Throughout the Explorers program I have had many great opportunities and experiences. During the past two weeks, from nine to four, I’ve learned so much which will definitely be a positive factor in considering a career path which involves science. I was given a large array of skills, both in the lab and outside of the lab. Both the teachers and the peers in this program make it so fun, inclusive, and respectful, all of which come together for the perfect experience.
Now, to the main attraction, my favorite highlight of this program: the Zebra fish tour!
We visited the Zebra fish lab on Friday, August 24, this is the location where they store Zebra fish which will then be used in many experiments. These Zebra fish are born and bred in the laboratory, many are used for tasks such as seeing how an embryo develops certain parts of the body, how they develop (the order of which they develop), and how certain genes can affect them when changing them by using a gene editor such as CRISPR. After seeing the fish, we were able to move into the neighboring room where Dr. Cecilia Moens had three different microscopes that we could use to look at fish embryo’s, one microscope contained each day of a Zebra fish’s embryo development, which is only three days, another had some Zebra fish which were mutated, and the last one contained Zebra fish which had a condition called Cyclopes fish which only had one eye.
The science behind the Zebra fish lab is, the Zebra fish develop so quickly we can get results much faster than a mouse or other animals, and it’s much more cost effective. Zebra fish also develop many organs and body parts that we, humans have, so it’s a great indicator as to how certain genes effect certain parts of our body. Zebra fish are also much easier to observe because their embryos are outside of the mother whereas with a mouse they’re inside, and if removed the embryos, both the mother and embryos are likely to die. In general, Zebra fish are much easier to use for research, which is why they’re such a fascinating and helpful animal in science research.
The Zebra fish lab, and speakers all made an impression on me because I never fully understood how animals are used in research, and from this experience I came away buzzing with interest and ideas. I love fish, so to see that Zebra fish are being used to help cure deadly diseases, and research other unknown facts that can help improve our understanding, I was truly at a loss for words, and I still am.
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