Project Capacity Building Proposal 2018-2019

Name: Sophia Kuhn Topic:

Integrative STEM teacher: Genetic engineering and the use of technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 for genome
Mrs. Hess editing.
Block:
3B

What do you want to learn about, be able to do, or experience as a result What do you envision as your capacity
of your capacity building? building evidence “end product”?
I want to learn about the technologies in genetic engineering, including (Demo, Blog Posts (Number included),
the formation of CRISPR-Cas9, and how they are used to edit genomes Video, project for Tidewater or other
to prevent genetic mutations, a topic I covered in my I-Search from competition)
sophomore year. I also would like to understand the ethical aspects of
this field and how it affects the study and work of genetic engineers. In This research will most likely be
addition, it would be ideal to shadow a professional in this field to better documented through Evernote and then
understand its application in the outside world. formatted to fit blog posts that will be
included on my Academy blog
alongside my I-Search blog. This will
include an introduction post, the
history of genetic engineering, the
vocabulary used in this field, the
purpose of genetic engineering,
technologies in this field (several
sections for this topic with one focus
being CRISPR-Cas9), ethical barriers,
current events, and a page dedicated to
a possible shadowing. If time allows, I
would want to create some type of
video in which I can communicate my
research verbally and through visuals.
This would include the use of a video
program that I can use to create slides.
What specific activities will you complete as a part of this capacity How will this work contribute to your
building work? What specific questions or tasks will you complete? project as a whole—why will your
senior project be enriched by this
A majority of the time spent will be done researching this topic through work?
the internet and library resources. Questions for research will include: This research will provide a strong
What is the history of genetic engineering? (When and how did it begin?) foundation so that I am able to focus
What fields of the natural sciences does this deal with? (What other on the application of a specific
fields does it apply to?) technology. In addition, it will make
What is the purpose of this field, specifically? me antiquated with the scientific
What are the current events in this field? (What have genetic engineers jargon used in this field so that I will
study so far?) This will include following current events in this field be prepared to work in a professional
through news outlets such as Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology setting alongside a mentor.
News (GEN).
What technologies have been developed/are developing in this field?
What is CRISPR-Cas9 and how is it being studied today?
What are the ethical barriers in this field and how do they affect genetic
engineers?

If you are planning to complete an experimental or engineering design project, please complete the second page of
this document prior to submitting. ​Mrs. Hess or Mr. Sonier​ would need to sign in the “Other Mentor” spot for these
types of projects. If you are shadowing a professional for a mini-shadowing prior to the summer experience, that
person would sign in the “Other Mentor” spot.