Upper School science students shared impressive research in the fields of genetics and molecular biology in a series of informative presentations in the Oakwood Room on May 30. Dr. Susan Zusman, who guided the students in their yearlong research, provided a brief welcome and introduction to the program, which was attended by students, parents, faculty and administrators.
Students worked on an independent genetic research project using drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) in a collaborative partnership with active researchers at Princeton University. The students conducted real research and enjoyed the privilege of answering questions never investigated before.
“We all work on drosophila (fruit fly), a popular model organism for studying human disease since it has 100 years of genetic tools developed for researchers to use,” Dr. Zusman explained. “Furthermore, many of the genes that cause human disease are also in flies.”
Nijiany Genao ’26, Julia Machado ’25 and Nitya Sahni ’26 shared how the conserved mek kinase signaling pathway may be involved in drosophila flight behavior. Anushka Patchigolla ’27 spoke about an exciting finding of a genetic interaction of the tre mutation (affecting a G-protein coupled receptor) with the highly conserved hedgehog signaling pathway in drosophila. Anjali Shankar ’26 was able to determine that the rop gene is required for normal trachea in drosophila.
Finally, Giselle Rodriguez ’25, Arya Gaur ’26 and Chiara Baldi ’26 shared their investigation of the role of the mek signaling pathway on social behavior in drosophila. This pathway has been implicated in human autism and flies could be used as a system to learn about this disease.
“I find it deeply rewarding to guide the talented, dedicated and creative students in the Wardlaw+Hartridge Research Program, whose work has produced significant discoveries that advance the scientific community,” Dr. Zusman said.
UPPER SCHOOL RESEARCH PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Hua Liu