Four Tri-City students will get a closer look at the hidden world of human DNA during a spring break work-experience with B.C. gene researchers.
A program called Gene Researcher for a Week is held each year to provide Canada's brightest young students an opportunity to study the field of human genetics, according to Sandra MacPherson, board chair for the Canadian Gene Cure Foundation.
"The hope is that the experience these students have will encourage them to pursue human genetics as a career and, eventually, become the next generation of leading edge scientists," she said.
The four local students are among 48 chosen from across Canada on the basis of their interest in science, academic standing and community involvement.
They'll get a chance to work with leading scientists in leading-edge laboratories to learn how genes cause human genetic disorders and how top scientists translate these findings into treatments and cures for genetic diseases.
The local students and their placements are:
Simon Wang of Coquitlam, a Pinetree secondary school student, who will be at BC Children's Hospital with host scientist Dr. Bruce Carleton;
Lauren Wilson of Coquitlam, Gleneagle, who will be at the UBC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with host scientist Dr. Brad Hoffman;
Annie Yu of Port Coquitlam, Terry Fox, who will also be at BC Children's Hospital;
and Kais Khimji of Coquitlam, St. George's, who will be at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics with host Dr. Michael Kobor.
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