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VATSAL JAIN [Founder]

Welcome to Biologe[ne]! Vatsal Jain is a junior at Biotechnology Highschool in Holmdel. He always had a passion for understanding the world around him and is constantly seeking new opportunities to learn and explore.​At BTHS, the culture and staff push students to reach for their goals and Vatsal found that working in a lab environment committed to research is the perfect setting for him. His curiosity has led me to the fields of genomics and oncology and has had the privilege of collaborating with amazing researchers, including Dr. Vershon, Dr. Varkouhi, Dr. Cope, Dr. Taha, and Dr. Wolchok. Through these experiences, he has been able to delve deeper into the field of genomics, oncology, computational biology, and cell and gene therapy. He is also an active Hazlet EMS cadet, where he has had the opportunity to work with experienced EMS professionals and learn about the various tools and equipment used in the field. When he's not planning world domination, Vatsal enjoys playing tennis, eating new foods, and enjoying board games with friends and family.​He is currently part of Duke class of of 2028.Vatsal is excited to share his passions and knowledge with you through Biologe[ne]. He hopes that his posts will inspire you to explore the world of science and research and spark your own curiosity. Thank you for visiting and feel free to reach out and connect!

MISHIKA JAIN [Reviewer and Editor]

Welcome to Biologe[ne]! I grew up constantly exposed to biology. Not through science experiments or meticulous observation of the various life forms that surround us, but rather through continuous and seemingly never-ending doctor appointments. Severe allergies and skin conditions have given me the privilege of learning about and going through different therapies that utilize allergy and immunology sciences and molecular medicine.  As my condition improved through these therapies, I found myself wondering why certain people had higher chances of developing allergies than others, especially if they lived in a specific region. I realized that much of it came from our genetic code, as well as external environmental factors. As a result, I found myself drawn to allergy and immunology, as well as genetics. To further pursue my interest in life sciences, I applied and was admitted to Biotechnology High School, and now have the privilege of access to more resources to further explore my passions through their advanced life sciences courses. The selective nature of the school attracted me, and with the honors-level courses I currently take, I am able to learn more about my interests.  I hope to be able to be part of research that can uncover more about such fields, especially those that affect millions of other people like me. Thank you for visiting and feel free to reach out and connect!

Publications -

Determining the Effects of Temperature on the Evolution of Bacterial tRNA Pools;

Published - Genome Biology and Evolution (GBE);

https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evae116

Abstract -

The genetic code consists of 61 codons coding for 20 amino acids. These codons are recognized by transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that bind to specific codons during protein synthesis. All organisms utilize less than all 61 possible anticodons due to base pair wobble: the ability to have a mismatch with a codon at its third nucleotide. Previous studies observed a correlation between the tRNA pool of bacteria and the temperature of their respective environments. However, it is unclear if these patterns represent biological adaptations to maintain the efficiency and accuracy of protein synthesis in different environments. A mechanistic mathematical model of mRNA translation is used to quantify the expected elongation rates and error rate for each codon based on an organism's tRNA pool. A comparative analysis across a range of bacteria that accounts for covariance due to shared ancestry is performed to quantify the impact of environmental temperature on the evolution of the tRNA pool. We find that thermophiles generally have more anticodons represented in their tRNA pool than mesophiles or psychrophiles. Based on our model, this increased diversity is expected to lead to increased missense errors. The implications of this for protein evolution in thermophiles are discussed.

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