NewRoFoundation

Sara Fryxell spent two summers studying the cells that drive the growth of miniscule roundworms. Her mission is to increase the medical world’s understanding of ailments such as brittle-bone disease and cancer.

Her research focused on signaling pathways, the biological process cells use to communicate. She examined the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathway, which governs growth and body size of the worm, known by the Latin name C. elegans. The process in the worms is similar to human cells’ communication, which, when it goes awry, can lead to the bone condition, pulmonary hypertension or can fuel cancer’s progress. The tiny worms – they grow to about 1 millimeter – also are ideal because their overall biology is simple enough to observe the processes clearly.

In her study, Fryxell identified another protein that regulates a key gene in the process, activating or repressing it to control the way it performs its function, much like the operator manages a piece of heavy machinery.

“All these discoveries allow scientists to better comprehend the communicative process of the signaling pathway, and gets the scientific community one step closer to solving issues in the pathway that lead to the suffering of thousands,” Fryxell said.

The experience taught Fryxell to establish a scientific procedure and work with high-tech lab equipment, hazardous chemicals and living organisms. She presented her findings in laboratory meetings to other scientists at Queens College.