The documentary Jim Allison: Breakthrough, wasn’t just a film about cancer research; it was a story about persistence, and resistance to the status quo, and how one person’s persistence can change medicine. Watching this documentary made me rethink how scientific progress actually happens and how much of it depends on human courage, not just intelligence. Watching this documentary felt both inspiring and frustrating. Inspiring because one scientist’s idea ended up saving thousands of lives, and frustrating because so many people initially refused to listen, Dr. Allison was repeatedly rejected.
The documentary explained how cancer can hide from the immune system by using proteins that shut down the killer T cells. Dr. Allison discovered that blocking these proteins allows the immune system to be able to attack these cancer cells. This concept directly connects to AP Biology topics such as immune response, cell communication, and protein signaling.
The documentary felt especially valuable because science was paired with real patient stories including his mom and 2 brothers who he lost to various cancers. Hearing from people whose lives were saved by his research made his work feel very real and meaningful. Seeing science applied directly to human lives made learning about immunotherapy more impactful when the real changes were showed.
One of the most surprising aspects was how much opposition Dr. Allison faced from pharmaceutical companies and other scientists. Many people doubted immune – based cancer treatment simply because chemotherapy had been the standard for so long. Another surprising detail was how emotionally invested Dr. Allison became in patient outcomes, showing that science involves empathy as much as logic.
From the Cancer History project, the film is also available through this link:
Hidden inside an ordinary strawberry is an extraordinary blueprint of life, revealed through a simple DNA extraction using everyday materials. To wrap up the first semester, Team AP Bio broke into smaller groups to perform a DNA extraction lab on strawberries to actually see DNA!
The DNA extraction lab, using strawberries, soap, and alcohol, helped me better understand how DNA exists inside cells and how DNA can be separated and observed. By crushing the strawberries, my group physically broke down the cell walls, while the soap dissolved cell membranes and nuclear membranes to release the DNA. The salt helped the DNA strands clump together, making the strands easier to see, and the cold alcohol caused the DNA to precipitate out of the solution. Seeing the white, stringy DNA form in the alcohol made the concept feel real rather than abstract. The lab showed how simple household materials can model complex biological processes. Overall, the activity reinforced how DNA is present in all living things and how scientific techniques allow students to isolate the DNA for study.
My group could have improved our video by more clearly explaining the role and influence of alcohol in the experiment, especially why the alcohol has to be very cold. Adding more information on alcohol would help viewers better understand the science behind what was happening, rather than just seeing the steps performed. We also could have improved the organization of the video by grouping all of the background information together at the beginning instead of placing the procedure in the middle, which disrupted the flow and made the video feel less cohesive. Finally, spending more time clearly demonstrating and explaining the mashing of the strawberries would have made the procedure easier to follow and helped emphasize why mashing strawberries is important for breaking down cell walls and releasing DNA.
Try extracting DNA from strawberries at home, and check out this website for more easy labs to conduct at home! Leave a comment below if you enjoyed extracting DNA just as much as I did!
Citations:
Animated biology With arpan. “Salting in and Salting Out | How Does Salting Out Happen? | What Is Salting in of Proteins?” YouTube, 4 Jan. 2020, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnhUh6qVD5Y
Libretexts. “4.2: DNA Extraction.” Biology LibreTexts, 28 May 2024, bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Harrisburg_Area_Community_College/BIOL_108%3A_Biology_for_Non-Majors_Lab_Manual/04%3A_Lab_3-_Biotechnology/4.02%3A_DNA_Extraction.
Oswald, Nick. “Ethanol Precipitation of DNA and RNA: An Authoritative Guide.” Bitesize Bio, 22 July 2024, bitesizebio.com/253/the-basics-how-ethanol-precipitation-of-dna-and-rna-works/#:~:text=The%20positively%20charged%20sodium%20ions,is%20often%20recommended%20in%20protocols.
Strawberry DNA Extraction Activity. 10 Aug. 2020, imb.uq.edu.au/strawberry-dna-extraction-activity.
Gupta, Nalini. “DNA Extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction.” Journal of Cytology, vol. 36, no. 2, Jan. 2019, p. 116. https://doi.org/10.4103/joc.joc_110_18.
The blueprint of life is something all living beings have; however, when asked, many people do not know what the blueprint looks like. With just a strawberry, a little dish soap, and some simple household ingredients, DNA can be extracted right on the kitchen counter. The simple experiment does not just reveal what makes up every living being, but is a way to explore the science behind genetics and uncover the secret life of strawberries one DNA strand at a time. The video will cover the steps as well as the DNA extraction taking place, and will then go into detail about how each step of the procedure is important in order for the DNA extraction to work.
The strawberry extraction experiment was an engaging way to be able to see DNA with human eyes, not through a microscope, and learn about the structure of DNA and what each step of the extraction process was important for the DNA to be extracted. Smashing the strawberry was crucial because the soft cell and membrane were broken, releasing the DNA inside. Adding detergent was equally important because detergents are amphipathic, meaning detergent interacted with the lipid tails of the nuclear and cell membranes, helping to break the membranes down. Adding salt was important because the salt allowed the DNA strands to clump together as the salt weakened the interactions between DNA and proteins, keeping the proteins dissolved in the solution. Finally, alcohol was essential for making the DNA visible, as alcohol has a lower polarity, allowing the sodium ions to bind tightly to the DNA, causing the DNA to precipitate. All of these steps work together to transform the invisible, microscopic DNA into a white, stringy layer that can be seen with the naked eye.
The experiment taught an important lesson about trial and error, as in the first attempt, adding too much solution diluted the DNA and prevented proper clumping, showing how even a small change can affect the results. However, after seeing the error, the experiment was tried again, and the second time the experiment was performed, the DNA was extracted.
Canva was used to make the images, allowing the group to be more creative and express certain aspects of the experiment in a different way than what the internet had to offer. Being creative also allowed my group to understand concepts such as why smashing the strawberry is important in DNA extraction, as my group could make images that made sense to us, making concepts clearer. Although not much time was given, my group managed to use music and videos from Wevideo, creating an upbeat tone, setting the mood for the video, and engaging the audience. Having moving images for the hook of the video drew the audience into the video, as the brain is naturally attracted to movement.
If another chance was given to improve the video, adding information on why chilling the alcohol impacted the DNA extraction would be added. DNA is less soluble in cold alcohol, meaning when alcohol is cold, the DNA precipitates out of the solution more readily instead of staying dissolved. Cold alcohol also helps DNA strands come together into large, thick clumps, making the DNA more visible. At lower temperatures, molecular motion slows down, meaning the sodium ions from the salt would remain bound to the negatively charged DNA more effectively, helping neutralise the charge and promote clumping. Another improvement made would be to level out the volume of the voices, so the audience does not have to change the level of volume just to hear each individual speaker.
“Everybody is passionate-You don't do this kind of work to make money. You do it because you love it.” — Dr. Jim Allison.
Biology impacts everyone on the planet. In my life, I have learned so much about evolution and growth. I began to love understanding why things are the way they are when I went tide pooling with my Dad and sister as a 7-year-old. I loved looking at the sea urchin and sea stars. Not only that, but I loved watching the octopus change colors. But most of all, I was fascinated by the systems of the ocean and all the sea creatures. Much like Dr. Jim Allison, we all find a reason to strive for something. Now in my life, I have found an interest in Sports Medicine because of my love for soccer and all the injuries I see around me. For Dr. Allison in the Documentary Breakthrough, he was inspired to study the immune system in relation to cancer because of the death of his mother when he was 11 years old, who was sick with lymphoma. If you would like to read more about Dr. Allison’s early life, look at this website.
After watching the documentary, Breakthrough, I began to make connections between the immune system and cancer, and so I was able to deepen my understanding of the immune system after learning about the complex processes in Season 2. I thought the film was very entertaining and thoroughly described how science can change the lives of many. Challenging what one may decide is possible can change the way people think and look at the world.
I learned many things about cancer therapies and research after watching this documentary. One of the main ideas I understood was about the CTLA-4 surface protein on a T-cell. First, a T- cell is a type of white blood cell that fights pathogens in the adaptive immune system. The T-cells recognize antigens on the surface of pathogens to stimulate the production of antibodies against the pathogen. Antigens can be used to mark the pathogen for destruction. If you would like to learn more about the processes of the immune system, watch this Amoeba Sisters Video.
Here is a timeline of How CTLA-4 surface protein works:
T-cell is activated
The T-cell recognizes the antigen and responds to the invader
CTLA-4 is produced
After activation, receptors are made and move to the surface of the cell
CTLA-4 binding
A slowdown signal is sent inside the cell
T-cell division and activity decrease.
Immune System response in controlled
CTLA-4 prevents over activation
Protects against autoimmune damage
Dr. Allison's research, he found that cancerous cells that form tumors trick the immune system by turning on CTLA-4, so T-cells will not kill the cancer. By understanding the role of CTLA-4, Dr. Allison could help produce a drug to fight cancer by making an antibody that blocks CTLA-4, so the immune response will still occur.
Dr. Allison’s research stimulated the development of ipilimumab, an antibody that effectively stops the CTLA-4 receptor from putting the brakes on the immune response. This immunotherapy drug drastically shifted the focus of cancer research from radiation and other traditional ways to target the tumor directly to creating medicines to aid the body fight off cancer from within.
By watching the documentary, I also learned more about how drug development works. Ipilimumab was first developed by Medarex, based in San Francisco, and was then bought by Bristol-Myers Squibb, a much larger biotech company. The process of creating the drug took 166 days and had to go through phase 1, 2, & 3 clinical trials which lasted many years.
WHAT ARE CLINICAL TRIALS? (CLICK ME!)
Phase 1 clinical trials test a small number of people and are designed to determine whether a drug is safe or potentially harmful and if 9 out of 10 participants experience failure or serious issues, the trial is stopped. Phase 1 results for ipilimumab showed that tumors disappeared in 3 out of 12 patients. Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials include many more patients, take place over a much longer period of time, and require significantly more funding in order to further test the drug’s effectiveness and safety.
I found this documentary highly educational, and I think by watching the film, I was able to gain a richer and deeper understanding of the immune system and cancer research. When I think of cancer and how people fight cancer, I immediately think of chemotherapy. However, I now know that there is a vast realm of cancer drugs, and as time passes, scientists are continuously looking for better and more successful ways to help millions around the globe.
As Team AP Bio, I want all of my classmates to look at the documentary as a reminder of why each individual has become interested in science. Whether students want to become doctors or veterinarians, each one has a role to play in the lives of people, just like Dr. Jim Allison. I am looking forward to when I can make a difference in the lives of athletes recovering from injuries, and I would like to help women suffering from ACL tears and understand the correlation between ligament tears and the menstrual cycle. Overall, I would like to embody Dr. Allison in the future by using my passion to make a change.
