GeneLab Chats with Fiona Samson on Her Latest Publication

Welcome to the “GeneLab Chats” series, a platform designed for concise interviews with authors of GeneLab-enabled publications. In this focused format, GeneLab engages in discussions with researchers to gain comprehensive insights into the scope of their publications and to highlight the roles played by the GeneLab data system in facilitating their research endeavors. In this edition, GeneLab had the honor of engaging with a high school student, Fiona Samson, who co-authored a research paper titled “Diacylglycerol kinase is downregulated in the Drosophila Seizure Mutant during Spaceflight”, utilizing OSD-207 data. This collaboration stemmed from her participation in the GeneLab for High Schools summer training program, hosted by NASA Ames Research Center.

The publication considers the implications of space travel, particularly the phenomenon of accelerated aging, which presents significant challenges for extended missions. Fiona and her team explored the genetic response of fruit flies to space conditions, revealing insights into the potential role of the DGK protein in mitigating aging effects, and proposed that targeting the DGK protein may confer longevity.

GeneLab recently had the opportunity to meet with Fiona to hear valuable insights into her research utilizing publicly available datasets. Fiona’s experience underscores the importance of collaborative efforts and networking opportunities provided by programs such as GeneLab for High Schools, which broaden accessibility to scientific inquiry and discovery.

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