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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.

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