What do mice and the human brain have in common? Turns out, lots! The mouse brain is actually very similar to the human brain. Because of this, scientists can study mice to learn more about the human brain. Dr. Melanie Samuel, Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, is one of these scientists. Melanie's research lab studies the mouse retina (eye) to understand how our brains make us who we are. She studies how the cells in our brains talk to each other.
Animal research is extremely important to science. Without animals, scientists couldn't do the important work of scientific discovery. Mice help scientists make important discoveries that help people. Mice are the heroes of science!
Through the experiment, she was able to see the DNA from the cell. Melanie suddenly understood the beauty of the cells in our body. Every cell in our body has the same genetic information, yet they have totally different functions. Melanie became fascinated with exploring what makes us human through science and biology. She sees science as the most comprehensive way to give back to humanity because one discovery can impact millions of people. According to Melanie, STEM careers are a way to give back to the world. "With STEM careers, you really have the opportunity to give back to the world and maybe even the universe in a way that's super powerful." Believe in Yourself: You Can Do This According to Melanie, anybody can do a job in STEM. She says that you just have to have a passion for STEM and be willing to work hard, and then you can accomplish anything. Melanie admits that sometimes people in our lives tell us that we can't do things, or aren't good enough. That can be really hard to hear, especially when it comes from people that we love, like our friends, family, and teachers. She remembers being told by one of her teachers that she wasn't good at math. This hurt her feelings for awhile, but eventually she realized that her teacher was wrong. Melanie is good at math, and she's great at a lot of other things that are also important to her job. Melanie's job, and many other jobs in STEM, require lots of different skills. You don't have to be perfect at any one thing to be perfectly ready for a job in STEM. Instead, focus on working hard at what you are passionate about. This will make you perfect for a job in STEM.
Click below to watch the full interview with Melanie:
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February 2021
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