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Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website!
Have you ever wondered what makes up the different parts of an animal? This is called the study of anatomy, or the structure of animals. This week, interns got to experience what it was like inside a real pathology lab. Interns met with Pathology Fellow Dr. Megan McCarthy, Pathology Resident Dr. Adam Michel, and Pathology Fellow Dr. Set Sokol. These three doctors explained the ins and outs of what it's like working in the Wildlife Disease Laboratories at the San Diego Zoo.
The main job for these doctors is to try and prevent the animals at the San Diego Zoo from getting sick by studying their bodies. Pathology is the study of diseases found in samples from different parts of the body. There are two types of pathology—anatomic and clinical. Anatomic pathology is focused on tissues, where as clinical is focused on blood.
The main job for pathologists is to try and prevent animals from getting sick by studying their body to see how diseases progress in certain types of animals, and to try and figure out ways to prevent or cure diseases. They stated that a lot of their job is solving puzzles. The doctors explained that when an animal dies, they take a piece from all of their major organs inside the body, and then put the pieces or samples, into a fluid called formaldehyde to protect the sample. These big words are just ways of naming the different parts of the animal and how the doctors study them.
In order to solve the puzzle, pathologists focus on the way the animal smells, looks, feels, and sounds. Some diseases have a certain way they look and even have a distinct smell. Since every species of animal is different, they all have different bodies. Pathologists need to know the different types of bodies for every species.
In order to look at the samples under a microscope, there is a very specific and detailed way to prepare them to be looked at. The first step in this process is to put the sample into a mold of wax. They do this to kill any bacteria on the sample that could get the doctors or other animals sick. The next step would be to take a small slice of the sample and place it on a clean glass slide. In order to look at the different parts in the sample, they use a method called staining. They dip the sample into different colors of dyes that will only stain certain parts of the sample a specific color. Once the sample has been dyed, they are ready to be looked at under the microscope.
If you have ever wondered what it's like to be a pathologist, now you can experience what they do! Below are instructions on how to make your own microscope to look at found specimens.
Materials:
Step 1: Put a piece of cling wrap over the top of the cup and pull it tight. Use a rubber band to secure it.
Step 2: Cut a nickel sized hole in the bottom of the cup. This will be used to put your specimens into the cup.
Step 3: Pour a small pool of water on top of the cling wrap. The water will act as a lens and make the object appear larger so it's easier to see.
Teah, Kids Corner
Week 4, Fall Session 2016
Have you ever wondered what makes up the different parts of an animal? This is called the study of anatomy, or the structure of animals. This week, interns got to experience what it was like inside a real pathology lab. Interns met with Pathology Fellow Dr. Megan McCarthy, Pathology Resident Dr. Adam Michel, and Pathology Fellow Dr. Set Sokol. These three doctors explained the ins and outs of what it's like working in the Wildlife Disease Laboratories at the San Diego Zoo.
The main job for these doctors is to try and prevent the animals at the San Diego Zoo from getting sick by studying their bodies. Pathology is the study of diseases found in samples from different parts of the body. There are two types of pathology—anatomic and clinical. Anatomic pathology is focused on tissues, where as clinical is focused on blood.
The main job for pathologists is to try and prevent animals from getting sick by studying their body to see how diseases progress in certain types of animals, and to try and figure out ways to prevent or cure diseases. They stated that a lot of their job is solving puzzles. The doctors explained that when an animal dies, they take a piece from all of their major organs inside the body, and then put the pieces or samples, into a fluid called formaldehyde to protect the sample. These big words are just ways of naming the different parts of the animal and how the doctors study them.
In order to solve the puzzle, pathologists focus on the way the animal smells, looks, feels, and sounds. Some diseases have a certain way they look and even have a distinct smell. Since every species of animal is different, they all have different bodies. Pathologists need to know the different types of bodies for every species.
In order to look at the samples under a microscope, there is a very specific and detailed way to prepare them to be looked at. The first step in this process is to put the sample into a mold of wax. They do this to kill any bacteria on the sample that could get the doctors or other animals sick. The next step would be to take a small slice of the sample and place it on a clean glass slide. In order to look at the different parts in the sample, they use a method called staining. They dip the sample into different colors of dyes that will only stain certain parts of the sample a specific color. Once the sample has been dyed, they are ready to be looked at under the microscope.
If you have ever wondered what it's like to be a pathologist, now you can experience what they do! Below are instructions on how to make your own microscope to look at found specimens.
Materials:
- Cling Wrap
- Plastic Cup
- Scissors
- Rubber Band
- Water
- Stuff To Look At!
Step 1: Put a piece of cling wrap over the top of the cup and pull it tight. Use a rubber band to secure it.
Step 2: Cut a nickel sized hole in the bottom of the cup. This will be used to put your specimens into the cup.
Step 3: Pour a small pool of water on top of the cling wrap. The water will act as a lens and make the object appear larger so it's easier to see.
Teah, Kids Corner
Week 4, Fall Session 2016
