These 70 days of in NIG was a really important and unforgettable experience in my life. I have to thank JASSO for funding, the NIGINTERN program for organizing, and Koide group for being my host lab, so I could have the chance to come here as an summer intern.
Days in the Lab
My Research Topic
Under the advice of Koide sensei, I investigated the difference of sucrose octaacetate (soa) sensibility, a kind of bitter taste, among 12mice strains derived from all over the world. In the perspective of evolution, bitter taste is exceptionally essential for it enables animal to distinguish toxic compounds. Based on the consomic and congenic screening conducted previously in the lab and the SNPs information from the Mouse Phenome Database, I was able to focus on several candidate genes. We set up the GCaMp imaging transfection assay with the help from Mizuno sensei (Iwasato Group), and luckily, identify one of the Tas2R gene as the receptor of soa. I could never forget the evening when Koide sensei and I together shouted in joy and excitement as we saw the green fluorescence lights up on the screen in the dark room.
Then as I continued the study with behavioral test and sequencing analysis of the Tas2R genes among strains, the story became much more complicated: Most data were congruent, but in several strains with extra strong avoidance towards soa appears to have no function on the Tas2R gene we identified. This indicates that there must be another gene responsible for the significant stronger sensitivity in these strains. And for the time being I am still on the way to identify this mysterious gene, which I believe would be as exciting.
Working in Koide group
I had a very nice experience working in Koide sensei’s group. Koide sensei, my adviser, was very nice and patient during the instruction, and all the other lab members were very willing to help every time I was troubled. Here I also experienced the cooperation and friendship between different laboratories, with part of the study done with Mizuno sensei in Iwasato group. With the free and relaxing academic atmosphere, I could always express my ideas and concerns to my adviser and other lab members and freely discuss them without any pressure. In this environment, I experienced what doing an enjoyable research would be like. Days of work were tiring, and sometimes quite frustrating with failure, but my enthusiasm towards the research topic grew as I spent more time doing it. It was truly amazing.
During these couple of weeks I surely did improved skills and knowledge of genetic experiments, but more importantly, learned the way of raising hypotheses, organizing and clarifying results, and dealing with experimental paradox. I always believe people of different backgrounds construct their thought differently, owing to their culture and language. Although in this field people share similar knowledge and logic, I was still amazed by the difference from time to time. It is very nice to experience and learn from a different thinking pattern.
Days in Japan
Besides lab works, I had more fun here then I could have expected. My “adventure” in Japan begins on the second day I arrived at Mishima, when Koide sensei kindly showed me around the lovely city. I visited Shuzenji, Ito and Izukogen of the Izu Peninsula with relaxing mood; took trip to Hakone, stunned by the astonishing volcano terrain; and traveled to Tokyo to have a taste of the big city. I also enjoyed the atmosphere of festival with the fascinating fireworks and night markets in Numazu and Mishima shrine during matsuri; gain experience of fishing and took trip to the Fuji safari park; and trace the Japanese belief from gazing at Mt. Fuji, to the Mt. Fuji-origin spring of Kakitagawa, then all the way up to the top of Mt. Fuji itself. The fun is always double with good accompany, so I have to thank my co-interns, all the friends made in NIG, and especially my lab members, always being so kind to include me in their holiday plan. Beside trips I described above, we played badminton and volleyball, made takoyaki together with Osaka recipe, barbequed and went to izakaya, and had a lot more fun than I could list. This is an unforgettable part of my life here.