MARIN ACADEMY RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE​
STUDENT BLOGS
DETERMINING THE CARCINOGENICITY OF COSMETICS
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The aim of this study is to determine the risks of cosmetic ingredients using the Ames Test
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I am hoping to provide more information to consumers and companies so they can make choices to protect themselves
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My study will also discover new links to cancer and potential causes
PROJECT UPDATE: 3/19/19
This week has been busier than I expected. I actually did a lot of progress on my project this week! I met with Kegan yesterday and we ran 3 out of the four Ames tests that I want to do, the only thing left now is to see the results from these tests. It went really well and before we started, the bacteria was definitely growing, which was a problem last time I ran the tests and got no results. Hopefully, I will get results this time! We will see.
PROJECT UPDATE: 3/26/19
I got some data! Unfortunately, the control plate didn't work very well so I might have to re-run the experiment. However, some of the reagents did mutate so I have some data to analyze in the meantime. For the next few weeks, I will be gone on college tours and will not be able to work on my project.
PROJECT UPDATE: 4/17/19
I just got back from spring break where I was traveling and did not work on my project very much at all. Before spring break, I was also sick for a week which also took away some of my work time that I could have used for my project. Right now, I am thinking about how to move forward. I think that I have to run my experiment again so I am working with my mentor to figure out a time that is best to do this. I am also working on my manuscript and making sure that I have a good plan for the rest of the year.
PROJECT UPDATE: 2/12/19
This week has been a little bit of a lull because I do not have bacteria to continue my testing. That being said, I have been working on finding more literature for my introduction and making my data tables in preparation for my data collection. I am also making plans to do my experiment with my mentor when I come back from my minicourse.
PROJECT UPDATE: 2/19/19
This week has been helpful in moving my project forward. I am in the final stages of ordering new bacteria. I went on college tours for the majority of last week so I did not get any time in the lab and instead worked on sending emails to set up a meeting with my mentor. I am also still working on editing my introduction and other parts of my manuscript. Next week I will be gone but I hope that in the week after that, I will be in the full swing of my project.
PROJECT UPDATE 3/12/19
After I got back from my break last week, I messed up the bacteria because I incubated at the incorrect temperature. After that, we ordered new bacteria, again. Because of this mistake, I haven't had a lot to do in my project so I've been helping my classmates with their projects. I helped Emily with the electricity for her tank and then helped Rachel make a bleach solution for her C.elegans. Next Monday, I have a plan to meet with my mentor and Stori to run the tests with their supervision in order to not make any mistakes and get data. After that and before spring break, I should have data to add to my manuscript.
PROJECT UPDATE: 2/4/19
This week has very chilly in San Rafael, I can't wait for the sun to come back! Last week, I worked a lot on editing my manuscript, especially my introduction and methodology sections. I am currently in the process of ordering new bacteria for my test because something was wrong with my last order. Until then, I can’t do much on my actual project so I am focusing on my writing.
PROJECT UPDATE: 1/15/19
On Wednesday, I facetimed with my mentor, Kegan. We decided that the problem with my experiment was the bacteria because the controls did not work after the 5 day incubation period but worked after 2 weeks. This might have been because the bacteria was not allowed to be incubated long enough before I ran the experiment or there might have been some contamination. This week, I will try the controls again and if there is a problem with the controls, then I will try using fresh bacteria or think about other ways that there could have been a mistake.
PROJECT UPDATE: 1/29/19
I cannot believe the February is almost over! Last Thursday, I ran a plate of my controls and I will get my results tomorrow to see if there is an issue with my bacteria. Tomorrow I am giving a presentation to my class about the data collection and data analysis that I will use for my project. I will show them my ideas for graphs and figures in my paper and get feedback on it so that my paper can be the best that it can.
PROJECT UPDATE: 1/15/19
I just got back from my school’s winter break where I went to the Philipines to spend time with family. Before the break, I ran a test of the ingredients that I suspect to be carcinogenic. Unfortunately, there were no results as something went wrong with the process or the reagents. I am working hard right now to figure out what the issue was and after I do, I will run the experiment again. I am also learning about statistics and researching the methodology of the second half of the experiment.
PROJECT UPDATE: 12/11/18
This semester has been very busy but I feel good about my project. I did one run of the Ames test control plate and one run of another plate containing 2 of the ingredients I plan to test. Unfortunately, the control plates and the other plate I ran did not work and I am working on figuring out what went wrong. I also started to draft my manuscript by writing the methodology and introduction section. I have a lot of work set out for my project next semester and I am excited to complete my project.
PROJECT UPDATE: 9/15/18
Senior year has been very busy but it's been exciting. I haven’t done much work on my project except for setting up an area in the research lab and meeting with my mentor. We talked about the next steps for my project which include purchasing new ingredients to test using the Ames Test and getting the cell culture lab at my school up and running so I could use it to test the ingredients in vitro. This fall will be very busy but I am hoping to get a lot done with this project!
PROJECT UPDATE 5/17/2018
Recently, I've been focusing on working on my science symposium poster that is due tomorrow. Here is my abstract:
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An important aspect of cancer research is identifying environmental causes for mutations known as carcinogens. Cosmetics, unlike food additives and phamacuticals, do not have strict regulations under the Food and Drug Administration. The goal for this MARC project is to identify common carcinogens used in cosmetics and the first step in this process is to test the mutagenic effects of ingredients found in cosmetics using the Ames test. The Ames test uses mutated Salmonella bacteria that cannot grow unless a something has caused a mutation to allow it to. For this experiment, six unique types of sunscreens and moisturizers were diluted at concentrations of 1000:1, 10:1, 1:10, and 1:1000 water to product. Each concentration was mixed with the bacteria and a rxn mixture and incubated for 7 days at 37°c in a 96 well plate. Afterwards, the number of wells containing bacteria growth were counted and compared to the number of revertants in the control plate. The experiment was then run a second time to test the repeatability of the procedure. Every product was found to be mutagenic at the lowest concentration and many were mutagenic at higher concentrations. From comparing the ingredient lists, there were several similar ingredients between them that could be responsible for the mutations including, dimethicone, petrolatum and retinyl palmitate. In the fall semester, the results from this study will be used to test these ingredients on bacteria and human cell cultures to see if it causes cancer in humans.
PROJECT UPDATE: 3/20/18
Things have started to pick up on my project!
Last week I took over a small area in the upstairs research lab at my school and set my area for testing. This past weekend, I went to target and picked up a few sunscreens and lotions to test. Today, Liz helped me prepare the bacteria cultures that I will for the Ames test. I also took a lab safety course because I am working with a biosafety hazard level 2 bacteria. Today, I also started to experiment with different concentrations to test. Next class I am hoping to start my actual Ames testing which is very exciting because I have been preparing for this for so long!
PROJECT UPDATE: 2/14/18
Happy Valentines Day!
This week, again, has not been very productive for my project but I worked very hard on my proposal presentation, which I will have to give in a week! Here is the link to my Prezi presentation that I will present to both my classmates and teachers at my school:
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https://prezi.com/view/ysugClZnV0rtFctinxFt/
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PROJECT UPDATE: 2/11/18
This week has not been very eventful for my project. I am working on a spreadsheet of ingredients used in cosmetics that are known or unknown to cause cancer. Next week, we have to present our proposal to the class and I am working very hard on making a Prezi right now. This week I want to set up an area for Ames testing!
PROJECT UPDATE: 2/4/18
Last Tuesday, I had a very successful meeting with my mentor, and two of my teachers that are helping me with my project. I shared my proposed procedure and received helpful feedback on it that addressed the issues or doubts that I had about it. We also talked about the next steps for my project which include:
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Purchasing new bacteria for the Ames test
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Creating a spreadsheet of ingredients with relevant information to determine which products to buy
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Set up an area in the Science and Innovation center for testing
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Finish proposal for presentations
I want to have everything ready for testing before I leave for minicourse on February 24th!
SPRING SEMESTER PLAN
My goal for my spring semester senior year is to have a portion of my project done in time for the science symposium in the spring and my MARC project will be a part of my Advanced Biology final project as well. I want to complete my testing of ingredients using the Ames test and using non-mutated bacteria to see its effects on their growth. I hope to start as soon as possible after winter break and have the Ames testing portion done by spring break. I will also complete sections of my final paper including the background, procedure and some diagrams.
WHO AM I AND WHAT IS MY PROJECT?
Thank you for visiting my blog!
My name is Cate Samaniego and I am a part of the Marin Academy Research Collaborative because of my passion for biology and my desire to make an impact on the world through scientific research.
I am a leader of the Science Club at Marin Academy and also spent time afterschool last year assisting in the lab at Marin Academy. Over the summer, I worked at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkley as teen intern.
Outside of my passion for science, I am a leader of the FOLKS, an affinity group for people of color. I am a dancer and have been dancing at Marin Ballet for almost 14 years. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors, drawing, photography and spent the summer working in a movie theater!
In my Advanced Biology class, we did the Ames test on various products that student brought from their homes and I was surprised at how many were mutagenic, especially the cosmetic products such as sunscreen or lotion. After doing some research, I found that cosmetics, unlike food additives and drugs, do not have as strict regulations under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the “FDA does not have the legal authority to approve cosmetics before they go on the market,” and companies must provide their own science to determine the toxicity of their products. This policy brings up issues of whether the studies taking place to determine the safety of our toothpastes, deodorants and moisturizers are ethical and whether the products we use everyday are safe. Because of this, I want to learn if there are any chemicals used in cosmetics were carcinogenic in my study. The ames test, because of its affordability and accessibility, is ideal for use in my study. This blog is made to document my research as it evolves over the next year and a half and I hope that you enjoy reading it.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or thoughts.