Research is not just about winning but learning you fail a lot of times and it's okay. These past two weeks at the Hutch have been an amazing way to spend my summer, and learning more about cancer. Coming to Fred Hutch I didn't have any background knowledge about cancer but now I’m glad that I applied for Research Explorers Program to learn more. Now I have such a greater understanding about the immune system, cancer and mutations I feel like an expert. During labs not everything turns out how we think. We all do mistakes even if we do that doesn't mean we're dumb it means to never give up and keep on trying. I met many inspiring people that told their story about what they really love to research here at Fred Hutch. I will never forget the experience at the Hutch. Being able to make new friends and a community of young explorers. At school I wouldn't have had this opportunity to work with tools and labs that other advanced researchers use. At Fred Hutch I opened a box of so many types of research and pathways that I would like to take. I will never forget the experience at the Hutch, being able to make new friends and a community of young explorers. Thanks to everyone for your help and dedication who made this internship possible for all explorers!
I met many new scientists while we were visiting labs. I would never have thought to ever met a researcher or a scientist. One of my favorite lab was about C. elegans. I could see the wild C. elegans move to the direction where their food was. Compared to the mutated C. elegans that couldn't smell therefore stayed in the middle of the plate. Izzy and Tobby are SHIP (Summer High school Internship Program) interns I met during lunch I went to see their wet lab. They were researching yeast to do more research about human body, yeast which are very similar.
These past two weeks went so fast I wish we had more time. I had so much fun doing wet labs, some of my favorite labs were CRISPR Cas 9 and ELISA. CRISPR Cas 9 has three parts, first Cas 9 is a protein that cuts DNA. Guide RNA (gRNA) is like a map that tells it where to cut DNA and lastly the gRNA will see a PAM which is a NGG and cuts 3 nucleotides back from NGG. We did the ELISA lab to know an effective treatment by using a sample of tumor for three biomarkers associated with prognosis. We used ELISA strips to see our product after adding the designed antibodies to identify the substance like a specific antibodies in the presence of a sample. At the end of our lab our results showed us how Lori (our patient) can use hormone therapy. I've learned so much about teamwork and it's always good to have fun.
A memorable moment at Fred Hutch was when Raabaya Rossenkhan talked to us about her passion. Raabaya’s passion started since her childhood when she heard about people suffering from HIV in her country. From then she wanted to become a scientist. She was pushed away from her passion because being a woman she only had the opportunity to study food and environment science. Raabaya worked very hard to come all the way to where she is now. After her awesome presentation I understood it's fine to not know what career you want to succeed in your life. Raabaya said "Do whatever you do from your heart! Believe you can do whatever you want to do." I'm happy that I got to have a connection with Raabaya and having the feeling that I'm okay that I don't know what I'm studying next.
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