Georgia

Georgia
St. Mary's School
Lynn, MA

Mentors: 
Diane Genereux and Lucas Moirera
Vertebrate Genomics 
 

In her BSSP application, Georgia mentioned that "genomics and genetics piqued my interest when I was exposed to these fields while taking AP Biology.” With her passion for these areas, she was paired with the Karlsson lab in the Vertebrate Genomics group. The lab's research focuses on how cells respond to maintain essential functions in changing environments. Georgia and her partner investigated how alternative splicing is affected by temperature changes across different mammalian species. They analyzed RNA sequencing data from the cells of eight organisms, cultured at both normal and elevated temperatures, using the rMATS program to compare isoform abundance under these conditions. Their research identified six genes that were significantly alternatively spliced in response to temperature stress. Further analysis of these genes' molecular functions could reveal crucial pathways affected by temperature variations. As the summer came to an end, Georgia reflected on her experience at Broad, saying, “Thanks to BSSP, I learned to accept challenges as a stepping stone to success.”