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The goal of my project was to understand how the suppression of TNFAIP8 family of proteins affects the incidence of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes. It is known that the TNFAIP8 family of proteins is crucial for the regulation of tumorigenesis and inflammation. Nevertheless, its role on the incidence of diabetes is not fully understood. After treating different strains of mice with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes, their pancreases were removed. I then counted the remaining beta islets and compared the results  between TIPE1 knockout, TIPE2 knockout, TIPE 1 and TIPE2 knockout, TIPE3 knockout, and the wild type mice exhibiting all TIPES. I also used a quantitative PCR to quantify the amounts of TIPEs in normal beta islets.  This project was a valuable research experience for me since it helped me to determine that I want to continue doing research for the rest of my life or work in the research and development department of a biotech firm. I also learned multiple practical skills that will become useful in my future such as creating and cutting histosections and cryosections, performing genotyping and gel electrophoresis, doing mouse dissections, running PCRs and quantitative PCRs, performing cytokine ELISA analyses, isolating specific cells, and different forms of staining. Moreover, this experience assured me that bioengineering is the right mayor for me, and promoted me to consider focusing on on different concentrations within the major such as genetic engineering. I have also discovered that immunology is of great interest to me and that I would like to continue doing research in the area.

The goal of my project was to understand how the suppression of TNFAIP8 family of proteins affects the incidence of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes. It is known that the TNFAIP8 family of proteins is crucial for the regulation of tumorigenesis and inflammation. Nevertheless, its role on the incidence of diabetes is not fully understood. After treating different strains of mice with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes, their pancreases were removed. I then counted the remaining beta islets and compared the results  between TIPE1 knockout, TIPE2 knockout, TIPE 1 and TIPE2 knockout, TIPE3 knockout, and the wild type mice exhibiting all TIPES. I also used a quantitative PCR to quantify the amounts of TIPEs in normal beta islets.  This project was a valuable research experience for me since it helped me to determine that I want to continue doing research for the rest of my life or work in the research and development department of a biotech firm. I also learned multiple practical skills that will become useful in my future such as creating and cutting histosections and cryosections, performing genotyping and gel electrophoresis, doing mouse dissections, running PCRs and quantitative PCRs, performing cytokine ELISA analyses, isolating specific cells, and different forms of staining. Moreover, this experience assured me that bioengineering is the right mayor for me, and promoted me to consider focusing on on different concentrations within the major such as genetic engineering. I have also discovered that immunology is of great interest to me and that I would like to continue doing research in the area.