Yu, L., Bostrom, C., Frazenburg, S. Bayer, T., Dagan, T., Reusch, T. Somatic genetic drift and multilevel selection in a clonal seagrass. Nat Ecol Evol; doi: 10.1038/s41559-020-1196-4 (2020).

            A primary article is a body of work that has original findings or analysis that is conducted by the authors of the article. Typically, primary articles go through the peer review process in which they undergo evaluation before publication to ensure their validity (“Primary vs. Secondary,” 2021). Primary articles typically follow a structured format. This includes sections such as methodology, results, discussion, and references (“Primary vs. Secondary,” 2021). They also typically include some form of data or another form of evidence to back their research findings.

            A review article is distinct from a primary article. It is a comprehensive analysis of existing research or literature (Balon, 2022). Review articles will usually cover a broad range of studies and findings to provide a holistic view of the subject matter. Rather than just restating what the existing research says, review articles identify the strengths and weaknesses of the studies (Balon, 2022). They may also examine conflicting evidence or inconsistencies within the literature. Overall, review articles help academics remain up to date on the latest developments in a particular field (Balon, 2022).

            The peer review process for articles is a system in place to attempt to put out accurate information (“Peer Review,” 2022). A researcher will submit their work and then it will be reviewed by experts in their field to ensure the information is reliable and accurate. There are a few things that the reviewers are specifically looking for. A few of these things are a fully described methodology, no obvious errors, and that the research describes supports the conclusions made by the researcher (“Peer Review,” 2022). While the peer review process is important to ensuring accuracy, the system is not fool proof and there is a chance for a bad article to make it through the process.

            The article titled Rapid and Sensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is a primary article. The reason I came to that conclusion is because in the abstract section the authors state their previous experimental research findings and lay out the experiments they did for this particular study. The article titled Development of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated technology for potential clinical applications is a review article. It is explicitly stated in the abstract that their study is a review of the recently reported application platforms.

References

Balon, Richard. “What Is a Review Article and What Are Its Purpose, Attributes, and Goal(s).” Karger Publishers, S. Karger AG, 2 May 2022, karger.com/pps/article/91/3/152/826565/What-Is-a-Review-Article-and-What-Are-Its-Purpose.

“Libguides: Tutorial: Scholarly Literature Types: Peer Review.” Peer Review – Tutorial: Scholarly Literature Types – LibGuides at Cornell University, 16 June 2021, guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=293669&p=2004554.

“Libguides: Tutorial: Scholarly Literature Types: Primary vs. Secondary Articles.” Primary vs. Secondary Articles – Tutorial: Scholarly Literature Types – LibGuides at Cornell University, 16 June 2021, guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=293669&p=2004549.

Something about me that some people find surprising because of where I’ve ended up is that I hated my biology class in High school. I didn’t even like doing the dissections, it was just smelly and boring for me at the time. Everything really changed when I took my introductory biology class in community college. I became completely enthralled with everything biology-related like how cells work and how plants and animals adapt to their environments. By the time I was in General Biology II, I was outside all of the time identifying different plants and their respective phyla. The teacher who taught me General Biology I and II loved to talk during class about different biomedical advancements and relate them back to the topics we were learning at the time. This is what really sparked my interest in biomedical science.

The more science classes I’ve taken, the more I’ve been reassured that I choose the best major for myself as I am constantly looking forward to learning more in my courses. For example, I am in a genetics class this semester and am so fascinated by how one small mutation in the genetic sequence can lead to devastating diseases. I am also incredibly interested in the immune system and how so many microscopic parts are constantly working together to keep us healthy. Biomedical science interests me particularly because of the way it is constantly changing, and research is always providing us with new and useful information. Like the development of Casgevy, a gene therapy to help people with sickle cell disease. Or the creation of the lifesaving drug, Narcan, which reverses the effects of opioid overdoses.

I also recognize the importance of the other sciences that link with biology such as chemistry and mathematics. I have found that General Chemistry I and II have been crucial for me to learn the molecular aspect of biology. Especially when learning about biological processes in which chemical reactions take place and can decide the outcome of that process. The main example of this that I can think of is the topic of cellular metabolism and the oxidation and reduction occurring in the Krebs Cycle. I also found my mathematics course, Calculus for Life Sciences, incredibly useful. Not only because it taught me the higher-level math needed for advanced science courses but also because it gave me some perspective on how Calculus can be used to solve for things like bacteria growth or the potential spread of disease.

            When I’m not in class or doing homework, most of my time is spent at my part-time jobs. I currently work as a nanny for two children as well as at a print shop near my school’s campus. I find working to be very fulfilling and while it can be hard to balance working, going to class, and getting my homework done, I always manage to make it work. When I do have time off, I love to spend time outdoors or go on trips. This past summer I took a day trip to Washington D.C to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and it was so amazing to see all of the preserved specimens and replicas they had on display.

            My unexpected journey in biology has been a remarkable transformation. I feel as though biomedical science is the most fast-moving and transformative field of biology right now. The best part about it is a lot of the research coming out in this area is actively helping people and saving lives. This is the reason I am seeking a graduate degree in biomedical science with the intention of conducting research in the future. I am particularly interested in pharmaceutical research. One thing that I know for sure is that I do have the passion and enthusiasm to succeed in my graduate studies. I hope that it will be a stimulating and exciting opportunity for me to deepen my knowledge of not only biological science but also professional and personal skills I can take with me in my future career.