Summary and Statistics

Throughout this project, we learned about the background of breast cancer, the evolution of the disease, how prions, genetics, and model organisms relate to cancer, and in a more general sense, the importance of grid computing. 

We each have had friends and family members affected by this illness, and are happy that we could help in even a small way by joining BIOINC World Community Breast Cancer grid. On this grid we completed 678.94 units of work. One of the most exciting things about joining the grid was seeing accomplishments be achieved. While there were no major breakthroughs specific to breast cancer yet, our grid contributed to other fields. In February, a drug to combat neuroblastoma in children was discovered. Because of grid computing it had been shown to have little to no side effects. Currently the team is working with pharmaceutical companies to get the drug out into the field.

Grid computing is an easy, yet meaningful way to get involved in research, it is a simple way that everyone could easily help thousands of people through research and learn more about a disease or other topic of research that interests them. We strongly encourage signing up for a grid. The grid project itself was a wonderful way to connect the concepts we are learning in class to diseases and illnesses. It helped us to understand how important evolutionary concepts are. Even if you are not going to be an evolutionary biologist, the concepts are applicable to many fields, especially health care.