MADELEINE YU | ONLINE REPORTER | SQ ONLINE 17-18 They surround us by the billions in every nook and cranny imaginable, even hitching a ride with us throughout our daily routines. All the while, we are oblivious to their presence. Microbes. Despite their ubiquity in our world, little is known about these microorganisms. But,…
BY LAUREN BRUMAGE | SQ ONLINE WRITER | SQ ONLINE (2017-18) Evolutionary biologist Theodosius Dobzhansky once said that “nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” That being said, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which evolution operates is still incomplete. One UC San Diego lab, headed by Dr. Justin Meyer, is…
MADELEINE YU | ONLINE REPORTER | SQ ONLINE 17-18 Nearly everyone knows someone affected by Alzheimer’s disease; it has become a leading medical issue and is often at the forefront of pharmaceutical research. Every year, more and more drugs are introduced for testing, but despite this abundance, not one has managed to succeed in…
BY LAUREN BRUMAGE | SQ ONLINE WRITER | SQ ONLINE (2017-18) Imagine the following scenario: you are in a crowded lecture hall, hunched over a tiny desk and staring blankly at an exam. Your heart races and you feel a gnawing headache take hold as you struggle to gather your thoughts to focus on the task…
BY LAUREN BRUMAGE | SQ ONLINE WRITER | SQ ONLINE (2017-18) In 2012, supermodel Lauren Wasser lost her right leg and the toes on her left foot. She had been physically active and, at the young age of 24, seemed the picture of health. However, a rapid onset of symptoms including a 107°F fever and a…
MADELEINE YU | ONLINE REPORTER | SQ ONLINE 17-18 When people consider the effects of climate change, the catastrophic outcomes of the rapid melting of glaciers and ice sheets may immediately come to mind. This anxiety is understandable: just a 200mm increase in sea levels could displace thousands who live in coastal regions and…
MADELEINE YU | ONLINE REPORTER | SQ ONLINE 17-18 It is strange to think that our sense of body is not confined to the limits of our physical being; yet, this has been proven true in a vast number of scientific studies. The body can extend beyond its physical limitations; for instance, a study…
BY REBECCA CAPUTO| ONLINE REPORTER| SQ ONLINE (2017-18) Who am I? If you have ever asked this question to yourself, then you might have considered the genetic testing services that genomics company 23andMe offer. Claiming to “explain your DNA,”, this company is the most popular of its kind with over 2 million customers. They…
BY LAUREN BRUMAGE | SQ ONLINE WRITER | SQ ONLINE (2017-18) Cancer is a subversive illness that corrupts the body’s own cells, turning them into ever-replicating agents of disease that are nonetheless frequently recognized by the immune system as “self”. This renders it difficult for the body’s immune system to ward off cancer – unless cells…
BY Grace Sahyouni | SQ WRITER | SQ 2017-2018 The world’s largest and most conclusive national genetic database can be found on a remote island in Europe with vast landscapes, exquisite waterfalls, and roaring volcanoes. Iceland’s unique geographic isolation is precisely what makes this country an excellent candidate for gene sequencing. A biopharmaceutical company called…