outlet. I agree that reading helps build soft skills that are essential for every professional but I would like to know why Dr. Huang stressed its importance in medicine countless times. I am researching genetics so I asked about the role genes have played in her experience as an ENT. She explained that in a few maternally inherited disorders such as Maxillonasal Dysplasia, and Meckel Syndrome genes play a significant role. However, she didn't go into detail about these disorders, but after researching them I decided they aren't relevant in our age group so I won't be able to incorporate them in my original work. She has also worked with a team on creating an ear cream for children and the product is currently in its final stages of production. We also discussed private practice and her experience in residency versus her private ENT clinic. She gets to plan her hours and put together her own team of nurses and technicians. She mainly consults at her private practice and performs elective surgeries at hospitals. From this interview, I learned that a big part of private practice is focused on creating a business and I think I would prefer to work in a hospital setting. I am not researching ENT in ISM but I still learned a lot This interview went very well and I gained a valuable overview of the career path to become a doctor. I also learned the differences between working private practice and in a large hospital setting. For next week I can research genetic disorders that are prevalent in our age group.

Blog Post #5

At Business Symposium I had the opportunity to meet with numerous experienced professionals and gain valuable experiences. My first interview was with a junior at the University of Texas at Dallas and it went very well and strengthened my confidence. This interview felt more like a natural conversation since we discussed school and college rather than having a very formal interview. She studies speech pathology at UTD and has had the opportunity to work closely with the UTSW research center on campus. I didn’t know that UTSW had a research center at UTD so I learned a lot about the opportunities offered at UTD and a possible career path I can take to lay a foundation for medical school. She looked over my resume and suggested some formatting corrections and recommended that I add dates dance and violin in the activities section. I had a really great time in this interview and I gained valuable information about college and UTD in particular which gave me a better understanding of what I can get out of college and made me more excited for my college experience. My second interview was more professional since there was a combination of both conversation and formal interview questions. This interview also went very well but I wasn’t as confident in this one as my previous interview. I can work on building my confidence in more formal settings and depending on the scenario become more comfortable in a formal interview setting. Business Symposium gave the chance to learn more about the intricacies of the professional world and it made me more excited to simply plan for my future. Being able to talk to former ISM students, college students and professionals helped me visualize the power of the hard work I can put in during high school and its impact on my future. I also learned that it is acceptable to be unsure of your career path or switch field during the education or professional life. It is always important to have clear goals and passions and stick to them .

Blog Post #4

This week I had a research interview with a genetic counselor at The University of Texas Southwestern. He specializes in cancer genetics and has worked on a case for rectal cancer. We discussed epigenetics and the complex interactions between environmental factors and genetic expression. There is an ongoing study analyzing the interaction between genes and the environment that define genetic expression. As a result it can be challenging to provide patients and families with a clear diagnosis. We discussed the challenges that genetic counselors face when helping families with complex and sensitive disorders. He explained how the focus is to relate to their current circumstances and approach the situation with compassion and sympathy. It is important to explain thoroughly to the families the complexity of their condition and answer all their questions clearly. It is important to communicate with them and follow up with them and their families to ensure a holistic approach. We also discussed DNA methylation-based prenatal testing and its potential in preventative material. The interview went very well and I learned a lot about the current technology and issues in the field. This week I also completed my topic proposal and decided to study epigenetics and DNA methylation testing and its accuracy due to the influence of environmental factors.

Blog Post #3

Last week I researched epigenetics and the intricacies of the nature vs. nurture debate. The article I read discussed the potential of DNA methylation and its ability to detect and even prevent the expression of genetic defects. However, the article I read didn’t evaluate the consequences of the practicality of the invasive testing process. This week I researched the practicality, safety and accuracy of DNA methylation-based Prenatal testing.The complexity of gene methylation and the confounding variables associated with gestational age and cell-type-specific differences limit the accuracy of testing. Additionally the stage of pregnancy and gestational development make it challenging to trace the progression of mutations and predict their outcome. It is difficult to determine what cells in the placenta are affected by mutation and which genes are currently “turned on or off.” Although it may be challenging for me to research the highly technical aspects of cffDNA and the location of AF and CV in the placenta, I can research the environmental factors that alter the expression of genes. I would also like to research how DNA methylation can improve the education provided to mothers positive environmental factors, and health care plans. Next week I would like to further my understanding of what how environmental factors and genetic markers interact to create gene expressions.

Blog Post #2

Blog Post #1

Through ISM I would like to gain a foundation in genetics, so this week I looked into a topic we learned in AP Psychology: nature vs. nurture. This article focused on epigenetics, highlighting the various perspectives that analyze the extent to which the environment and genes play a role in shaping all human expressions. At this stage in technological development, it is agreed by most scientists that both genetics and environment are vital to expression, however, some believe that genes can be turned on and off, while others believe that genetics are strengthened or altered during the formative stages of life. The article cited schizophrenia in twins to emphasize the importance of the environment in genetic expression. Although twins are genetically similar, they can present genes differently; One twin can develop schizophrenia while the other doesn’t. I need to conduct further research to determine exactly what environmental factors account for the difference in expression, since twins typically share the same environmental factors. I also learned about the ability for a gene to be turned on and off during pregnancy with the use of methyl. The ability to identify and treat diseases even before the baby is born is an impactful and innovative solution in the field of preventive medicine. However, the article I read didn’t outline the potential consequences and confounding effects that genetic alteration can have. Next week, I need to research the effects that methyl treatment during pregnancy, and how practical treatment is with current technology and resources. The next step is to find more studies that attempt to prove a correlation between genetics and the environment and analyze the potential that those findings can have to the field of preventative medicine. I would also like to research how gene promoters can be altered and what factors strengthen or weaken the correlation. What environmental factors significantly alter the expression of the gene from its promoter and what stages of pregnancy are these factors most influential.

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