Pre-Med students at Trinity hold Genetics Poster Presentation

April 4, 2012 marked the day of the third Pre-Med Genetics poster presentation. The quality of the presentations was the best to date and they truly were a reflection of the hard work of the students.{{more}}

Bryn Dhir, the only Canadian in the group, elaborated on Mitochondrial Inheritance and the contribution of maternal genes to diseases obtained via this type of inheritance.

The other three posters were presented by Vincentians, who along with Dhir, will be entering the Medical programme at Trinity School of Medicine in May, 2012 upon successful completion of their final exams. Chryste Da Silva enlightened the audience on chromosomal aberrations. She stressed variations of the chromosomes and how these may be manifested in the phenotype. Nathifa Hinds took a similar approach, but commented on mutations in general. The students, Professors and Deans who were in attendance were educated on various types of mutations and Hinds clarified the distinction of acquired versus spontaneous mutations. Amber Glasgow’s revelation of the wonders and disadvantages of Gene Therapy captivated the crowd. Persons were amazed by the success story of Ashanti Da Silva, the first recipient of gene therapy. However, it was distressing to learn the fate of Jesse Gelsinger, the boy who succumbed to gene therapy.

These four young ladies from the Pre-Medical programme at Trinity School of Medicine did an excellent job and executed such brilliant work that their successors will certainly have to work diligently just to maintain the standard. This Pre-Medical programme prepares students not only for Medical school, but also exposes the students to the world of research. Dr Usha Tadepalli is the Course Director of the Pre-Medical Genetics programme which is taught by Dr Shakel Henson.