Texas Biomed has been of great service to me because I have learned and am still learning about different attributes of genetic research for Osteoporosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). With their world-class colony of nonhuman primates, researchers have animal models that are of close similarity to humans in genetics and physiology. This can help them fill their critical role in understanding human health and disease.
The location of my internship at the institute took place at the genetic department under Dr. Comuzzie’s lab. My supervisor Dr. Quillen along with research assistants Jaydee Foster and Anne Sheldrake have been wonderful in allowing me to work side by side with them and their projects.
The first project I learned about at Texas Biomed was osteoporosis research. This project is being done to overcome the public health issue of skeletal fragility and contribute data to associated diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Osteoporosis is traditionally being discovered in patients in a progressed state of irreversible decrease of bone density. This loss of bone density can ultimately lead to a fatal fracture. By identifying biomarkers for osteoporosis, there could potentially be a diagnosis from an earlier point in time.
Osteoporosis research at Texas Biomed consist of isolating biomarkers from baboon serum samples that may be associated with loss of bone density.
Osteoporosis research applications include polishing and prepare microslides of bone to take measurements using a software called bioquant, take photographs to compare cortical bone density, measure vertebrae to assess bone strength identification of osteophytes and cortical bone.
I am also more familiar with an immunoassay test (a procedure for detecting specific proteins, hormones or other substances through their properties as antigens or antibodies.) (Unfortunately I was not able to run the immunoassay for the biomarkers because of a grant deadline, but that is ok because I was able to participate in a small pilot research project for polycystic ovary syndrome).
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease common in women. The syndrome causes an increase of acne and facial hair, can cause problems that are linked to infertility and eventually lead to heart disease or diabetes.
Women diagnosed with PCOS have excess levels of testosterone due to high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). High levels of LH and testosterone will disrupt the menstrual cycle due to a lack of estrogen and suppress ovulation from occurring. Ovulation disruption can lead to infertility, as well as increased miscarriages.
Polycystic ovaries occur when the menstrual cycle is disrupted and immature follicles present in the ovaries cannot mature. These follicles will stay in the ovaries and develop into cyst due to the unbalanced hormone level. Having cysts present in ovaries can potentially lead to surgical removal of cysts if they cannot dissolve on their own.
The current research applications at Texas Biomed consist of identifying baboon females with high testosterone levels in order to determine whether or not they may have had polycystic ovary syndrome. Once potential females have been identified, further research can be applied to understand how PCOS works using baboons as an animal model.
Other research that is also being done is diabetes, osteoarthritis and tanning research associated with vitamin D and melanin studies. Some of the research has or may have a relationship with one another.
Having done this internship through Texas State University Anthropology department was the most fundamental learning experience I could have done during my undergraduate career. With around twenty anthropologist working in the genetics department of Texas Biomed, they are able to utilize their knowledge of humans and nonhuman primates and apply a genetic significance to understand disease and human health. Yes there was failed attempts at collecting data while I was there, but being able to pick up data and take it in another direction is what science is all about. Learning about genetics research through a biological anthropology point of view opened the door of potential research in my future.
For the summer, I will be responsible for collecting samples from baboon femurs and vertebrae. Using these samples, I will determine mineral composition of the bone to determine a relationship between mineral density and micro- and macro- scale features of bone health.
