Monica Zocchi is studying in Busto: a future hope for scientific research

She passed a very selective test and won a two-week stage in the research laboratory IFOM, the Molecular Oncology Institute Foundation at the end of June. On Saturday, February 27th, during the "Poster Day – Science, an experience to convey" that will take place in the Milan Institute, Via Adamello, she will present the results of her study. The protagonist is Monica Zocchi, a student in the Tosi scientific high school who held the high school’s name very high during the important research, experiencing science in the first place. She won’t be the only one, 21 other students from all over Lombardy will illustrate the results of the analysis with scientific posters; a typical way to communicate in the research world.

 

“We used microarray technology, that is a microgrid which analyses the cells genes” explains Monica Zocchi. “The microgrid is divided into small cells and each of them are synthesised in millions of DNA fragments. The RNA messenger is extracted from the sample, it multiplies when locked onto a molecule of light. The RNA probe is hybridised and RNA will pair with the complementary DNA” continues the student. “You get an image with a different brightness and you can identify the levels of expression of various genes. Special software elaborate the data and they identify the genes present in the two cells, including the tumourous ones. In this way, you can identify the causes of the propagation of the cancer disease”

The initiative is the last step in the "The student researcher in 2009” project, whose goal is to introduce young people to scientific research, carried out by IFOM in partnership with the Regional Education Office for Lombardy and in collaboration with the ANSAS, former Irre-Lombardia. Teachers Carmen Giovannelli for the scientific field and Manuela Prandi for the internship supported the initiative.