中文
HOME
HOME / LATEST NEWS / Content

Inspiring Wisdom and Expanding Horizons: Model Biology and Medical Exploration

April 30, 2024

On April 25, 2024, Shanghai High School International Division invited Professor Cui Xiao Fang from Shanghai Jiao Tong University to give a professional science lecture entitled "The Application of Model Organisms in Medical Research" to a group of curious and enthusiastic Grade 7 students. This lecture not only spread knowledge, but also stimulated the students' love and pursuit of science.

Model organisms are species of organisms that scientists use to study a wide range of life phenomena. Professor Cui mentions that these creatures, because of their unique characteristics, have become important tools for delving into the mysteries of life. Professor Cui introduced in detail the key role of model organisms in modern medical research, especially in the construction of disease models, drug screening and evaluation, and their wide application. Model organisms, including common bacteriophages, E. coli, yeasts, Arabidopsis, fruit flies, nematodes, zebrafish, mice, et cetera, have become indispensable tools in medical research due to their short life spans, fast reproduction, ease of feeding, and clear genetic background. The display of each model organisms on the big screen grasped the attention of every student.

In the lecture, Professor Cui explained the application of model organisms in disease models in a simple way. She describes how these organisms can mimic human diseases, thereby helping scientists study the mechanisms of disease and its treatments. "For example," says Professor Cui, "through gene editing technology, we can mimic human genetic diseases in mice." The words of Professor Cui expanded the horizons of the students and sparked lively discussions. Many students also presented their own thoughts on diseases that could be cured in the future.

The professor also emphasized the importance of ethics and moral standards in scientific research. She explained that although we have the scientific and technological means to conduct these studies, we strictly adhere to ethical standards at every step to ensure that the research is rational and scientific. At the climax of the lecture, Prof. Cui presented a drug screening study done with a model organism. She detailed how mice can be used to test the effectiveness and safety of new drugs, and this description gave the students a sense of the direct contribution of model organisms to human health.

Along with the warm applause of the students, the lecture came to a successful conclusion. This lecture was not only a collision of knowledge, but also a spiritual engagement. Professor Cui Xiao Fang used her enthusiasm and experience to ignite the scientific dreams of every student present.

Written by 7-2 Cathy, Michelle

Supervised by Ruoyang Wang, Jingyi Wang

Pictures by Xu Jing

Edited by Cong Luo, Andrew