St Dominic STEM.indd - St. Dominic High School
St Dominic STEM.indd - St. Dominic High School
St Dominic STEM.indd - St. Dominic High School
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OUR FUTURE LEADERS<br />
Kevin Podell ’13 NJIT Brian Slivonik ’13 Florida Southern Giovanni McCreath ‘14<br />
RNAi: Cancer in C. elegans<br />
Our project was focused around the process of RNAi which<br />
scientists believe may one day help them find cures to some<br />
of the world’s deadliest genetic disorders including cancer,<br />
Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. In our project we<br />
found genes associated with cell division and tumor development<br />
in humans (processes that when done improperly can lead to<br />
cancer development). We tested the effects of running RNAi on<br />
C. elegans using four genes (TERT-1, ATG-1, AGE-1 and RAD-<br />
51) both individually and in combinations and then observed<br />
the resulting phenotypes. We wanted to see whether silencing<br />
multiple genes had any amplified or new phenotypes. We learned<br />
through our observations that silencing multiple genes has major,<br />
mostly lethal results on the C. elegans.<br />
Zachary Cangemi ‘13 Colby Mark Flynn ‘14 Columbia Phillip Catapano ’13 Villanova<br />
Testing the Effects of a Medium on Plant Growth<br />
Our project demonstrated the differences in plant growth between<br />
those grown in a hydroponic setup and those grown in soil. We<br />
used jalapeno peppers and basil and placed half of each in soil<br />
and half in a hydroponic setup. We used a tank filled with nine<br />
gallons of water and a piece of <strong>St</strong>yrofoam to hold the plants in<br />
place. Nutrient solution was then added to the tank on a weekly<br />
basis to make up for the loss of resources in the new medium. In a<br />
period of three weeks, we noticed significant differences between<br />
the plants. Those grown in soil had much shorter stems, smaller<br />
leaf size, and less root growth compared to the hydroponic plants.<br />
The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Plant Growth<br />
We conducted an experiment in which the growth of green lentil<br />
seeds was subjected to electromagnetic radiation sources nearby.<br />
The control group not placed near the radiation had the tallest and<br />
healthiest looking stems. The group exposed to radiation waves<br />
at strength of 11 from a wireless router had shorter stems than the<br />
Mackenzie Walsh ’14 Caitlyn Sullivan ’14<br />
control and took longer to grow to maximum height. The group<br />
exposed to the strongest electromagnetic wavelength of 30 radio<br />
waves, had the shortest stem height. This research shows that<br />
radiation given off by today’s technology has a negative effect on<br />
plants nearby.<br />
Toniann Pasqueralle ’13 Fordham<br />
Milgram’s Experiment Reinvented<br />
<strong>St</strong>anley Milgram, an American Psychologist, conducted various<br />
studies and published articles on obedience to authority. Milgram<br />
was influenced by the events of the Holocaust, and wondered<br />
why the Nazis had killed so many people, even if they knew<br />
that killing was wrong. Milgram proposed an experiment to test<br />
whether or not a person’s morality affected their obedience.<br />
Out experiment tested students’ decisions to administer “high<br />
voltage shocks” to classmates who answered a set of questions<br />
wrong. The students did not know that these shocks were<br />
Kellie Higgins ’13 Hofstra<br />
simulated. We found mixed reactions to the experiment. Six<br />
out of seven girls tested carried out the entire experiment. The<br />
7th girl dropped out halfway through. All seven boys carried<br />
out the entire experiment. Three students didn’t hesitate to flip<br />
the next switch because they wanted the person to feel the pain<br />
quickly and get it with. We concluded that gender did not affect<br />
the results in the slightest, but some of the subjects said that the<br />
physical appearance of the subject might have influences their<br />
decision to continue with the experiment.