At BioMarin, scientists create medicines for rare diseases, such as Orphan diseases and Dwarfism.I learned thatBioreactors grow cells, and that Laminar Flow Hoods make work sterile.I l also learned that HPLC stands for High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. My favorite part of the tour was learning about the different medicines that are made. I would like to learn more about how all of the machines work and how one goes about working at BioMarin. I also learned that chromatography is the process of separating mixed liquids. I learned that an autoclave is a strong, heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes using high pressures and temperatures, and that CHO Cells are Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells. These cells are often used as models in laboratories for cultural and radiation studies due to their small size and low number of chromosomes.
Stafford Lake
At Stafford Lake, there is a continuous problem with invasive species taking over the space and nutrients that belongs to the native species. To help out, STEM Marin went on a service field trip to Stafford Lake to Sheet Mulch. Sheet Mulching is the process of laying down a series of hay, cardboard, and mulch. This creates a barrier so that the growth of invasive species will be stopped. We did this along the sides of the river running into the lake. Another action that Stafford Lake took to improve the conditions was putting meanders in the river. This slowed the flow of water into the lake. I enjoyed this field trip very much. It was a good opportunity to give back to the community, and to learn more about the local ecosystems. Our work was part of an Integrated Pest Management approach because we worked to restrict the invasive species, which are the pests.