Event #1: “The gene didn’t get the memo” 

Dr. Navon Background Information 

For my first event, I attended a lecture presentation by Professor Daniel Navon from the UCSD. The presentation was named “The gene didn’t get the memo”, and his main claim regarded how gene mutations are leading to some new conflicts since we have a specific gene classification method in which mutations do not fall under. When I first walked in, I thought I was in the wrong presentation. I was a little confused since the presentation was focused mainly around science and nothing else. As the presentation continued, I was still skeptical, however, I was able to understand the whole presentation due to my experienced background with genetics. I found it interesting how Navon was stating that research is starting to make medical classifications unstable. I can see why he made this comment because the further into research one goes, the more mutations that are found; these mutations are not classifiable hence the title. 

"The gene didn't get the memo" 

Dr. Navon presenting 

Midway through the presentation, I was able to see the connection between literature and art in science. Navon stated that through literature, science and research are able to be expressed for the public's benefit. This led me look back to week one and two’s cultures blogs about the connection between art and science. (Snow) One example he used that I thought connected to my future career as a nurse was the case where a mom of a patient with 22q11.2, an inheritable deletion syndrome, changed her son's course of treatment against the doctors’ orders, through the literature. I felt a very close connection to this story because according to the article from American Nurse Today, as a nurse I will be advocating for my patients in order to provide the best and most effective care plan. It is just amazing what a single research article was able to do for the patient's treatment plan.

Dr. Navon and I 

I believe this presentation will definitely help me to formulate my midterm and final because it is so relatable on a personal level and also on a social level. Science, technology, and literature are very closely related as seen from this presentation. I would definitely recommend this presentation to my fellow classmates even if they are not science majors. It is definitely a great way for some non- science majors to step out of their comfort zone and be able to close that bridge between science and literature.  

References

NAVON, Daniel PhD. “The gene didn’t get the memo”. The Social Genome Knowledge & Politics in a Postgenomic Society, 13 April 2018, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, room 1101, Los Angeles, CA. Presentation

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961.  Print.

“Speak to Be Heard: Effective Nurse Advocacy.” American Nurse Today, 22 Nov. 2017, www.americannursetoday.com/speak-to-be-heard-effective-nurse-advocacy/.