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International BioGENEius Winners Selected

Prathana Dalal of Shawnee Mission East High School in Leawood, KA has won the International BioGENEius Challenge.

The challenge, organized by the Biotechnology Institute, "is a competition for high school students who demonstrate an exemplary understanding of biotechnology through science research projects," according to information release by the organization.

Fourteen winners of national competitions from the United States, Canada, and Australia were evaluated on the quality of their research, display, and responses to questions about their scientific knowledge and potential commercial applications of their research.

The judges included scientists, researchers, educators, and members of the biotech industry.

For her project, "Modeling of human non-deletional hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) conditions in β-globin locus transgenic mouse models: The -175 (T to C) and -195 (C to G) A-gamma globin gene point mutations," Dalal looked at how hemoglobin genetic sequence changes can effect fetal hemoglobin production in mice, which can be used to understand sickle cell disease treatments.

Dalal received $7,500 for her first place finish.

Nathan Kondamuri of Munster High School in Dyer, IN took second place and won $5,000 with a project called "A Novel Biofuel Cell Based on Direct Electron Transfer-Type Bioelectrocatalysis Incorporating the Efficient System of Photophosphorylation."

Third place and $2,500 went to David Campeau from Mayo High School in Rochester, MN for his project titled "Brain Computer Interface."

Jenna Pappalardo from Satellite High School in Satellite Beach, FL took home fourth place and $1,000 for her project called "Meddling with RGS17."

The other ten participants received honorable mentions and $500 each.

More information is available at biotechinstitute.org.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

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