history coursework - writing supplement

Describe your most rewarding recent academic project or academic experience. (Not to exceed 250 words.)

As part of the mitotic cell cycle unit in AS Level Biology, I was tasked with conducting additional research on how biological
immortality exists in certain organisms. My research focused on Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the immortal jellyfish.

T. dohrnii jellyfish, like other hydrozoans, start as planulae and develop into polyps and branched colonies. A bud on a polyp will
eventually break away, become sexually mature and form a jellyfish (medusae). After sexual maturity, the jellyfish can revert to its earlier
polyp stage when exposed to environmental stress, physical assault, starvation, or illness, contradicting the belief that sexual maturation is
a point of no return. The jellyfish can do this through cellular transdifferentiation, where a certain type of cell turns into an entirely
different type without turning into a neutral, intermediate form first. Studies have shown that the medusa doesn't contain stem cells,
further proving cellular transdifferentiation occurs. Specialized, mature medusa cells can turn into immature polyp cells at any point in
their life cycle. Scientists have investigated how this process is possible, and so they found that T. dohrnii cysts spend a significant
amount of energy on DNA repair and maintenance. They also possess a high number of genes expressed that promote telomerase, an
enzyme that repairs telomeres. This could protect the cells from naturally aging by elongating telomeres and protecting the jellyfish's
DNA. Additionally, They spend minimal energy on cell replication, differentiation, or responding to external stimuli, focusing solely on
DNA repair until they are ready to become polyps.

The study of this organism has the potential to help us understand aging better by enabling transdifferentiation, which could lead to
treatments for diseases like Parkinson's. By turning skin cells into neuronal cells, we could replace lost or damaged brain cells.
Understanding how this organism performs this process could help develop treatments for similar diseases. Additionally, studying
microRNAs, short genetic strands that regulate DNA repair, could provide insights into how they function in our own cells. However,
due to genetic differences between humans and jellyfish, some genes in jellyfish are not expressed in humans, limiting the applicability of
immortality theories. As more biodiversity and scientific technology are discovered, new treatments for degenerative diseases and cancer
may still be discovered.

This project has helped me develop a better understanding of genetic transformation, and piqued my interest in how important research
can potentially lead to major treatments for age-related disorders. In the future, given my interest in molecular biology, I hope to
perform investigations such as DNA and RNA analysis and gene expression in real life to expand my knowledge in this field.

Why did you choose the particular program/courses for which you have applied? How are they related to your
current interests and future plans? Please be as specific as possible, and make sure your response covers each of
the courses you chose on the Course Selection page. (Not to exceed 500 words.)

Through experiencing the very open and flexible (self-chosen 10 subjects) system (or learning three different curriculums in three years)
at my school's curriculum, I've come to appreciate how the liberating prospects of learning a wide range of interconnected subjects can
aid my growth as a student. In addition, the experience has also sparked my desire to acquire an interdisciplinary perspective. In AS Level
biology, I combine principles from several disciplines, including biology, chemistry, statistics, and moral philosophy, to study population
structures, genetic technology, and human molecular structures. As I further my studies in biology, the Immersion Programs will
provide invaluable critical breadth and intensity.

Coming to immersion, I look forward to immersing myself in the Biology department's pioneering spirit, exemplified by the path-
breaking efforts such as Dr Eugene Goldwasser's contribution to the development of anemia treatment, and Dr Donald F. Steiner's
contribution to the discovery of insulin (which improved therapy for diabetes sufferers, and improved understanding of protein
synthesis in the human body). Within this environment of innovation, I feel more inspired to nurture my interest in Biology.
Furthermore, I hope to form lasting bonds with the diverse student community that shares my passions.

"Biotechnology for the 21st Century" will allow me to explore how we may employ cellular and biomolecular processes to develop
beneficial technologies and breakthrough medicinal products. I was captivated by the interdisciplinary nature of the genetic engineering
unit in IGSCE (or AS Level) Biology, where I applied knowledge of biological molecules, gene expression, mitotic cell cycle, and cell
organization to explain how purposeful gene modification permits artificial insulin production. Intrigued, I sought supplementary
reading materials. “Genetic Engineering: Recent Developments in Applications” provided me with in-depth information about how the
specific and complex isolation process using restriction endonucleases and reverse transcriptase (enzymes) is crucial to the success of gene
manipulation. Through “Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals: Transforming Proteins and Genes into Drugs'', I explored the basis of
gene transformation in bacteria, and the interconnectedness between these genetically engineered microorganisms and certain drug
synthesis. With this course, I will continue to investigate various mechanisms underlying specific biotechnologies in carefully monitored
laboratory environments, where I can observe the process interactively at the molecular level.

In “Contagion: infectious agents & diseases”, I will investigate the communication of diseases, and the evolution of significant viruses.
Through experiencing covid-19, I have witnessed firsthand how severely dependent the human population is on microbial diseases, as
well as how seemingly crucial it is to develop effective treatments for these diseases. Through this course, I wish to explore these 3 major
areas of contagion: the evolution of drug resistance, the biology of significant pathogens like HIV, and ultimately the ideal treatment
plan to resolve a virus induced pandemic—with a biopsychosocial approach. For instance, in Biology, I learnt that the theoretical cure to
a pandemic is a vaccination that introduces a weakened or inactivated virus to your body, or one that teaches your cells how to synthesize
a tiny harmless portion of the virus to provoke an immune response. This hypothesis, however, overlooks the fact that, in reality,
combating a pandemic relies on countless other elements, such as widespread psychological and physical compliance to receiving the
treatment.

With “biology and its modern applications”, I will address how biology impacts varying disciplines in real life. With rudimentary
knowledge regarding the function and interaction of human cells, I can explore how various medical conditions are caused by the defect
of these processes. In addition, I will explore other ranging biological phenomena such as DNA composition for forensics science, or
inconsistent cell reproduction for species evolution through offered lab activities.