From Pipettes to Code: Unlocking the Mysteries of DNA

AI created image of a scientist at a computer and a lab

Image reference: Created using Google Gemini (1.5 Flash)

Quick question, do you also aspire to become a scientist?

If you dream of becoming a biomedical scientist, you probably picture yourself in a white lab coat, big goggles on your nose, surrounded by test tubes, and maybe even a few white mice nearby. Or, if space (or physical/mathematical) science is more your thing, maybe you see yourself writing lines of code that magically make rockets fly or unravel the mysteries of the cosmos.

But here’s the intriguing part – despite being a biomedical research scholar, I actually get to enjoy both the worlds. Sounds fascinating, right? Let me take you on a journey to show you how!

Hi! I’m Riya Madan, a first-year PhD student at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh. My work combines two of the most exciting aspects of science: hands-on experiments in the lab and solving patterns with lines of codes. It’s like being a detective – but working with the secrets of DNA!

SO let’s talk about DNA for a second. You probably imagine it as a long, thread-like structure from textbooks or those fancy DNA extraction experiments, right? Well, here’s the twist: DNA is way cooler than that. It’s not just a boring string. It’s dynamic, elastic, and folds itself into an intricate 3D organisation inside the tiny nucleus of a cell. And interestingly enough, this spatial organization isn’t random – it plays a crucial role in controlling how genes are turned on or off.

My goal? To uncover how DNA folds into these 3D structures, what controls this process, and why it matters for the health and function of a cell. This understanding can pave the path for new ways to diagnose and treat diseases like cancer.

So, what does my day look like?

In the lab: I work with cells, nurturing them like they’re my own kids (seriously, they’re high maintenance!). I use tools like PCR (you’ve probably heard of it – it’s the bread-and-butter of molecular biology), visually stunning techniques like FISH (not the animal – Google it to find its full form!), and cutting-edge methods like Hi-C (it’s a complex one but incredibly exciting!). These tools help me study how different regions of DNA interact and fold in 3D space.

At my desk: After collecting all this data (and trust me, it’s a lot – think gigabytes and terabytes!), I switch to coding. I use different programming languages to analyse and visualise the data, looking for patterns that explain how DNA’s 3D structure works and how it influences genes.
And you know what, this is not all! Lately, I’ve been learning how to model DNA and simulate its behaviour on the computer. Imagine building a digital twin of DNA – recreating how it folds and interacts in 3D space using computational tools and techniques. It’s like running virtual experiments where I can tweak conditions, test hypotheses, and see how DNA behaves in real-world-like scenarios.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? For me, being a biomedical research scholar is like having the best of both worlds – balancing the precision of pipetting in lab with the creativity of computational scripts. So, the next time you picture a biomedical scientist, you can think beyond just the lab coat, with a lot of possibilities awaiting!

Keep exploring, stay curious!