Final Project VECR
I was disappointed that I was not able to attend the Fred Hutch Explorer in person. Although, I enjoyed VECR. Even with the change of the program going online. One thing that I enjoyed the most is learning about the impostor phenomenon. I found the topic elating and interesting the way Alicia Morales explained it.
There's An Imposter [Syndrome] In Our Midst!: Imposter phenomenon has been defined as ‘the crippling feeling of self-doubt, intellectual inadequacy, and anticipated failure that haunts people who attribute their success to luck or help from others rather than their own abilities (From Werkin).
I was never aware that having-self-doubt or not appreciating one’s accomplishments had a name. We see that getting a high school diploma is nothing because it is a social norm, everyone gets it. In reality, the person who got their high school diploma should be proud of themselves because it is a major milestone in their education that they accomplished.
I found it funny that the impostor phenomenon shows that one may be a perfectionist or/and a natural genius. The people around me, especially my teachers and classmates would often call me “smart” or I am being too nitpicky about my work. Yet, I do not see myself as those characteristics. I am just some person getting by with average grades and smarts.
A few ways that the Imposter phenomenon can manifest itself to a person (From Alicia Morales).
Another topic in the impostor phenomenon I found interesting was Nature vs. Nurture, that the phenomenon can manifest itself in different ways. One can be naturally born with not appreciating their accomplishments in life. Or one can grow into the idea that little accomplishments are not a big deal. Like the example I had given above about graduating high school. It is a normalized accomplishment, there is no urge to celebrate it because you will be likely to go back into school again (college).
It’s not clear 100% if imposter phenomenon is naturally occurring or if it's nurtured, but researchers hypothesize that impostor phenomena are rooted in adverse childhood experiences( From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).
One of the most interesting pieces of research I enjoyed is about the Frankengene. The ‘Frankengene’ or the YAP gene is a cancer-causing mutation. This specific gene is found to be fused to many partners of genes in different tumors. This gene mutation was proven to be true through lab testing of different YAP gene fusions which concluded that the YAP triggers the tumors in their test subjects (mice). Scientists are targeting this gene to find ways to intervene to prevent mutations forming into cancer.
YAP or YAP65, is a protein that acts as a transcriptional regulator by activating the transcription of genes. It is involved in cell proliferation and suppressing apoptotic genes (From: Solution structures of the YAP65 WW domain and the variant L30 K in complex with the peptides GTPPPPYTVG, N-(n-octyl)-GPPPY and PLPPY and the application of peptide libraries reveal a minimal binding epitope. Pires JR, Taha-Nejad F, Toepert F, Ast T, Hoffmüller U, Schneider-Mergener J, Kühne R, Macias MJ, Oschkinat H. J. Mol. Biol. (2001) 314 p.1147-56).
The goal of the project is to create a drug that prevents the ‘Frankengene’ mutation. Another goal is how genes turned on by YAP can make the patient be a therapeutic target. The study is crucial because preventing the Frankengene from forming will save the lives of future and current patients with tumors. Not only that, with more understanding of how the Frankengene is formed, it enables researchers to find ways to fight cancers and tumors. With anti-YAP medicine only slowing the process, researchers may be able to create a drug to completely stop the mutation from happening.
A few differences between normal cells, and cancer cells (From BioNinja.com).
I chose this study because I was interested in how scientists, researchers, and doctors are sharing information to find ways to prevent cancers and tumors. They go into a deeper level by finding specific genes that trigger the tumor from forming and relating it to similar mutations like cancer. Both are somewhat interconnected, and it shows. Not only that, It presents the topic of gene editing to be a solution. Removing unwanted or harmful genes can extend humans’ life span and prevent slow death through gene mutations. Although, ethics come into play whether gene mutation is good or bad.
Overall, I enjoyed the experience and taking in the new knowledge I obtained from this class. I found this experience to widen my broad range of understandings. I never have thought that impostor syndrome was a thing and that it can either be nature or nurture. Also, how a small specific gene mutation can cause a dangerous genetic disease to form.
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