After watching a terrifying zombie movie as a child, I developed a fear of death and the
unknown. Filled with anxiety and confusion, it raised many questions, such as what happens to our bodies when we die, and do our brains simply shut down? That was when I first became interested in biology. Understanding what happens in our bodies and why they happen brought me comfort in the uncertainty, offering me facts instead of scary fiction. I later narrowed my interest to understanding what makes us who we are, why it defines us, and how it affects our lives. This interest led me to study genetics to solve the unknowns of life.

Your genes determine and affect many aspects of your life. As a blueprint for your body, your genes can decide your physical makeup, certain bodily functions, and the risk of developing certain diseases. By learning about your genetic makeup, you become informed of predisposed diseases you have and then can reform your lifestyle to one that best fits your health. For example, I have learned through my genes that I am at risk for diabetes and have spoken to my doctor about healthier lifestyle choices. Your genes reveal your ancestry, which tells us all this information. Consequently, you can use this to solve your health problems by starting with where the problem began and understanding how it formed. Thus, leading us to genetics.

Genetics leads us to understand our own lives, but also other organisms. One issue with animals and their genetics is selective breeding. Selective breeding is the breeding of specific plants or animals with desirable traits. Humans have practiced this process for years to develop offspring for agricultural, aesthetic, or sporting purposes. It is controversial because it causes reduced genetic diversity, increased disease susceptibility, and environmental changes. However, the biggest issue about the practice is that certain animals have become extinct. That is why companies like Colossal Bioscience have made it their mission to restore the Earth. Venturing to “jumpstart nature’s ancestral heartbeat,” Colossal Bioscience works to revive previously extinct animals that will secure the health and biodiversity of our planet’s future. They can achieve this goal with biotechnology, studying the innermost parts of life. Their company is not driven by merit or profit alone but driven by “the forces of virtue and moral good – working for a healthier planet, a healthier human populace and a pursuit of that which we recognize as goodness, compassion and honest, pure science.” For this reason, I wish to do my part in caring for our
world.

Before, I believed that helping people with their everyday problems was my way of bettering the world, and I thought that was enough. However, the world is not just humans and does not exist only today. It exists forever and will always have unknowns or problems. It requires resilience to discover and find solutions for the potential issues of our future, and I do not shy away from failure. Science connects us with the world in many ways, and it is ours to use for the better. We can heal the past, solve the present, and create a better future for our planet and everything it encompasses. Through my fears, I discovered my passion. I hope to work with other curious minds to uncover and solve the unknown and uncertainties of life, starting with the core of all life. That way, the world does not fear, but embraces life and the beauty it brings, even death.

Citations

John. “Company – Colossal.” Colossal, 4 Jan. 2023, colossal.com/company.