Week 0

Hello Readers!

For far, my senior project has been a busy whirlwind of research, emails, and tons of problem-solving. 

For my project, I am researching how enzymatic treatments can increase microglial cell wall permeability to enhance horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria. HGT is crucial in evolution and biotechnology, but microalgea’s tough cell walls make gene transfer inefficient. In summary, my project explores whether certain enzymes can improve this process.

I was inspired by my interest in evolution biology and microbiology, particularly how genetic material moves between organisms outside of just reproduction. This is what led me to explore HGT and its potential applications!

So far, I have been trying to sort out the equipment I will need for my project. I have figured out what things I will need to find at a lab, what I will need to buy, and how much time I have to do everything. A major breakthrough came when I was in touch with a parent at BASIS who had a lab I could use. Now, I am focused on finalizing my methodology and securing a research mentor.