CVMS students use 3D printing for science research

How is 3D printing important in the field of science and medicine?

Eighth-grade students in Romulo Gabriel’s science classes can tell you the answer to that!

A man stands at the front of a classroom at a projection screen. The students are sitting at tables with rows of computer screens.

Mr. Gabriel used the SARS-COV-2 spike protein as the example. This protein is the reason people get COVID-19. For proteins to work, they need to attach themselves to cells and have a specific shape in order to function. They trick our cells into thinking it’s okay for them to be there. After attaching to the cells, they allow the virus’s genetic material to get into the cell.

A classroom setting with tables filled with computer screens. A man with short dark hair, glasses, and wearing a maroon sweater leans over to help two students sitting at the computers.

What if we could change their shape and therefore block the connection? The virus would not survive.

“Shape equals function,” Mr. Gabriel told his students.

Students sit looking at a computer screen that shows a green structure being built.

The students learned to create a printable file and then printed it on the 3D printer. This allows scientists to see the actual shape of the spike protein and use it to develop vaccines.

A man with dark hair and glasses, wearing a white shirt and blue tie smiles and holds up a blue spike protein that was 3D printed. A woman with chin-length dark hair smiles and points to the structure.

Amazing!

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