BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Brinda Rao, a junior at Ridge High School, discovered two new DNA sequences while doing some bench research this summer at Rutger’s University in the field of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics.
Her research was published on Nov. 15, 2019 in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with Rao as the first author.
Her discovery began at the end of the 2018-19 school year when Rao asked her guidance counselor for any summer programs available. Her counselor suggested the 2019 Wakeman Institute Summer Experience, an intensive academic science program conducted at Rutgers University in Piscataway.
In order to be selected for the program she needed three letters of recommendation, good grades, and have an interest in science and math. Rao was among 34 high school students from New Jersey and New York to be selected.
During the summer Rao’s project focused on DNA sequence analysis of genes from the duckweed plant Landoltia punctata and how these genes compared to those found in other plant species.
“Over the weeks, I sequenced DNA to find which proteins were found in the plant. Mine had not been seen before in the database,” Rao said.
The DNA lab work was then cross checked in a database which resulted in the two publications. This data can now be used by scientists worldwide.
“Brinda accomplished a great deal during this two-week period,” said Susan Coletta of Rutgers. “With this level of enthusiasm for scientific research, it is important that these achievements be recognized.”
Rao was proud of her accomplishment plans to attend college where she would like to work in a lab and become a doctor after she graduates. She also encourages other students to experience the program.
“It was a lot of fun,” Rao said. “Most kids wouldn’t consider working in lab fun.”
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