BioMarin Field Trip Reflection
1. BioMarin develops and commercializes medicines and treatments for extremely rare genetic diseases.
2. BioMarin targets rare genetic diseases in which there may only be a few hundred patients worldwide.
3. During the tour we went through about 3 different stations within the facility. In the 'cell culture' lab, we were shown bioreactors and laminar flow hoods. Bioreactors grow cells while a Laminar Flow Hood does the sterile work. The main focus of research at this station are Chinese Hamster ovary cells. Even though the hamster they came from is long dead, the cells continue to divide and create more cells. In another station, they purified proteins. Our groups were shown the HPLC, otherwise known as a High Pressue Liquid Chromatography. The final station we were shown is where the Analytical Chemistry takes place. A spectrophotometer shows the number of cells as long as a variety of other information.
4. The best part of the tour for me was getting to see the large variety of equipment that was present in the labs. We weren't shown a lot of the functions of them, but it was really interesting to get to see what scientists have to use to complete their research.
5. I would have liked to learn more about the functions of the machines. The machines are tied together with the work of the scientists, so by learning more about the machines, I would have gained a better understanding of the work they do at BioMarin.
2. BioMarin targets rare genetic diseases in which there may only be a few hundred patients worldwide.
3. During the tour we went through about 3 different stations within the facility. In the 'cell culture' lab, we were shown bioreactors and laminar flow hoods. Bioreactors grow cells while a Laminar Flow Hood does the sterile work. The main focus of research at this station are Chinese Hamster ovary cells. Even though the hamster they came from is long dead, the cells continue to divide and create more cells. In another station, they purified proteins. Our groups were shown the HPLC, otherwise known as a High Pressue Liquid Chromatography. The final station we were shown is where the Analytical Chemistry takes place. A spectrophotometer shows the number of cells as long as a variety of other information.
4. The best part of the tour for me was getting to see the large variety of equipment that was present in the labs. We weren't shown a lot of the functions of them, but it was really interesting to get to see what scientists have to use to complete their research.
5. I would have liked to learn more about the functions of the machines. The machines are tied together with the work of the scientists, so by learning more about the machines, I would have gained a better understanding of the work they do at BioMarin.