Jim Allison: Breakthrough - Mia Budelli

 

Jim Allison: Breakthrough

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:

From the Cancer Research Institute:

DNA Extraction From Strawberries - Maia Mejia-Young

 

DNA Extraction

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. “Molecular Polarity.” Chemistry LibreTexts, 30 Jan. 2023, chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Atomic_and_Molecular_Properties/Molecular_Polarity.

Libretexts. “19.2: Synthetic Detergents.” Chemistry LibreTexts, 14 Feb. 2021, chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Honolulu_Community_College/CHEM_100%3A_Chemistry_and_Society/19%3A_Household_Chemicals/19.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents.

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.

Lab Olympics - DNA Extraction - Emma Kistler

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. 

Breakthrough Documentary Exploration & Reflection - Maisie Street

“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. 

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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:

• 1. T-cell is activated
     • The T-cell recognizes the antigen and responds to the invader
• 1. CTLA-4 is produced
     • After activation, receptors are made and move to the surface of the cell
• 1. CTLA-4 binding
     • A slowdown signal is sent inside the cell
     • T-cell division and activity decrease.
• 1. 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.

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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.

Do what you have a passion for!

<3 Maisie

Applications of Biotechnology Forensics Evidence - Rayna Algama

Applications of Biotechnology: Forensic Evidence

What if a crime committed decades ago could be solved with just a swab of saliva? That is what forensic biotechnology can do. Forensic evidence is any information collected at a crime scene that can be used to investigate and solve a crime. It is based on scientific methods and includes materials such as DNA, fingerprints, blood samples, hair, fibers, and more. And with biotechnology, experts can analyze this evidence in a laboratory to identify suspects, confirm what happened, or rule out individuals who are not connected to the crime. Biotechnology allows forensics to use scientific tools that can link crime scene evidence to individuals. This presentation was created by Maria, Shay, Mia, and I. In our presentation, we break down how DNA evidence works in forensic investigations, share real-world uses, explore a breakthrough, and raise an important ethical question about personal privacy with genetic databases.

Our slide deck covered the basics and real world impacts of DNA biotechnology in forensic science. For our first visual, we started by explaining what forensic evidence is and how the evidence is used in criminal investigations. We also gave some examples of what would be considered forensic evidence. For our second visuals, we shared examples of how DNA has helped solve crimes. For our third visual, we focus on one specific cold case where biotechnology was used to convict a suspect, which showed how quickly forensic science is advancing and why this topic is still very relevant today. For our fifth visual, we raised an ethical question about privacy and consent, especially when law enforcement uses public genetic databases or ancestry testing services to identify or find/use/test the DNA of suspects. This led to a discussion in class.

One important thing we learned while creating this presentation was how useful biotech has become in criminal/forensic investigations. DNA evidence can be collected and analyzed much faster and more accurately than in the past. This helps investigators solve cases that may have gone unsolved for years or decades. It was interesting to learn that even a small amount of biological evidence can help connect a suspect to a crime scene. Biotech has also helped free innocent people who were wrongly accused because DNA testing can provide strong proof that someone was not involved in a crime and vice versa with convicting criminals who had gone free. At the same time, researching this has helped us understand the ethical concerns with using DNA databases and personal genetic information.

Some things we can improve on are that some of our slides had too much text, so adding clearer visuals or infographics would make the information more engaging. We could have improved the visuals to strengthen our presentation.

CDQ Finale: Changes in Earth’s Habitats - Ella Oldendorp

 

CDQ Finale: Changes in Earth’s Habitats

As Earth’s habitats shift due to habitat destruction, rising temperatures, and urbanization, the balance between humans, animals, and infectious diseases is being disrupted. Environmental changes create new opportunities for diseases to emerge and spread. As habitats continue to change, so do viruses, and with this, new outbreaks are certain to come in the future. This video focuses on the Curious Driving Driving Question “How do the changes in Earth’s habitats impact the emergence of infectious diseases?” Watch the video to learn more about the impacts of habitat destruction, rising temperatures, and urbanization on the emergence and spread of infectious disease.

Reflection

Making this video was a very rewarding experience and I learned a lot on how diseases emerge due to environmental factors such as urbanization, rising temperatures, and habitat destruction.

I am proud of creating the images for our video because this process allowed me to learn how to transfer information in words into visuals for my audience to see. I had to pick out key points and info that would not be in the text to display in my images. Then, I had to create the images myself in Canva and make sure my images were telling a story. Creating images proved that I understood the content and was able to put the content into visuals to teach my audience.

I am also proud of how I was able to edit my final video together using WeVideo. This part was not easy and required a lot of time spent moving audio and images around. Getting the video to be under 5 minutes was also hard and required editing lots of audio clips.

The content of my CDQ covered different factors of Earth’s changing habitats that contribute to emerging infectious diseases. I covered how when humans and wildlife are forced into closer contact, the risk of zoonotic spillover, or the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans, increases. The video also touched on how increased temperatures allow for viruses to spread to new areas, infect vectors more easily, and mutate within the vector. Lastly, I covered how large cities are incubators for zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that spread from animals to humans. All these concepts were expanded on in my video, so my audience would leave the video with new knowledge and insight.

To improve my video, I would have included more interactive elements and engaging images. I wanted to included videos instead of static images to provide a more entertaining and informative piece for my audience. Next time, I will definitely implement these improvements.

Overall, I had a great time creating my CDQ Finale video and learned so much about my topic. I can’t wait to share the video with my audience and I hope everyone who watches the video will learn something new.

Works Cited

Bisht, Karishma, and Aartjan te Velthuis. “Decoding the Role of Temperature in RNA Virus Infections.” MBio, edited by Jacob Yount, no. 5, American Society for Microbiology, Oct. 2022. Crossref, doi:10.1128/mbio.02021-22.

CDC. “Dengue on the Rise: Get the Facts.” Dengue, 2024, http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/stories/dengue-on-the-rise-get-the-facts.html.

CDC. “Lyme Disease Case Map.” Lyme Disease, 20 May 2024, http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/data-research/facts-stats/lyme-disease-case-map.html.

“Climate Change Causes Malaria Cases to Triple in Northwest Pakistan.” Gavi.org, 2022, http://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/climate-change-causes-malaria-cases-triple-northwest-pakistan.

Evans, Hannah, and Janet Larsen. “How Population Growth & Human Activities Increase the Risk of Zoonosis.” Population Connection, https://www.facebook.com/PopulationConnection, https://populationconnection.org/resources/pandemics/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Hassell, James M., et al. “Urbanization and Disease Emergence: Dynamics at the Wildlife–Livestock–Human Interface.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution, no. 1, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2017, pp. 55–67. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2016.09.012.

“How Habitat Destruction Enables the Spread of Diseases Like COVID-19 .” College of Natural Resources News, 22 Apr. 2020, https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2020/04/habitat-destruction-covid19/.

Liao, Hongyan, et al. “Climate Change, Its Impact on Emerging Infectious Diseases and New Technologies to Combat the Challenge.” Emerging Microbes & Infections, no. 1, Informa UK Limited, May 2024. Crossref, doi:10.1080/22221751.2024.2356143.

Neiderud, Carl-Johan. “How Urbanization Affects the Epidemiology of Emerging Infectious Diseases.” Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, no. 1, Informa UK Limited, Jan. 2015, p. 27060. Crossref, doi:10.3402/iee.v5.27060.

Reiner, R. C., et al. “Climate Change, Urbanization and Disease: Summer in the City…” Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, no. 3, Oxford University Press (OUP), Dec. 2014, pp. 171–72. Crossref, doi:10.1093/trstmh/tru194.

Stone, Lisa. “Climate Change and Infectious Diseases .” NETEC, 25 Mar. 2024, https://netec.org/2024/03/25/climate-change-and-infectious-diseases/.

“The Deadly Diseases That Are Spiking Because of Climate Change.” Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/deadly-diseases-are-spiking-because-climate-change. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.

Yehya, Nadine. “Experts Warn Climate Change Will Fuel Spread of Infectious Diseases.” UC Davis Health, UC Davis Health, 20 Mar. 2024, https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/experts-warn-climate-change-will-fuel-spread-of-infectious-diseases-/2024/03.

Care for Our Common Home - Anna Street

Care for Our Common Home

October 15, 2025

Whether I am on the soccer field, with my cleats digging into the muddy grass, walking on the beach in Half Moon Bay, or on a hike in the Belmont Hills with my dog, nature has and will always be an important part of my life. I often take the environment for granted, never fully recognizing how the environment has shaped my life, especially the activities which bring me joy. The earth is our common home, and the earth brings life, but also the earth brings joy, love, and so much more.

In AP Biology, we have learned about how to care for our common home through inquiry in the life of Jane Goodall, Laudato Si, Citizen Science, and the Earth Science Week photo contest.

Reasons for Hope: Jane Goodall

In AP Biology, we learned about one scientist who sparked environmental activism all over the globe, Jane Goodall.

Jane Goodall was a world-famous primatologist, ethologist, and environmental activist, best known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania. In her early work, she primarily focused on primate research. She became a groundbreaking scientist, especially as an inspiration for women in science around the world. In her later years, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support wildlife research, conservation, and education. She also started the Roots & Shoots program, which empowers young people to take action for people, animals, and the environment. If you would like to get involved in her climate action, the websites for her foundations are linked above.

In class, we watched the documentary, “Reasons for Hope: Jane Goodall.” The documentary was not only informational but also inspiring. Through education and activism, the documentary displays why and how Jane Goodall changed the world. One piece of information that interested me most from the documentary was how Jane began her life, just like us. She started off as a student interested in biology and the world around us. Her activism sparks my curious question: Can small actions have an influential effect on a larger community?

Laudato Si: Message of Pope Francis

Laudato Si is an encyclical letter written by Pope Francis in 2015. The letter focuses on care for our common home, the Earth. Pope Francis focuses on five key points throughout the encyclical.

1. Interconnectedness
2. Environmental Crisis
3. Social Justice
4. Critique of Consumerism
5. Call to Action

In class, to understand our own personal mark on the environment, we filled out a water calculator. I learned that in my family and in my own personal water use, virtual water takes up a significant portion of our daily water use. For example, my personal and familial shopping habits take 538 gallons of water per day, whereas our showers only take up 20 gallons per day.  I was not expecting the large difference in outcome, because when I think of water use, I primarily focus on water that I am directly using, not water that I am using when shopping or doing other daily tasks, which don’t involve direct contact with water.

Curious Question: How does water use affect other parts of the environment, including climate change and habitat loss?  

If you want to calculate your own water use, click on the website below:

WHAT IS YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT?

Citizen Science

Here are 6 ways to be a citizen scientist, but what does a citizen scientist really mean?

Citizen science is defined as “A global movement where members of the public participate in scientific research, often voluntarily, to collect and analyze data, and even help formulate research questions.”

Team AP Biology 2025-2026 has been focusing on the importance of citizen science. Citizen science is important because citizen science increases the scope of scientific research and public interest in science. Citizen science utilizes the general population to collect data. For example, if scientists are trying to investigate migration patterns of a certain species of bird, people near the migration path can record how many birds pass through. Scientists do not always have the ability to collect all the data necessary for the project, so involving the public allows more data to be collected. Additionally, involving the public gets the public engaged in science, and trust in scientific knowledge is crucial for the health and safety of the world.

There are countless projects that people can work on; these projects can be big, and they can be small, but all are extremely impactful. If you want to get involved in your own citizen science project, here is a website, Zooniverse, which focuses specifically on citizen science.

Earth Science Week photo contest

The Earth Science Week Photo Contest is an annual event to celebrate Earth Science Week. Earth Science Week is a week dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the Earth sciences.

The contest encourages people of all ages to capture photos that highlight Earth science in everyday life, showing how people interact with the planet’s land, water, air, and living systems.

The photo I submitted for the 2025 contest.

The theme of the contest in 2025 is “Capturing Energy in Motion.” In my photo, at first glance, the photo shows an empty street, quiet and motionless. But that stillness actually captures the potential for motion. The glowing sunset and dynamic cloud patterns in the sky add energy, and the light and color shifts make the scene feel alive and changing, even without visible movement. The string lights and restaurant patios suggest human presence and activity, displaying motion that has just paused or will soon resume. So, the image captures the energy of anticipation, a moment between motion and stillness.

The Earth Science Week Photo Contest was a great way to get involved in my community on a larger scale. In general, being able to see all my classmates' photos and getting feedback on my own was a great way to explore different ways of capturing our environment.

“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” Lady Bird Johnson

The environment is the foundation of all life on Earth, providing us with the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the resources we depend on every day. Protecting it is not just a responsibility, but a necessity for our survival and for the well-being of future generations.

Whether I am going on a hike, walking on the beach, or playing soccer on a green grass field, the environment always has an impact on my life. I often take the environment for granted, but through AP Biology, I have been able to more deeply reflect on and advocate for environmental change and sustainability.

Don’t forget to be ClEvR!

• Anna Street

Ghost in Your Genes Reflection - Allison Yue

Ghost in Your Genes Reflection

When people find out I am a twin, I usually get asked about how alike we are. I say that there are a lot of similarities, but we are fraternal, so there are a lot of differences too. Watching the documentary Ghost in Your Genes made me realize that even identical twins can grow up to be quite different as well. Before watching the documentary, I thought that since identical twins have the same DNA, the twins are exactly alike. However, I learned that the epigenome plays a big role in who we are. 

The epigenome is a collection of chemical compounds that modify or mark genes and turn genes on or off. In the documentary, identical twin girls looked the same, but one had severe autism due to differences in epigenetics. Identical twins are also used as an example to demonstrate how epigenetics can be connected to cancer. The article “Cancer Center of Excellence: Connecting Cancer and Epigenetics” discusses how cancer treatment resistance can be caused by epigenetic pathways. 

The part of the documentary that interested me the most was the research with mice and how stress levels fluctuated based on nurture. Mice that were less nurtured had fewer epigenetic marks silencing stress-response genes, so stress levels soared. In contrast, rats that were nurtured could handle stress better because stress-response genes were not dimmed. When the less nurtured mice were given a drug that activated epigenetic marks, the mice exhibited less anxiety and responded normally to stress. 

The research done with mice demonstrated how growing up in abusive homes can have significant impacts on people’s lives. People who have lived in an abusive household are more likely to experience PTSD, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, diabetes, and obesity. The stress hormones produced from living in harmful environments promote the development of mental health conditions and various health issues. I wanted to learn more about epigenetics and mental health, and I found an article that explained how early-life trauma, obesity, prenatal substance exposure, and environmental toxins can alter gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation. Epigenetic mechanisms can increase the risk of mental health disorders. However, there is research that epidrugs may be able to reverse harmful epigenetic patterns in the future. 

With the advancement of scientific research, epigenetic therapy has been on the rise. Epigenetic therapy aims to change the instructions of cancer cells, not kill the cells. Epigenetic drugs have decreased the amount of toxic doses needed, resulting in minimal side effects, since the amount of epigenetic drugs needed to change the epigenetic patterns in cancer cells is minimal. I am excited to see how the creation of epigenetic drugs progresses and how epigenetic research can decrease the suffering of mental and physical health conditions.