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My Summer. David Klee. My Research. Nanotechnology – the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale Biotechnology – the use of microorganisms or biological substances to perform specific industrial or manufacturing processes.
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My Summer David Klee
My Research • Nanotechnology – the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale • Biotechnology – the use of microorganisms or biological substances to perform specific industrial or manufacturing processes
Pharmaceutical use of Nanotechnology in Tumor Cells • Nano-particles designed to carry drugs specifically to tumor cells • In a University of Michigan study, 35% of the mice given the drug-laced nano-particle survived compared to 0% of the mice who were given the nanoparticle or drug (methotrexate) separately http://www.mddcva.com/business/13-6m-national-cancer-institute-grant-gives-birth-tojohns-hopkins-center-of-cancer-nanotechnology-excellence
Use of Nanotechnology in Computing and Electronics • Graphene – an extremely thin sheet of pure carbon rings • Thin, transparent, and highly conductive • Will likely replace silicon in electronic or memory devices • Graphene conducts electrons 100 times faster than silicon • A graphene ultra capacitor holds twice the storage of a traditional ultra capacitor
Biotechnology: Synthetic Genomics • Scientists placed artificially-produced genes into a colony of bacterium • In two days the bacterium showed characteristics of the implanted genes • Many people question this method of biotechnology because new species are created that could disrupt present ecosystems
Use of Synthetic Genomics • Scientists altering the genomes of viruses to develop vaccines • Developing algae that produce biofuels without the environmental footprint of harvesting fossil fuels • Some scientists were able to use a colony of bacterium to store data
Biotechnology: Regenerative Medicine • Extracellular matrix (ECM) is placed in the injured tissue or muscle and over several weeks the tissue heals to its original strength
Biotechnology: Regenerative Medicine • It works because the ECM naturally summons stem cells to the area which develop into the desired cell type based on the location of the injury • An ex-Marine, who lost 70% of his thigh muscle from a car bomb, was able to regain 103% of his natural muscle mass using ECM and physical therapy
Biotechnology:Potential AIDS Cure • By removing certain receptors on T cells, scientists pioneered a method to create cells that are resistant to the HIV virus • Scientists are able to take blood from a patient, alter the T cells within the blood, and transfuse this blood back to the patient. • Although this process significantly decreases the presence of the virus in the bloodstream, latent viruses will still remain
What I did over the summer • I spent a lot of time at my camp in Schroon Lake • I also played some lax, tennis, and went sailing
References • http://southasia.oneworld.net/globalheadlines/next-generation-algae-biofuel-by-2030 • http://www.i-thought.org/technology-thoughts/bacteria-data-storage/ • http://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p20310 • Heger, Monica. "Life After Silicon—How Graphene Could Revolutionize Electronics." Discover Magazine. 19 May 2010. Web. <http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-life-after-silicon/?searchterm=life after silicon>. • McAuliffe, Kathleen. "First Synthetic Organism Created." Discover Magazine Jan.-Feb. 2011. 26 Apr. 2011. Web. <http://discovermagazine.com/2011/jan-feb/02/?searchterm=First synthetic organism>. • "Nanoparticles Carry Cancer-Killing Drugs into Tumor Cells in Mice with Increased Efficacy and Lower Toxicity." SNM - Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy. 16 June 2005. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=4082>. • Neimark, Jill. "The End of AIDS." Web. • Piore, Adam. "How Pig Guts Became the Next Bright Hope for Regenerating Human Limbs." Discover Magazine. Discover Magazine. July-Aug. 2010. Web. 2 Sept. 2011. <http://discovermagazine.com/2011/jul-aug/13-how-pig-guts-became-hope-regenerating-human-limbs/?searchterm=pig guts>.