Lowell — In the Science Research class at Lowell High School, students are doing real work with Van Andel Institute scientists that could eventually benefit people with Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.
Seniors Julie Celori and Anna Forne explained. They are experimenting with tiny mutant worms, called C. elegans, exposing them to different bacteria and watching their response under a microscope. They observe: How much are they moving? Are they surviving?
“They have a mutation in their insulin-signaling gene,” Julie said. “We are trying to test them against different wild bacterias to see if any of those bacteria will allow the worm to still grow up to adulthood.”
The research has involved lots of testing, but hasn’t yet resulted in a breakthrough.
“We haven’t found any bacteria that’s a magic cure for anything yet,” Julie said.
At a table next to Julie and Anna, a group of their classmates conducted another experiment with worms that have a mutation resembling the neurodegeneration that happens in Parkinson’s disease.
‘For most of us who go into research, it’s more about the exploration and adventure — the unknown.’
— Dr. Nick Burton
Alex Roys described a challenging part of the work: using a tiny instrument to pick up microscopic worms that can barely be seen.
“It’s very difficult,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Hopefully there’s a worm on there.”
Real Scientific Research
The students are involved in the fourth year of a partnership with Dr. Nick Burton’s Nutritional Programming and Metabolic Research Department. In the spring, students will present their work detailed on posters at Van Andel Institute to a panel of scientists.
Along with Burton, they are working with VAI research technician Darrick Gates, VAI research technician and postdoctoral researcher March Mechan, and research scientist Jason Cooper.
“It is a great opportunity to start doing actual real science,” said Julie, who plans to major in biochemistry in college. “It didn’t have a set outcome, like every other lab that we’ve done so far. It’s so exciting.”
Students are learning the many lessons that come with research, Gates said. In the first two months of school students have learned to grow bacteria and worms to adulthood. They are creating a library of wild bacteria.
Burton said his goal with the partnership is to introduce students to local scientists.
“I come from a very similar school (as Lowell). This is a chance to meet people who are doing (science research) in the local community,” Burton said. “The other thing is to expose them to what real research is like, because I do think a lot of high school labs get this perception that it’s all about detailed note-taking of things we already know.”
Science is about the discovery and what leads up to it, he said.
“For most of us who go into research, it’s more about the exploration and adventure, the unknown,” Burton said. “There’s a chance, albeit very slim, for some actual discovery. That’s what motivates us.”
Teacher Heather DeJonge said working with VAI is a great way to challenge students and expose them to possibilities.
“The goal is that these high school kids can join world-renowned scientists and present right beside them,” she said. “They set up an authentic research project, collect data and present on it. They are learning to be scientists. It’s the practical application of every STEM (field).”
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