Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium | 2021
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/12695
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Browsing Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium | 2021 by Author "Anderson, Mary"
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Item CRISPR-Cas9: Gene Technology’s Sharpest Tool(2021) Dang, Mary; Angers, Kelsey L; Roy, Annastasia; Roma, Rebecca A; Brown, Damon L; Muleta, Mekdelawit; Ginegaw, Alexys; Anderson, MaryIn 2020, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for the discovery of a gene-editing system, CRISPR-Cas9, with the power to change the very fabric of our existence. CRISPR-Cas9 allows researchers to reconstruct DNA of living cells with the highest degree of flexibility and precision. Originating from an ancient defense mechanism in archaea bacteria, CRISPR-Cas9 has been effectively used to induce targeted mutations in multiple genes, create conditional alleles, and generate endogenic tagged proteins. This method differs from other geneediting techniques; it is low-cost and reduces the process from a number of years to a matter of weeks. Today, CRISPR-Cas9 is utilized in fields ranging from agriculture to medicine. However, in gaining access to such a powerful genetic tool, serial bioethical concerns were brought to the forefront within genome editing. Here, we discuss the various applications of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and ethical issues related.Item Examining Glutathione: Can’t I just take a pill?(2021) Gruber, Jennifer; Underwood, Marijane; Santibanez, JocelynGlutathione, a tripeptide, is formed in a two-step process and composed of three amino acids, cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. It is the most abundant antioxidant produced in the body. Antioxidants are important because they neutralize free radicals and oxidants. Glutathione is also important to mitochondrial health, recycling of vitamin C and E and immune function. Its importance sparks unscientific fads such as taking glutathione in pill form and including it in products such as makeup. Supplements and other antioxidants are not substitutions for the natural production of glutathione and an abundance or absence of glutathione can cause health problems. Understanding how glutathione is formed, its functions, and its role in disease is important. Because of its remarkable role in maintaining a proper biochemical environment, glutathione has gained recognition and will remain prevalent in research.Item Is the COVID vaccine right for me?(2021) Gruber, Jennifer; Rubinstein, Sofia; Haigh, Ethan; Ramezenpour, Zeinab; Weaver, Taylor; Anderson, MaryVaccines are an invention that are changing the course of history. Diseases that were once deadly like measles and smallpox are now almost nonexistent in modern society. But as our technology changed so did the world around us. The pandemic has been an event that changed the world. It is the first time in modern history that the world has dealt with something on this scale. The novelty of the issue demanded a new answer. mRNA vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer and protein centered vaccines by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca provide that opportunity. However, with new answers comes new questions. The main ones being how are they different and are they safe? To answer these questions, you must find out how they work, why they are effective, how they can be produced in such a short period of time, and what the future of vaccines will look like.Item Purification of Human γ-Glutamylcysteine Ligase Catalytic Subunit (GCLC)(2021) Ricketts, Daniel; Haynes, Lindsey; Martinez, Secilia; Domfe, Jennifer; Conrad-Webb, Heather; Anderson, Mary E; Anderson, MaryGlutathione (GSH; L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine), an intracellular antioxidant, has multiple important roles including, cellular protection against reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and toxic compounds. Low GSH is associated with a number of diseases. Biosynthesis of GSH is catalyzed by two ATP-dependent enzymes, γ-Glutamylcysteine ligase (GCL) and glutathione synthetase. While these enzyme’s activities are known, their regulation are not well understood, in part because of difficulty in purification, especially of the catalytic subunit of GCL (GCLC). Our goal is to improve purification of human GCLC, by modifying chromatography and induction parameters (i.e. temperature of induction, time of induction and/or amount of inducing agent.) so GSH synthesis can be studied. Supported by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Welch Grant.