Dupont Science Essay Pirouette, Plie, again were the last words I heard from Ms Brigida.

Ballet became a large piece of my life at a young age of three where I could not fathom how much my teacher Brigida, was helping me shape my life in the right direction and how much she had taught me. After nine years of teaching me, she left and pursued her dreams. One morning as I walked into my ballet studio, a glimmer of light shone on a couple faded yellow flowers framing an inspiring picture of my once ballet teacher. A dark melancholy crept through my spine as I see tears falling down the somber faces of my friends. I can never forget the exact words, please join us in mourning Brigida Giansperos short life. At the age of only 27, pancreatic cancer has taken away her life. As a fourteen year old now in ninth grade, I thought why not find a cure for a cancer? Cancer is a disease featuring abnormal controlled cell division which then results in tumors and growths that could spread throughout the body. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells typically are immortal. They are immortal because there is no form of negative feedback loops that is stopping the cancer cells from dividing and multiplying, therefore causing a tumor or a growth. Research has been shown that high levels of sulfur reduces the size and number of cancer cells and abrogates tumor growth. (Li et al, 2010) The big picture of my research project was for me to find something that could stop cancer cells from multiplying. Much to my disappointment when I first started my research, I realized that cancer cells were not readily available, but that did not stop me from continuing on. After some research, I realized that scientific studies have shown that yeast cells could be used as an alternative to cancer cells when doing research. I am using Candida albicans, also known as yeast cells as an alternative. Yeast cells and cancer cells share a typical eukaryotic structure and are able to reproduce at a fast rate as well (Hartwell, 2001). During digestion, asparagus produces sulfur compounds, which is beneficial in the reduction of the growth of cancer cells (Mitchell, 2001). Therefore, I decided that I wanted to see the effect of this biological plant, asparagus, on yeast activity. As I started researching, I had no idea where to start. Because of the lack of prior research supporting my curiosity, I had to extract components and ideas and protocols from different articles and scientific journals. I discovered that yeast activity can be quantified through spectrophotometry and viable colony counts (Taft, Nett, Andes, 2011) but first this challenge required me to optimized the growth of yeast (Bergman, 2011). My spectrophotometric studies allows for the absorbance of light as my yeast is rapidly growing, which indicates that as yeast populates the pungent liquid culture, more light will be absorbed by the generations of yeast. To ensure that my results can be supported, I counted the number of raised pale yellow cultures known as my viable colonies on agar culture infused with asparagus. When I compared the yeast activity in my experimental sample to my positive and negative control, I saw a decrease in yeast activity and viable yeast colonies. This preliminary results showed that asparagus was inhibiting the cell division of yeast. As a scientific theory is based on a body of facts that can be repeatedly confirmed, I continue to

do more and more experiments with bigger sample sizes so that my results are not only accurate but also statistically significant. I recently contacted the family of my late ballet teacher to tell them about my research and to give my condolences once again. Although bringing up memories of her brings sadness to everyone, it also brings a sense of hope. As I was leaving, the mother thanked me in her Russian accent with a small smile on her face and reassured me by saying, You are making a difference and if Brigida were here then she would have said the same thing. Keep striving Tiffany. I then realized, I was making a difference, it may only be a slight one but I at least I was trying to do everything I could to try to bring some justice in my beloved ballet teachers death. With my cancer research and the new idea of asparagus, I am continuing to work and to strive for my positive results.