Dangers behind genetic testing
A life changing medical innova
In this magazine
The future of education throug
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g and discrimination
Staff List PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Charlotte Chui
ation
LEAD EDITOR Jenny Chin
gh machine learning
SECTION EDITORS Brenna Chen Jeffrey Gong Pooja Vedam STAFF WRITERS Seth Berger, Janya Budaraju, Ramya Chamkeri, Ellie Chen, Fiona Luo, Andrea Perng, Shreya Ramakrishnan, Riya Ranjan, Amrita Shankar, Mark Solomonik, Sophia Wang, Nika Zamani DESIGN LEAD Elena Peng ART LEAD Fiona Luo PHOTOGRAPHY LEAD Sophia Wang TREASURER Saumya Tawakley
About us
Res Novae is Monta Vista’s student-run science and technology magazine. Every month, our dedicated writers publish stories about exciting topics in STEM, from cancer research to artificial intelligence. We answer questions like: “How have MVHS students contributed to cancer research?” and “Can intelligent robots cook my dinner for me?”
Illustration by Kelly Jacques
Page design by Elena Peng Cover page by Fiona Luo 3
SWAB
The dangers behind genetic testing and discrimination. By Fiona Luo
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wab, swab, swab. The swabbers swarmed her, and everywhere there were test tubes, cotton balls, needles and so many hands, which swabbed the inside of her cheek, which forced the screeching jaws open and tore off handfuls of those glossy red locks, that tore off nails and skin and hair — anything to get at that precious DNA, anything to steal those valuable double helix molecules. Then, as quickly as they had pounced and ambushed, the swabbers were gone — they had their vials filled with with her genes. There was no reason to remain. A bleak wind blew by. Lola remained cowering in the corner of the alley, her mouth still fully open from the swabbers’ attack, her hands still on her now disheveled
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hair. may not have the — the genetic background She had to go home, she knew. She had our company is looking for.” four children to feed. Lola’s pressing glare was quenched by The mother sat blank eyed and slack jawed helpless tears, and she felt her face contorting. in her makeup sphere, which had insides “The newest data released by 46andYou covered with mirrors. The machine repeatedly has revealed that you have a mutation in the replaced her peel-off faces, each branded SMAD3 gene and a predisposition to early on the forehead with the logo 46andYou. heart disease. We simply cannot tolerate Below the stamped logo, a disclaimer read things like this in our company.” ‘made with real DNA.’ Drool trickled down Lola remained silent. She heard the loud the mother’s chin and neck. The only sign throbbing of her heart within her chest. of life from the mother was her hand, which “Well, now, we hope you understand. If our continuously pushed a hologram button that company hired people with heart diseases all spelled out, ‘Buy now!’; above her hand, the time, now that simply wouldn’t do. Why images of vibrant clothing flickered by. buy a toy that will break soon when we can Outside the makeup sphere, a young child buy functioning toys? But please, don’t trouble shouted, “Mommy!” yourself over the inconvenience brought to The mother, our company. We will c o m p l e t e l y surely recover.” absorbed with her Lola had the “As quickly as they had pounced reflection, hardly sudden urge to stick registered the her tongue out at the and ambushed, the swabbers sound. administrator. were gone — they had their vials “Mom!” the voice Instead, she forced filled with with her genes. There cried out again, out, “I have four was no reason to remain.” desperate now. children.” There was a The administrator silence. Suddenly, remembered to put the entire makeup sphere shook violently, on a sympathetic face. with crying noises echoing from outside; the “Poor you.” hologram wavered, and the machine began Lola stood over the city bridge, reminiscing applying peel-off faces off-center, yet the over the day’s events, while her children were mother never blinked. still at home, still hungry — and she did not The shaking stopped as quickly as it had have even a bitcent to spare for groceries! begun. The mother was left in silence again, A 46andYou DNA cosmetics billboard, much sitting blank eyed and slack jawed in her more massive than Lola’s apartment which makeup sphere. stood next to it, displayed a glamorous model “I’m sorry, Lola, but we’re going to have to showing off her peel-off faces. The model held let you go.” up the newest design: a delicate face, with a Lola’s heart skipped a beat. She froze, sharp bone structure and large copper eyes. her eyes locked on the administrator — the With a start, Lola realized, “That’s my face!” breathtaking peel-off face of the administrator That was her face. Her face! Those wicked — and a fever flushed over her face. A swabbers had taken her DNA and sold it, sold wordless minute passed. it to 46andYou. How could they, the monsters! “I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to —” Lola spun around forcibly, unable to look at “Why?” Lola gasped. Her mouth jerked her face on the billboard, only to see a wealthy back suddenly. She knew why. lady across the street wearing that very face — The administrator smiled unnaturally, her face! And to her right, another, wearing revealing her pearly teeth and gums. that face that was so like Lola’s but without “Well, it has come to our attention that you the sunken pits around her eyes, without the 5
Illustration by Fiona Luo cadaverous shadow beneath the bones, and the haggard lines tracing her face. Lola clapped her hands to her mouth so violently that she reeled back from the impact. That was when she saw the bird. The bird had only one wing. Yet it energetically hopped to and fro, pecking bread crumbs off the streets, and warbling a simple melody — a music which tore at Lola’s heartstrings. Surely, thought Lola, this bird was meant for her. With the music of the bird, she felt transformed. She felt weightless. An ecstasy too great to be described filled her heart. Abruptly, Lola clutched at her chest. The sudden motion startled the bird and caused it to scuttle away. The poor girl fell to the ground, already gone; the surge of happiness had been too much to bear. That was when the swabbers came. 6
Swab, swab, swab. They swarmed her and everywhere there were test tubes, cotton balls, needles, and so many hands, which which forced the jaws open and tore off handfuls of those glossy red locks. The mother sat blank eyed and slack jawed in her makeup sphere. The newest 46andYou peel-off-face had just been released moments earlier. Despite showing no outward emotion, the mother felt a pang of excitement as she scrutinized the delicate face, with a sharp bone structure and large copper eyes. For a fraction of a moment the mother wondered who the original owner might be, but as the machine drew the peel-off-face closer these thoughts were abandoned in her anticipated enjoyment. As the peel-off-face melded with her own, a burst of pleasure shook her heart. Then without warning, her heart trembled, and for
the first time feelings of panic racked the mother. She looked at her reflection and saw the sunken pits around her eyes, the skeletal shadows beneath her bones, and the haggard lines tracing her face. Then, she was gone. The mother sat blank eyed and slack jawed in her makeup sphere.
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Machine Learning: The Future of Education
How computers can change the education system through machine learning By Seth Berger
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ccording to Tech Edvocate, machine learning has developed and evolved over the years. Starting off as a rule-based methodology, the concept of machine learning was not taken seriously. However, in recent years, machine learning has become a powerful tool, having become a more data-driven method, something only possible through the enormous amount of data that colossal tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft have. Machine learning is a way to extract One issue that can be solved is a lack of information and learn from data. It is a form proper education. Google machine learning of artificial intelligence, a method used to researcher and Carnegie Mellon PhD Dateach machines to recognize things based Cheng Juan believes that machine learning on previous data given. It can be considered could be a powerful asset in providing a a function approximation, a tool used to better education for children. associate ground truth and data. “There are usually 30 students in a high Machine learning school classroom, is being developed sometimes up to and improved 200 in college “Machines are a lot more every single day. classes,” Juan said. scalable and can provide help to Its potential can be “They do not get seen through the individual attention, students individually.” many successful and the teachers -DA-CHENG JUAN programs that are sometimes have been written. inconsistent. One such example Machines are a lot is AlphaGo, an more scalable and algorithm written to beat players in the board can provide help to students individually. So game “Go.” AlphaGo beat the highest ranked that is something I think would be a lot more Go player in the world but was then defeated helpful for students to have.” by its newer counterpart, AlphaGo Zero. As Juan states that there are three different a field that is growing at an exponential rate, types in artificial intelligence — the subhuman, it has the capability of solving real-world which is less effective than a human being, issues in a more comprehensive manner than the part-human, which is just as effective as a thought possible. human, and the superhuman, which is more
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Illustration by Fiona Luo effective when a computer does the task. At this point in time, machine learning is still at a stage where machines can only do part-human and superhuman tasks within a certain domain. For the most part, machine learning is within the subhuman domain. This can be seen by the fact that machines are simply not as capable as people in doing things such as art, poems and other works that are considered “creative.” Juan believes that this could possibly be one drawback for machine learning in education, as it is too systematic, something that could be somewhat uncomfortable for students. It is also lacking emotionally, as it would not understand that a nervous student could use words of encouragement or that an overconfident student should make sure to check his work. Java student and sophomore Jainam Doshi has strong opinions on the matter. “In the future, computers may be able to mimic human emotions through machine learning,” Doshi said. “Although we humans are more efficient in our learning, machines can take in more data. It is definitely possible,
and I think it will happen sooner than we think.” With that being said, the question that remains is if machine learning will ever take over education completely. APCS student and junior Jennifer Jiang is firm in her beliefs that AI will never take over education completely. “In every age, people find a way to take advantage of the things they create, which I think leads back to the Industrial Revolution,” Jiang said. “It’s kind of like a wave. We are the surfers and the tide happens to be AI this time.” As an ever growing field, machine learning has nearly unlimited potential. Its ability to recognize and make decisions based on data is astounding, no matter how primitive it is right now. Although somewhat systematic, it will undoubtedly support students effectively. It can give students the individual attention they need, assisting the students in their learning without delay. Machine learning may be the key to opening the doors to a new education system, reshaping the way we learn.
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Groundbreaking new drug to revolutionize cardiac care
How this medical innovation can change the lives of millions By Riya Ranjan
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ardiovascular disease — the number one cause of death in not only the U.S. but the world. Every year, more than 400 million people are diagnosed with some form of heart disease that jeopardizes the rest of their lives — instead of trips around the world, games of street basketball and family hikes, patients get frequent doses of statin (a drug that lowers cholesterol levels), wires and devices sewn into their bodies and a lifetime of doctor’s visits and medical bills. Until recently, this life has been the only way that cardiac patients can live. But now, scientists have developed new PCSK9 inhibitors that are set to revolutionize cardiac treatment.
A CLOSER LOOK The way these inhibitors work is straightforward. Liver cells have receptors that destroy excess cholesterol (LDL), and in many cardiac patients, a protein called PCSK9 destroys these receptors. PCSK9 inhibitors stop this protein from attacking the cells and allow the body to naturally destroy excess cholesterol. These inhibitors were first seen after they were published in a Harvard Health report by Dr. Gregory Curfman, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University. “We’ve never before had medications 10
that can reduce LDL cholesterol levels this much,” Curfman wrote. “As a cardiologist who has seen many people have their lives cut short by cardiovascular disease or who survived but with a poorer quality of life, I have my fingers crossed that a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs may someday reduce the burden of heart and blood vessel disease.” Based on the medicines that doctors administer today, such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, and lovastatin, heart patients often must undergo rigorous treatment and invasive procedures in order to allow their body to function properly, which is why drugs
like PCSK9 have the can't do anything potential to be so about it — and as a life changing. Junior parent, you feel like Antara Goel was it's your duty to take recently diagnosed care of your child, with aortic stenosis, and when you can't a condition that do that, when that's makes it hard for stripped away from her heart to pump you, that's so — blood due to how that's so sad.” narrow her aortic valve is. While Goel’s THE condition isn’t MONETARY caused by increased BATTLE cholesterol levels, as a cardiac patient, The emotional she experiences and physical similar symptoms to struggle that cardiac patients with heart patients have to deal disease. with is something “The valves are a that can possibly be little bit closed so eliminated with the my heart has to work PCSK9 inhibitors — Illustration by Sophia Wang harder to pump they have proven blood,” Goel said. to be more than “So basically, I pass 60 percent more out if I do exercise, “I think insurance companies effective than any or if I do anything just need to try and empathize other drug that strenuous. It's really and see what these people are attacks cholesterol hard for me to do a struggling with.” in cardiac patients, lot of things. But, I presenting a feasible -JUNIOR ANTARA GOEL get by.” way to eliminate Goel’s condition symptoms in many also requires her patients. However, to frequently see a doctor to get an echo for her heart, something according to a recent New York Times that almost every heart patient has to do in report, these inhibitors have become almost impossible for patients to obtain. With prices order to stay healthy. Goel’s experiences as a patient have also that touch $15,000, insurance companies are given her insight on how serious diseases turning many patients away and refusing to impact not only the patient but the family of provide financial aid to most cardiac patients. In an interview with the New York Times, the patient as well. “I feel like for parents who do have to see heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia their child go through that kind of pain as patient Mackenzie Ames, who desperately a patient — I can't even imagine what kind needs the inhibitors to manage her condition, of heartbreak they go through,” Goel said. talks about her experiences with insurance “I struggle with depression, and my parents companies surrounding the drug. “I have followed every rule, and I still can’t constantly say, 'It's so heartbreaking to see you in pain all the time.' So, seeing [your get access,” Ames told the New York Times. child] in physical pain would just be like you “My doctor can’t get a straight answer.” 11
Although the inhibitors have sky-high prices, the effect that they can have on the lives of patients is priceless. These inhibitors can astronomically change the lives of patients like Ames, who is in constant need of dialysis, and in many cases, can save lives as well. Goel, who has to deal with taking special medications herself, gives her perspective on the way insurance companies treat these patients. “Imagine fighting a doctor and saying I really really need this medication and finally the doctor gives you permission saying that, yeah, I think you need it,” Goel said. “And then the insurance company turns you away — you've gone so far, and then the insurance company, the one company that's supposed to be there for you, turns you away. In this scenario, the patient’s cholesterol levels could get too high and they could potentially pass away because of that. I think insurance companies just need to try and empathize and see what these people are struggling with.”
LOOKING AHEAD The PCSK9 inhibitors have the potential to be revolutionary in terms of cardiac treatment — if insurance companies will help declining cardiac patients get them. With these inhibitors, 31 percent of deaths worldwide, which are caused by some form of cardiac disease, can potentially be prevented. Millions of people will have the opportunity to once again travel around the world, play basketball with their friends and go on hikes with their families. The lives of cardiac patients everywhere could change for good — and it is all in the hands of this one, revolutionary drug.
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Pictured here is a three-dimensional echocardiogram (ECHO) of a heart. Similar to an ultrasound, ECHOs look at the inner workings of the human body, helping model heart defects in cardiac patients. (Wikimedia Commons, Kjetal Lennes) 13
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