Class of 2011
Christine Lynch
Hodson Fellow Investigates Environmental Toxins
At the prospect of doing hands-on science research, Christine Lynch '11 selected Washington College as her top-choice school. But when the incoming freshman accepted the Hodson Science Fellowship, she had little idea that, by the end of her sophomore year, she would be investigating the effect of environmental toxins on human DNA and looking at tumor suppressor genes.
Over the course of a 10-week summer research program in Professor Mindy Reynolds' lab, the biology major learned how to use the instrumentation and methodology required to extract DNA from human lung cells, introduce heavy metals to the samples, select cells to test for proteins, and analyze toxicity levels.
The young scientist is looking at occupational levels of environmental toxins—specifically cobalt and nickel—associated with lung cancer and other lung disease. The heavy metals are typically found in batteries that, when discarded, can leech out into groundwater supplies.
"We are looking specifically at the mechanism by which co-exposure to these heavy metals cause lung cancer," explains Dr. Reynolds, who collaborated on a similar project with Khadiza Chowdhery '10, a biochemistry major from Bangladesh. Khadiza is looking for gene mutations caused by exposure to nickel and cadmium.
"This is my first real research experience, and Dr. Reynolds has been very patient in explaining everything," says Christine. "As a premed student, I'm really interested in the work we're doing and I'm now considering oncology as a possible career track."
Christine and Khadiza will travel with Professor Reynolds to Salt Lake City next March to give poster presentations of their investigations at the annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology.
"I hope to come back to Professor Reynolds' lab next summer," says Christine. "This has been a really cool experience, and there are lots of different avenues we can explore from here."
Contact
E-mail: clynch2@washcoll.edu
Campus Involvement
Q & A
Hometown and high school? Lincoln University, PA, Avon Grove High School
Campus Event Appearances
Look for Christine in these event photos.