Applications of Biotechnology: Forensic Science - Maria Reyes

Introduction:

Making a slideshow with Rayna, Shay, and Mia about forensic evidence as a branch of biotechnology made biotechnology feel way more real than just something that happens in a lab. AP Bio talks a lot about DNA structure, replication, and gel electrophoresis, but forensic science shows how those concepts actually solve crimes. Shows like Law & Order and Dexter make DNA evidence look dramatic, but learning how a simple saliva swab can connect someone to a crime scene decades later proves that the science is just as intense in real life. Researching how investigators analyze blood, hair, and other trace evidence pushed the group to think critically about accuracy, limitations, and the ethics of genetic databases. Taking forensic science junior year made the project even better because the class was genuinely fun, especially the semester two project where Rayna and I created and presented an entire crime scene investigation from scratch. That experience made biotechnology feel hands-on, not just theoretical, and definitely something worth recommending.

Applications of Biotech: Forensic Science

Reflection:

Looking back at the project, I realized how much biotechnology has completely changed forensic science. Learning about DNA profiling, toxicology, and fingerprint analysis showed me that solving crimes is just as much about lab precision as it is about investigation. In the slideshow, we explained what forensic evidence actually includes and how samples like blood or saliva get analyzed and compared. The cold case example showed how newer DNA tools can reopen investigations years later, but if I could redo the project, I would focus more on recent breakthroughs in DNA technology itself instead of centering mostly on one case. I also liked that we ended with the privacy question about genetic databases because that sparked real discussion about consent and limits in law enforcement.

There are definitely things I would fix. Some slides had too much text, and stronger visuals would have made everything clearer and more engaging. Breaking down complex processes with diagrams instead of paragraphs would have improved the overall impact.

Visiting the crime lab in San Mateo last year made this topic feel even more real to me. Walking through the different departments and hearing how much detailed work goes into every single test showed me how intense and careful forensic investigations actually are. I also really enjoyed having professionals visit our class junior year DNA analysts, lawyers, and police officers because each one explained their role in the system and how biotechnology affects their job. Hearing directly from people in the field made forensic science feel less like a TV storyline and more like a serious, evolving career built on accuracy and constant scientific improvement.

Ghost in Your Genes - Julianna Loar

 Did you know that a banana has more genes than humans?! But how are humans far more complex than bananas with so few genes? Well, that’s because of epigenetics, the turning on and off of specific genes in the body.

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Epigenetics plays just as important a role as your DNA. While your DNA codes for how your body functions, epigenetics determines when and if those genes are expressed. When a protein “hugs” a DNA sequence too tightly, the gene can turn off, essentially hiding the gene from the body. Team AP Bio watched “Ghost in Your Genes,” a documentary specifically about epigenetics and how epigenetics can impact everyday life for individuals.

Watch the trailer here! 

The documentary highlights an important experiment about identical twins. While identical twins share the same DNA, twins still have vast differences due to epigenetics. In the experiment, 40 sets of twins of all ages were gathered, and the individuals’ DNA was sampled.

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Scientists found that twins at a younger age had fewer epigenetic tags, indicating that the DNA was more fully expressed. However, identical twins at an older age had multiple epigenetic tags on different parts of the DNA, causing vast differences, such as one twin getting breast cancer and the other not. I found the experiment especially interesting because the results proved that epigenetics can play a significant role in how our DNA is expressed and can be influenced by environmental factors such as age.

Additionally, Ghost in Your Genes described how other environmental factors, such as diet, played a crucial role in individuals living in a Swedish village. The experiment found that grandparents who ate lots of food raised the chances for the future generations to get diabetes, even if the grandparents themselves didn’t get the disorder. On the other hand, famine was linked to lower rates of diabetes in the future, in which limited food intake changed how certain genes were expressed. 

By mentioning how everyday choices individuals make, such as diet and exercise, can impact health, the documentary reminds viewers to treat the body with care.

Other factors that can affect your genome include…

• Smoking
• Infections
• (click here to learn more)

Overall, I found watching the documentary to be very eye-opening. Now that I know that every choice I make, or environment I’m in, can affect my body, I will be more cautious of the decisions I make and will ultimately work towards living a better, healthier life. So, I highly recommend watching Ghost in Your Genes!

Feel free to comment below with one lifestyle change you could make to prevent harmful epigenetic tags from turning off healthy gene expression!

Genetic Symposium: Alpha Thalassemia - Aleeya Baqai

I’m sure you all have heard about blood types – Type A, B, AB, or O +/-. But, have you thought about other variations we could have in our blood?
Alpha thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the body does not produce enough alpha-globin chains, thus not enough hemoglobin, a key component of red blood cells.
Meet Chris – a seemingly normal guy whose blood works differently from yours or mine, even from his parents’ or siblings’. Let’s explore the molecular basis of the disease and hear from Chris:

Overall, I am happy with how the video turned out! I am proud of the research we conducted – I especially enjoyed the erythroid differentiation aspect and the epistasis connection between HBA-1 & 2 (production of alpha-globin) and MCS-R (expression of alpha-globin). In terms of the content, our condition required molecular explanations, and I feel we did a good job illustrating the depth. However, we did not have much time to talk about Chris in terms of what he has to avoid and why alpha thalassemia does not impact his day-to-day activities, so we did some more research as to why.

Generally, Chris’ reduced symptoms can be attributed to both genetic and epigenetic causes (alteration of gene expression by behavior, diet, and environment).

Genetically speaking, the body has two HBA-1, two HBA-2, and one MCS-R2 genes. Perhaps Chris’ 3 large fragment mutations occurred in certain areas of the genes, such that his body still produces enough alpha-globin chains to mitigate symptoms. For example, if he still has one complete set of HBA 1, HBA 2, and MCS-R2 genes, his blood would still produce some adequate healthy red blood cells.

Additionally, epigenetic factors such as a healthy lifestyle – taking iron/vitamin supplements and staying active – may also impact Chris positively. Exercise stimulates erythropoiesis, increasing the number of red blood cells and their oxygen-carrying capacity. For Chris, who has fewer RBCs than a normal individual, an active lifestyle makes up for the overall RBC reduction. Learn more about epigenetics in thalassemia.

As part of our Genetics Symposium, we also heard about a variety of disorders as well, specifically Ehlers-Danlos, Cystic Fibrosis, Breast Cancer, Huntington’s, Turner’s Syndrome, Famililar Hypercholestoralemia, and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Some of these are autosomal dominant, others are recessive, some are X-linked, and some not even inherited — Turner’s syndrome occurs because of a accidental missing/partial X chromosome. While I learned so much from each of these disorders individually, I was overall amazed how a mutation’s impacts can vary so vastly, from a condition like Alpha Thalassemia which is very easy to live with, compared to DMD where patients begin declining at 3 years old and live to their mid-20s, on average. Additionally, many of these disorders are treated with gene therapy, sparking fruitful discussions about ethics and access. For example, genetic counselors are hesitant when testing a fetus for Huntington’s disease because of the nature of the disease (with the mental degredation) but do not have the same standards for breast cancer or familial hypercholesterolemia. Especially with the latter, one can experience heart attacks and triple bypasses in their 30s – so why don’t we have the same caliber, even though the onset of symptoms occurs at a similar age?

Let me know what you think about genetic testing and therapy in the comments below. Stay tuned for posts about epigenetic studies and genetic counseling!

Genetics & Health Symposium: Turner Syndrome - Keira Kennon

Did you know that Turner syndrome affects 1 in every 2,000 to 2,500 live female births? Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting only females, caused by the complete or partial absence of one of the two X chromosomes. Turner syndrome is not inherited and occurs randomly, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Some symptoms include short stature, delayed puberty, heart or kidney abnormalities, and infertility. Turner syndrome is usually diagnosed through genetic testing. Early diagnosis and medical care can improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients. For me, learning about Turner syndrome highlighted the importance of genetic awareness, early diagnosis, and medical care in improving the lives of those affected.

Over the last week and a half in AP Bio class, Amelia, Maria, and I explored Turner syndrome in depth through our health symposium project. Though I have heard of Turner syndrome before, I didn’t know how complex the condition is. The health symposium project pushed me to understand the genetic cause of the condition and how the deletion of part or all of an X chromosome can affect the body. My group research helped us explain symptoms, diagnose through genetic testing, and outline treatment options such as hormone therapy, while also highlighting how early medical care can improve long-term health outcomes.

Creating our video on Turner syndrome was a meaningful learning experience, especially in terms of presenting complex information. As a group, we worked to ensure our content was accurate and easy to follow. We chose a patient-doctor scenario to explain Turner Syndrome because this format allowed us to present the information in a realistic and engaging way. Our choice helped show Turner syndrome in a real-life experience and made the topic more personal.

I think my group did a great job with our video, but there are a few areas where we could improve. I think my group could have spent more time discussing the emotional and psychological challenges that people with Turner syndrome may face. Adding information on emotional and psychological challenges would help viewers understand that genetic conditions affect more than just physical health. Another improvement we could have made to our infographics is to have less text. I think that having too many words on the images may overwhelm viewers or distract from what we are talking about. The last improvement we could make is to speak more slowly and clearly throughout the video to make the information easier to understand and not rushed.

One of the biggest challenges my group faced was finding someone to interview who could provide insight into Turner syndrome. At first, we had difficulty finding people who were available and willing to share personal experiences, which was frustrating and time-consuming. However, in the end, we were able to interview both a genetic counselor and a family member of a patient with Turner syndrome. Both perspectives made our video more meaningful and strengthened the overall quality of our presentation by connecting scientific information to human experiences.

Overall, the project strengthened our teamwork and communication skills. Even though we faced some communication issues, I think one of our biggest glows was collaboration. We brainstormed creative ideas together and supported each other when challenges came up. I also think our patient-and-doctor scenario was a strong aspect of our project because the content was engaging and connected medical information to real-life situations. Through the genetics and health symposium, I gained a deeper understanding of Turner syndrome and genetic disorders in general.