The Alleynian 702 2014

Epigenetics Workshop at Guy’s Hospital Joshua Kader (Year 12) H oping to gain valuable insights into the latest in genetic research and ways of applying statistical analysis, our group of aspiring Year 12 Medics and Oxbridge hopefuls gathered in Guy’s Hospital for what was to be an eye- opening Epigenetics and Statistics workshop. The day comprised of lectures by renowned professors and PhD students whose studies centred on genetic research. Of particular note was Dr Natalie Prescott’s lecture, which focused on complex genetic diseases, how these are investigated, and how medical intervention is applied. Her talk informed us of the importance of understanding both complex and Mendelian, or simple, genetic diseases. Moreover, Dr Prescott expanded on the medical strategies such as the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), which provides a diagnosis of the genetic mis-code and therefore enables treatment with specific drugs. In preventing future genetically related diseases, it is planned that a national genome sequencing study is to be undertaken. This entails the analysis of the DNA of 100,000 voluntarily recruited participants and aims to identify the mutated genome sequence. Following a presentation by the PhD students on the process of the Polymerase chain reaction

and Gel electrophoresis – that is, how DNA is replicated and separated – our group was invited into the laboratory to participate in this amazing activity. Results of our individual experiments were to unfold at the end of the day. Thereafter, our cohort visited the ‘Old Operating Theatre’ where we were introduced to early operating theatre practice, which was in its infancy at the time the theatre was built. In contrast to contemporary operating practice, the surgeon and his assistants were only of the male gender, as females were apparently deemed ineffectual or ‘weaker’ in participating in surgical procedures. We were shown the standard operating table, which during these times was traditionally made of wood. Thus the risk of infection that would have been introduced with the use of this type of material during medical procedures appears not to have been considered. This is in contrast to the extremely sophisticated operating tables which are presently used and are constructed of super-hard carbon resin, thus permitting effective sterilisation and therefore significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination and infection. Following lunch, we were re-introduced to research and investigative terminology focused

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