A middle school student from Chicago It helped to find an amazing substance that can prevent cancer.
Cameria Williams collected goose droppings near a pond in Chicago’s Garfield Park as part of a science project in collaboration with the university. Illinois Chicago
Amazingly, the laboratory test confirmed that it was guano It contains an unprecedented compound that slows growth Human melanoma and the ovary Cancer Cells.
As a result of her discovery, Camarria was listed as a co-author on a paper published in the scientific journal ACS Omega.
She was one of a handful of middle school students enrolled in a 14-week science program focused on growing antibiotics from naturally-derived bacteria.
The 11- to 14-year-olds chose different objects in their environment to sample bacteria from, including lake water, insects, flowers, a playground slide and an air conditioner filter.
They collected a total of 40 samples and performed more than 5,500 tests.
Some of these were selected for further analysis and the most promising were ultimately selected by UIC graduate students and postdoctoral advisors.
Cameria Williams collected goose droppings near a pond in Chicago’s Garfield Park as part of a science project in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Camarria’s successful goose drop sample confirmed a new compound scientists hadn’t seen before.
More efforts are now underway to determine how the compound works to kill cancer cells.
Other compounds in goose droppings are also being tested for their antibiotic activity.
Jin Yi Tan, a UIC graduate student who helped develop the program to engage youth in marginalized areas in STEM education, said the results were exciting.
She explained: Some samples have known antibiotic properties – they have been discovered before.
‘It’s still exciting for the kids when we tell them we found an active antibiotic molecule in the sample.’
The scientist said that it is also important to observe that the students feel more confident in the process of the program.
‘The most rewarding part for me is seeing the progress as children grow in confidence over time,’ she said.
Laboratory tests have shown that guano contains an unprecedented compound that can reduce the growth of human melanoma and ovarian cancer.
‘Like, yeah, I can program things. I can do this. I chose these samples.’
In the study, the UIC researchers wrote that the findings ‘prove that it is possible to combine educational awareness programs with the availability of high-quality natural products.
While Camarria safely collected the goose droppings as part of her science project, the CDC recommends avoiding touching bird guano to prevent bird flu.
He warns: ‘As a general precaution, people should avoid direct contact with wild birds and observe wild birds from as far away as possible.
Do not touch sick or dead birds, their feces or waste, or any surface or water source (eg ponds, watering cans, buckets, pans, pools) that may be contaminated with saliva, feces, or other body fluids. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE).’
