Computational Biology Research Camp for High School Students
MicroRNA
Overview: MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small non-coding RNA which regulates other RNAs’ translation process. This camp provides basic concept of gene regulation and miRNA functions and their potential usages in medicine. Several well-known miRNAs will be further explored. Depending on students’ progress, miRNA and target interaction will be explored. Lunch is included in the fee. Bring your laptops.
New Addition: We will analyze Parkinson’s patients data to help students submit their abstracts to the GIDAS High School Student Research Conference (June 13, 2015 at University of Michigan). All abstracts will be included in the Abstract Booklet and published. Oral and poster presentation slots are open. We will briefly cover elements of writing an abstract.
DATE: April 25, 2015 TIME: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
LOCATION: Room 1690 Bob and Betty Beyster Building, University of Michigan, 2260 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
FEE: $50
MAIN TARGETS: high school students (young women and men) who are interested in computer, math, biology, and medicine.
Sponsor: Women In Science and Engineering (WISE)
Registration Form (sorry for the wrong date in the registration form)
You will receive email confirmation of the registration.
Goals
- Expose high school students to the emerging era of medical genomics, when all doctors must be well-acquainted with genetic discoveries, technologies, and applications.
- Support GIDAS (Genes In Diseases And Symptoms) club members for in-depth knowledge in the field.
- Encourage high school students to present at the research conference.
Tentative Agenda
| 9:15 am – 9:30 am | Check in |
| 9:30 am – 10:30 am | mRNA and miRNA | RNA expression RNA-RNA interaction Goal: Understand various species of RNA |
| 10:30 am – 11:30 am | Group research on specific miRNA in Parkinson’s Disease Each group will choose a miRNA, find targets, and explore its function Goal: Become familiar with miRNA function |
| 11:30 am – noon | Group presentation | Genes in Parkinson’s Disease Present the findings to others and discuss them Goal: More confident in presentation |
| noon – 12:30 pm | Grab Lunch |
| 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | RNAhybrid | How to write an abstract for a conference Identify potential miRNA targets based on sequence matches Goal: Learn to use RNAhybrid |