A Taste of Chicago

In our last lecture of the week, we learned about vaccines. We covered the way vaccines work, different types of vaccines, and the importance of them. 

Dr. Fineschi teaching us about vaccines

Old DNA sequence

We also learned about the process of DNA sequencing. DNA sequencing provides us with the location of all the nucleotides in the DNA molecule. This is important to us because we are studying the mutation that occurs and leads to antibiotic resistance. Being able to look at the layout of the nucleotides in the DNA molecule, will help us find the location of that mutation. Other than learning the basics of DNA sequencing we also got to read some old DNA sequences and come up with each bases’ complementary nucleotide. The process was hard and we were only able to do a few before time was up. Dr. Fineschi wanted us to do this so we could understand the struggle of DNA sequencing without the modern techniques. 

After the end of lecture, we were sent to the lab to work on a couple of different labs. First, we went over our results from the lake water experiment we conducted yesterday. We learned the lake water is actually really clean. This came as no surprise since Dawn, our lab instructor, had previously told us the water is tested daily. 

In our next lab, we continued our work on our antibiotic resistance (ABR) labs. In lecture, we learned about DNA sequencing and also learned how to read it. In lab, we actually got to go over our own group’s result. My partner, Crystal, and I were able to navigate through the program that provided us with the sequence pretty easily. We spent some time searching for our mutation that may have caused the resistance to antibiotics, specifically Rifampicin which is what we are studying. We found our mutation just as class came to an end and were not able to discuss it so I will give more explanation on that later. 

After class, I decided to go to the RA event of the night which was a festival in Chicago called “Taste of Chicago.” The festival showcases all types of different cuisines in Chicago’s dining community. Entrance to the festival itself is free but to buy food we had to buy tickets. After purchasing our tickets, Cecilia, Maria, Adela, and I took off excited to get to sample all different types of foods. For us, the excitement was short lived as our tickets ran out quickly because all the food cost a high number of tickets. 

For the rest of the time we had in the city, we decided to keep walking around. Before it was time to head back to campus, we walked to the Buckingham Fountain and Lake Michigan. 

Adela, Maria, Cecilia, and I in front of Buckingham Fountain

Once we arrived back at the dorms, it was already late at night so I worked to finish my blog before going to bed. Today was the first time I have been off campus since move-in day and I had lots of fun. I hope to get to do it again this weekend!