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Using and Accessing Primary Sources

Research in Bioinformatics (Eilis Boudreau, M.D., Ph.D.)

In this course, students are required to trace a topic of their choice back in time to at least 1900 and to access at least one record via the archives. Some examples are shown below. 

Selected Topics

Color image of a HeLa cell

  • HeLa cells - taken from Henrietta Lacks in 1951 - were the first continuous human cancer cell line; our knowledge of every fundamental process that occurs in human cells has depended to some extent on using HeLa and other cell lines as a model system. This is also an example of an issue that could be studied if looking at medical ethics, as Lacks and her family were unaware of this use; the case also influenced the development of informed consent laws around use of patient information and tissues in research. 
  • Montrose Burrows and Alexis Carrel improved upon Harrison's tissue cultures - creating "immortal cultures" - that could support the growth of cell lines outside of the body.
  • Ross G. Harrison was the first to grow nerve cells outside of the body (first artificial tissue culture), proving that tissues could be grown outside of the body.
  • The structure of DNA was obtained by Watson and Crick in 1953. However, Rosalind Franklin is often unacknowledged in this discovery; without her work and knowledge, Watson and Crick may not have come to the conclusions they did. This is an example of marginalized populations being left out of the history of science and would also be a compelling focus for study. 

Animated gif of DNA structure (double helix)

This specific example traces researching for historical sources on Pharmacogenomics and Adverse Drug Reactions via PubMed.

Start off with broad PubMed searches for both pharmacogenetics and adverse drug reactions:

  1. Search “pharmacogenetics” and select “show index” to select the MeSH term, then applied the filters, “classical article” and “historical article”

    • One article especially offered some leads: a hybrid of historical overview in pharmacogenetics with a first-person view. https://doi.org/10.5858/2001-125-0077-PIP

    • The author, Werner Kalow, notes some early findings that he and others made in the 1950s:

    • These are not quite the same as digitized historical books or articles – they’re still in copyright so haven’t been digitized in full like many earlier works. But they are indeed primary historical sources – the original articles in which the findings were published. Real turning points. To go back too much farther than the 1950s, you’re probably going to want to look more broadly at ideas of genetics/inheritance as noted in our guide under “genetics”. Or, follow only the “drug reactions” track.

  2. ‘Adverse drug reactions’ has deeper roots as a concept and gets you to the types of sources this assignment is hoping you will explore. Search “adverse drug reactions” and select “show index” to select the MeSH term. Then applied the filters, “classical article” and “historical article”.