Biology Research Course (BIO 670) Altered
By: Anvi Bhate, Ella Brady, Sheala Iacobucci
Students in BIO670: Biology Research conduct diabetes research in collaboration with Stanford University every year. However, this spring, the curriculum for the elective BIO670: Biology Research has been modified to feature a new experiment that uses CRISPR.
In an email sent to uppers and seniors who met the course requirements, BIO670 co-instructor Anne Rankin said, “This experiment has been done only once and never by us… This work will involve following a three generation fly crossing program, dissecting fly larvae, using antibody staining techniques and photographing stained larvae using a fluorescent microscope.”
“We think we will be having an alum come back to help us towards the end of the term and his help will make this new protocol a bit more feasible,” Rankin said. “Since we cannot count on this help in future years, this pushed us to try the new protocol this year.”
BIO670 is a regularly-held research course taught in collaboration with Stanford University. As BIO670 is planned for spring term, applications were due on Jan. 20, and featured a problem covering inheritance of epistatic genes.
Compared to previous years, when the course accepted approximately 12 students annually, BIO670 will only be accepting six students, with seniors given priority. “This has to do with the specific experiment, not with any constraint related to the pandemic,” Rankin clarified.
According to Rankin’s email, preference will also be given to students who have taken BIO486, BIO586, or BIO510/520/530.
Fourteen seniors and 13 uppers applied. Selection of the final six students will be based on applications, GPA, comments from previous biology instructors, attendance record, and comments from advisers.
If selected, students are expected to prioritize BIO670 over other electives if a scheduling conflict occurs.
“There are currently only six spots available, so, considering there are over 20 applicants, that's definitely stressful,” senior Molly Duwara said. “Everyone who applied is incredibly qualified and really wants to participate in the course, so it's disappointing that only about a quarter of the applicants will be accepted this year.”
The application process was met with mixed opinions. “I do wish that factors other than age would be considered, especially if the reason for prioritizing seniors is to allow everyone to gain some research experience,” upper Tanya Das said. “Ultimately, no factors outside of school are considered, and we don't have the opportunity to provide a written statement explaining why we personally would want to participate in the course, both of which I think are important.”
“I think senior priority makes sense… uppers will have a chance next year,” senior Jaekeb Harper said.
BIO670 students are traditionally offered the opportunity to undertake summer internships at Stanford. However, no internships will be offered this year.
Given the novelty of the experiment, Rankin was open to a wide range of potential outcomes. “We celebrate building resilience and failing forward, but I am wondering how I am going to feel if this project does not work at all,” Rankin said. “This is a very real possibility and I hope I am ready for it!”