Learning About Genetic Processes With Grade 11 Biology

This past November, Grade 11 biology students wrapped up their Genetic Processes Research presentations. The project tasked students with teaching their peers about a genetic technology of their choosing. With topics such as gene therapy and pharmacogenetics available to choose from, students were challenged to hone their broader topics into a scientific research question. The research questions would explore the specifics of a genetic technology, such as its potential benefits, limitations and greater ethical considerations. 

Three students - Cam Barnikis ‘27, Maddy Shaw ‘27 and Ellie Yantsulis ‘27 - sat down with Life @ Greenwood to explain their research projects and reflect on what it was like to delve into such a challenging and rewarding assignment. 

For this project, my chosen genetic technology was Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). I chose to research PGD because it’s a technology that makes you reflect on how far science has come and the direct impact it has on people and families. I was not only interested in how it can help prevent serious genetic conditions but also the ethical questions that come with it. PGD can completely change a family’s future but it also raises tough conversations about choice, accessibility and genetic technologies as a whole. 

PGD involves genetically testing cells taken from an embryo, so doctors will first need to create the embryo through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Typically after 3 to 6 days, one or two of the embryo’s cells are carefully removed for testing. These tests look for specific conditions such as cystic fibrosis or hemophilia, which I used as the base of my research question, “how can PGD prevent the inheritance of genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis and hemophilia in embryos?”

I learned a lot more than I expected while working on this project. One of the more exciting parts was learning how precise PGD is when identifying specific genetic conditions in an embryo before pregnancy even begins. There are also underlying limitations to PGD that I was surprised to learn about. PGD can’t screen for every genetic condition and it does not guarantee a completely healthy baby. Overall, it was exciting to learn about what a technology like PGD can achieve and what it could mean for the future of genetic testing. 

The focus of my project was Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) cancer vaccines and whether they could become a safe and effective cancer treatment in the future. Cancer is such a widespread issue that still hasn’t been solved, but there are many new technologies being developed as potential treatment options. I was interested in learning more about where scientists are today in finding a cure.

RNA is present in all living cells and acts as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA. When used for cancer treatment, mRNA vaccines deliver information to the body’s immune system that instructs it to target the unique markers that make up cancer cells, called neoantigens. This technology is commonly used in oncology, immunotherapy and genetic medicine.

One point I came across in my research that was interesting was that mRNA vaccines don’t change your DNA at all. It’s a common misconception, so discovering how the vaccines actually work was very interesting.

I decided to research prime editing as my genetic technology and its potential to correct mutations of the CFTR gene that cause Cystic Fibrosis. I chose this topic because I’ve always had an interest in cystic fibrosis as a genetic disease and a curiosity in finding new ways to cure it. It’s compelling that this disease has been known for so long, but we still have yet to find a cure. Prime editing piqued my interest because it’s relatively new, meaning all the information I researched was current and still developing. 

Prime editing uses RNAs to target the DNA sequence responsible for the CFTR mutation. The actual process of curing the mutation is making a single strand cut in the DNA, creating the new DNA off a template and utilising the natural cell processes to incorporate the new DNA. It has similarities to the more popular DNA-cutting technique known as CRISPR, however, prime editing poses less danger and has a lower rate for fatal errors because it only cuts a single DNA strand. Prime editing when used in cases of cystic fibrosis is still in its infancy, however it shows great promise due to its safety, accuracy and adaptability. 

Prime editing as a genetic technology was completely new to me when I started conducting my research. I found this to be interesting because it is not widely known and the technology itself is one of the most promising medical breakthroughs developed in our generation. Learning that cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease impacting children was surprising and made me realize how important prime editing could be in our lifetime.