PHS Hosts Dr. Sam Rhine at Annual Genetics Conference
The Plainville High School Science Department recently hosted world renowned speaker Dr. Sam Rhine at the high school’s annual Genetics Conference. PHS Honors Biology and UConn Early College Experience (ECE) Biology students attended the event, together with students and faculty from several schools throughout Connecticut. During the conference, students had the unique opportunity to hear one of the top educators in the nation present the most current genetic information.
Dr. Rhine has presented this topic to students and adults worldwide for the past 30 years. This year, the program’s focus was on gene editing and how these tools are used to treat patients with genetic diseases. For example, a 34 year old woman was cured of sickle cell anemia this past summer. He explained how the newest techniques are being researched and used in modern medicine. He discussed how animals can be used to grow human tissues. He also discussed how genetic scientists have been able to grow an organ from a person's skin cells.