Correlation between the rs53576 SNP and stress levels in high school students
By Rachel Jozwik
Being part of research is such an amazing experience. You only need to be passionate about something and excited to learn more and willing to do the work. Research can be difficult sometimes after all, experiments are learning experiences, and things don’t always go as planned but it’s definitely worth it. You get to learn from a new perspective and actually contribute to what you’re learning about; you can find new interests or further ones you already have. Either way, it’s really interesting. Whether you want to join a lab or do field work, focus on STEM or a humanity, there are tons of ways to get involved in research. So, if you get the chance, take it … The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the rs53576 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and stress management in high school students. I’d hypothesized that individuals with the G variation of the SNP would be more capable of managing stress than those with the A variation. Saliva samples were collected from 22 participants and used to analyze cortisol levels and DNA. Participants also completed surveys and Perceived Stress Scales in order to determine the various factors contributing to their stress …