{"id":4003,"date":"2025-10-07T12:44:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T23:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/?page_id=4003"},"modified":"2025-10-07T12:44:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T23:44:50","slug":"undergrads-explain-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/school-resources\/undergrads-explain-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduate students explain biochemistry research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Undergraduate students explain\u00a0research at Otago Biochemistry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn about our research as explained by our undergraduate students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Department of Biochemistry teaches two types of students:<br><strong>Undergraduates<\/strong> learn about biochemistry that has already been discovered.<br><strong>Postgraduates<\/strong> start to do research projects themselves and discover new things about biochemistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of their study, our third-year undergraduates learn about some of the research that postgrad and academic researchers do in the department, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gene therapy for rare brain disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How mussels might be able to survive climate change<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How cancer works<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How creatures survive being frozen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The undergrads explain this research to high school students around Dunedin. They also talk about what biochemistry is, and what it&#8217;s like to study it at Otago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some of their presentations (videos, handouts, and posters).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Studying biochemistry at university<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Undergraduate students talk Biochemistry - Part 1 Studying biochemistry\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HenqWHJQXJo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Gene therapy for Batten Disease &#8211; Protein structure &#8211; Green-lipped mussels and climate change<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Undergraduate students talk Biochemistry - Part 2 Research\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/npoaxWzE0FI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Studying biochemistry at university &#8211; Breast cancer research &#8211; How creatures survive being frozen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Undergraduate students explain research at Otago Biochemistry\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X2iuBhFvXpk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Breast cancer research &#8211; PCR and gel electrophoresis &#8211; Studying biochemistry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cancer Research at Otago\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iUw02ETM-QA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What is biochemistry? &#8211; Studying biochemistry &#8211; How creatures survive being frozen &#8211; Studying brain diseases &#8211; Growing a brain on a dish &#8211; Crispr-Cas9 gene editing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BIOC360 high school presentation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w13YDwjhxks?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing &#8211; What is biochemistry? &#8211; Careers with a biochem degree (handout)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/crispr-biochemistry-careers-handout-834879.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:350px\" aria-label=\"Embed of crispr-biochemistry-careers-handout-834879.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-89228464-af74-4c57-8879-2fb69d36528e\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/crispr-biochemistry-careers-handout-834879.pdf\">crispr-biochemistry-careers-handout-834879<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/crispr-biochemistry-careers-handout-834879.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-89228464-af74-4c57-8879-2fb69d36528e\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take this <a href=\"https:\/\/create.kahoot.it\/share\/otago-bioc-department-kahoot-for-st-hilda\/b28e0480-25bb-466f-8349-59b8c3a504a3\">Kahoot quiz<\/a> based on the handout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Making ryegrass more nutritious for sheep and cows &#8211; Research into rare genetic diseases &#8211; Student life Q and A (poster)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/ryegrass-genetic-diseases-poster-834880.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:340px\" aria-label=\"Embed of ryegrass-genetic-diseases-poster-834880.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-b43dc986-e8c1-4919-a038-d5a7c82836fc\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/ryegrass-genetic-diseases-poster-834880.pdf\">ryegrass-genetic-diseases-poster-834880<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/ryegrass-genetic-diseases-poster-834880.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-b43dc986-e8c1-4919-a038-d5a7c82836fc\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take this <a href=\"https:\/\/create.kahoot.it\/share\/bioc360-high-school-presentation\/eea28fcf-c269-4829-9988-0d771653ad7b\">Kahoot quiz<\/a> based on the poster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Gene expression &#8211; The function of mRNA vaccines (handout)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/gene-expression-mrna-handout-834881.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:370px\" aria-label=\"Embed of gene-expression-mrna-handout-834881.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-1b224062-02c6-4733-bd86-9ba163af72ea\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/gene-expression-mrna-handout-834881.pdf\">gene-expression-mrna-handout-834881<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/gene-expression-mrna-handout-834881.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-1b224062-02c6-4733-bd86-9ba163af72ea\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cancer (poster)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/cancer-poster-834878.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:340px\" aria-label=\"Embed of cancer-poster-834878.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-d56f5432-2d40-4b7e-a48a-f5fede629b2d\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/cancer-poster-834878.pdf\">cancer-poster-834878<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/files\/2025\/10\/cancer-poster-834878.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-d56f5432-2d40-4b7e-a48a-f5fede629b2d\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other useful links:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/school-resources\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3950\">Otago Biochemistry school resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.otago.ac.nz\/biochemistry\">Otago Biochemistry website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Undergraduate students explain\u00a0research at Otago Biochemistry Learn about our research as explained by our undergraduate students. The Department of Biochemistry teaches two types of students:Undergraduates learn about biochemistry that has already been discovered.Postgraduates start to do research projects themselves and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32571,"featured_media":0,"parent":3950,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4003","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32571"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4003\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thesheet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}