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.

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.