TrUE Scholars
In learning about qPCR, which stands for quantitative polymerase chain reaction, it is a technology used for measuring DNA in PCR. I had thought it was a cool topic to learn about as in lab we had 5xFAD mice which is basically a Alzheimer's mouse model, and because mice are ninety-nine percent genetically similar to us humans, they are great models because they have a short generation time. The gene expression seem in mice is also very similar, so we can use these models to infer and predict what will occur in a human study. What we have done in this study is we took three genes that we see in humans that cause Alzheimer's and we put them into the mice genome and made them express them, so were able to see how human genes look in a mice model. A challenge I anticipate to overcome is learning the Preseed Study which is to test the effectiveness of BT2, as this is used as a treatment when mice are first injected at two months and then at three months as they are then sacrificed at four months to see the progressiveness such as this an example seen in cancer patients when being treated. My mentor and I have started to work on me shadowing and learning from the senior undergraduates on how to perform a qPCR Test, Protein Assays, and Western Blots so far. Overall, this experience has been amazing and beneficial in me being able to see how I am able to apply what I have learned from my classes to uses in the real world. I have made many connections within in the lab, in learning helpful knowledge from them as my mentor and peers have truly been helpful in allowing my to obtain such useful knowledge that I am able to apply and use towards the future. As I aspire to follow in the medical field, being able to learn how Alzheimer's and Type 2 Diabetes correspond with each other has become very interesting to me, how Type 2 Diabetes may be able to help towards to cure towards Alzheimer's.