Hi! My name is Alexis Anike, and I am a senior Biology major on the Pre-Med track. I attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., but I was born in Minnesota. Post-graduation, I intend to travel abroad before pursuing an MD-PHD! This summer I am working in Dr. Read’s lab conducting research on Microcoleus Anatoxicus. Microcoleus Anatoxicus is a toxic alga that forms blooms or thick mats in freshwater systems. These toxic blooms have led to numerous canine deaths globally. I am currently attempting to extract its RNA. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is the messenger molecule that converts the information stored in DNA into functional proteins. If I am able to extract the RNA, I will hopefully be able to determine what genes are involved in producing these toxins. It’s been a little bit of a trial and error process, as Microcoleus Anatoxicus has a very thick sheath of polysaccharides and lipids, making it hard to extract RNA from it. Outside of the lab, I have had the chance to explore California for the first time. This week, the entire REU group celebrated Juneteenth in downtown San Diego. We went on a scavenger hunt for different murals around the city and even had the chance to check out a few black-owned businesses. If you want some really good coffee and pastries, head to The Mental Bar in San Diego. We ended the day at Moonlight Beach, where we played volleyball and had a bonfire. That Wednesday, we went on a field trip to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It was super cool to hear about oceanography in California. They even took us out onto their pier! I ended the week with a live music festival and some thrifting with my roommates. I’m feeling a little homesick, but I'm also happy to be exploring the area! I'm glad to be part of this amazing program!
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Watch this space for weekly updates!Every week, one of our CSUSM NSF REU students will post their blurb, summarizing their week, and chronicling our program. AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
August 2023
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