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About Me
My name is Bockarie Maina, and I am a Senior biology major originally from Kensington, California. My interests are in genetics, biomedical research, and medicine. Over the past year, I’ve worked in labs at the UofM performing genomic research on various Minnesota lake plant species as well as yellow fever in mosquitoes. I recently have also been doing Bioinformatic research here at Mac of HIV and its relation to chronic inflammation. These research experiences have strengthened my desire to continue doing research in the future, and have helped me learn and improve on my data analysis, and study design skills. During my Junior year, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Sydney, Australia, where I took a wide variety of bio/biomedical related courses (virology, pharmacology, histology) unavailable to me here at Macalester. I
was a part of the Macalester men’s soccer team for two years, and I plan to continue playing with a Sunday league team back home in the Bay Area upon graduating. I plan on working as an emergency
medical technician or a researcher for a couple years before attending medical school.
Abstract
My senior capstone project explores the role of epigenetics in cancer development. The inspiration behind said topic is from BIOL322: Advanced Genetics with Mary Montgomery my sophomore year. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that occur without altering the DNA sequence itself. These changes are controlled by biological mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, which regulate how genes are turned on or off. In cancer, both genetic mutations and epigenetic changes disrupt normal cellular processes. These disruptions can affect how cells grow, divide, and respond to signals that normally control cell behavior. Through a review of current research, this project examines how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to tumor development and progression. Understanding the relationship between genetics and epigenetics helps provide a clearer picture of how cancer forms and evolves. It also highlights the potential for new cancer treatments that specifically target epigenetic changes.
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