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Biology student Nicole Santana uses a hands-on approach to make a difference. While studying to becoming a veterinarian, she also works as a research assistant in anthropology assistant professor John Starbuck\u2019s lab. Santana compares images of mice with Down syndrome to those without. She hopes to find differences in their skulls, something that can then later be applied to humans with Down syndrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI land mark\u00a0mice that have been genetically modified to have an extra 16 chromosome, similar to the human chromosome 21, to see how effective EGCG has been to these mice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
EGCG is an antioxidant, extracted from green tea, which helps prevent or stop cell damage. It plays a role in treating mice with Down syndrome, and, if successful, could be used in treating humans as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am helping to see if EGCG can inhibit Dyrk1a,\u201d Santana said. \u201cDyrk1a is a gene in the human chromosome that is overexpressed due to the extra chromosome and plays a role in the underdevelopment of the brain. EGCG helps the brain develop as it should, would it not have that extra chromosome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santana\u2019s research is not just about mice. Everything she learns can be applied to human chromosome research and potential treatments for Down syndrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was drawn to the field because it allows me to help the Down syndrome community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt also gives me research experience, as well as animal and medical experience to put on my application for vet school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her desire to help people and animals, combined with her interests in the medical field, stemmed from an early age.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been one of the few lucky people that have known what she wanted to do ever since she was young,\u201d Santana said.<\/p>\n
Other than her position as a research assistant, she is part of UCF\u2019s Pre-Veterinarian club. While making her stay at UCF more than just classes and exams, Santana advises other students to do the same by joining clubs, going to events and making connections. Seizing an opportunity, even when afraid, is the first step.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy motto is that everything happens for a reason,\u201d she said. \u201cEven if something bad happens now and you feel like your whole world is falling apart, doors close so that new doors can open. You never know how that bad thing can lead to something great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santana hopes to graduate in 2019 and become a vet, so she can help animals by enforcing their importance. One day, she wants to teach others about what she has learned so people come together to save animals from death and extinction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Biology student Nicole Santana uses a hands-on approach to make a difference. While studying to becoming a veterinarian, she also works as a research assistant in anthropology assistant professor John Starbuck\u2019s lab. Santana compares images of mice with Down syndrome to those without. She hopes to find differences in their skulls, something that can then […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":22829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[34,38,13,28,29,30],"tags":[282,437,5042,5383,5381,1828,5378,5380,5382,3457,5379],"class_list":["post-22828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biology-departments","category-breaking-news","category-news","category-top-news","category-ucf-news","category-undergraduate-student-news","tag-anthropology","tag-biology","tag-down-syndrome","tag-dyrk1a","tag-egcg","tag-john-starbuck","tag-nicole-santana","tag-pre-veterinarian-club","tag-research-assistant","tag-ucf","tag-vet-school"],"yoast_head":"\n