>> THIS SPECIAL PRESENTATION WAS
PRODUCED IN HIGH DEFINITION BY
WEDU -- TAMPA, ST. PETERSBURG,
SARASOTA.
>> THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN
IN PART BY THE HELIOS EDUCATION
FOUNDATION, A PROUD SUPPORTER OF
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON WEDU,
INCLUDING "WEDU QUEST."
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS
DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITY,
VISIT HELIOS.ORG.
A GRANT FROM THE S.L. GIMBEL
FOUNDATION ADVISED FUND AT THE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INLAND
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
AND THE CORPORATION FOR
PUBLIC BROADCASTING,
LEWIS B. AND LOUISE
HIRSCHFELD CULLMAN,
SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III,
SHAILAJA AND UMESH NAGARKATTE,
AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
PARTICIPATING STATIONS.
>> ON THIS EPISODE OF
"WEDU QUEST," STUDENTS COMPETE
IN A MEMORY TOURNAMENT.
>> THE MEMORY TOURNAMENT IS AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN
SHOW THEIR LONG-TERM MEMORY AND
HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN REMEMBER.
>> PROTECTING OUR ECOSYSTEMS
FROM INVASIVE SPECIES.
>> THE THINGS THAT MAKE FLORIDA
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD WILL BE ERASED.
>> A POTENTIAL CURE FOR
COLOR BLINDNESS.
>> A VITREORETINAL SURGEON SLIPS
THE NEEDLE UNDERNEATH THE RETINA
IN ORDER TO TREAT THE WHOLE
ENTIRE BACK OF THE EYE.
>> AND A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN
TAMPA SUPPORTS THE WHOLE FAMILY.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS
THAT HINDER STUDENT SUCCESS THAT
AREN'T IN THE CLASSROOM.
[ MUSIC ]
>>> WELCOME TO "WEDU QUEST."
I'M DR. SHANNON McQUAIG.
DO YOU STRUGGLE REMEMBERING
NAMES, SIMPLE GROCERY LISTS, OR
SHORT NUMBER SEQUENCES?
ARE YOU A STUDENT STRUGGLING TO
MEMORIZE LARGE AMOUNTS OF
MATERIAL?
THERE IS HOPE.
STUDENTS CAME TOGETHER FOR THE
FIRST TAMPA BAY MEMORY
TOURNAMENT.
>> THIS IS DR. DEXTER FREDERICK,
THE CEO OF THE BRAIN EXPANSION
AND SCHOLASTIC PROGRAM, OR
B.E.S.T., A MEDICAL-BASED
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE
TAMPA BAY AREA.
>> THE MISSION OF OUR PROGRAM
REALLY IS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS
GAIN ACCESS AND GAIN
INFORMATION, BE NURTURED IN THE
PURSUIT OF BECOMING HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS.
>> TODAY, DR. FREDERICK IS
TEACHING HIS STUDENTS MEMORY
TECHNIQUES TO HELP THEM IN THEIR
STUDIES AND FOR AN UPCOMING
MEMORY TOURNAMENT.
>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY
IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE A SESSION
WHERE STUDENTS CAN BE OPEN AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR BRAIN WORKS
SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN FASTER,
MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND LEARN AT A
PACE WHERE IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS,
WHERE THE CONFIDENCE LEVEL IS AT
A HIGH LEVEL.
>> 16?
>> COFFEE.
>> 17?
>> TABLE.
>> 18?
>> CHILD.
>> 19?
>> PHONE.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO
USE AS MANY OF THEIR MENTAL
FACULTIES TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED.
SO WHETHER OR NOT WE USE MUSIC,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE ACTING,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE THE
MOVEMENT OF THE HANDS, THAT IS
AMAZINGLY AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND
WHERE LEARNING CAN OCCUR.
SO WHEN I ASK A STUDENT TO COME
FORWARD, THAT IMMEDIATELY KEEPS
THE ADRENALINE, PUSHES THE
ADRENALINE A LITTLE HIGHER AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NERVE FIBERS
ARE EXCITED AND LEARNING CAN
OCCUR FASTER.
>> OH, EYES.
>> APPLE.
>> VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT!
[ MUSIC ]
>> AFTER ALL THE TRAINING,
THE STUDENTS ARE READY FOR
TOURNAMENT DAY.
THEY GATHER TO COMPETE AT
HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
IN TAMPA.
>> THE MEMORY TOURNAMENT IS AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN
SHOW THEIR LONG-TERM MEMORY AND
HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN REMEMBER.
>> THE TOURNAMENT BEGINS WITH
MUCH ANTICIPATION AND
EXCITEMENT.
>> AND WE HAVE DIVIDED IT INTO
THREE MAIN CATEGORIES WHERE THEY
HAVE TO REMEMBER WORDS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN A LIST
OF NUMBERS, AND THEY WILL ALSO
BE GIVEN SOME MEDICAL TRIVIA.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO STUDENTS FACING
EACH OTHER, OR NEXT TO EACH
OTHER, AND THERE WILL BE A
JUDGE.
THEY WILL BE SHOWN A LIST OF
WORDS, AND THEY WILL HAVE ABOUT
TWO MINUTES TO LOOK AT THOSE
WORDS, AND USING THE MEMORY
TECHNIQUES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
TRAINED WITH TO USE, THEY WILL
THEN TRY TO RETAIN THAT
INFORMATION.
PLAYER NUMBER ONE WILL SAY WHAT
THE FIRST WORD IS.
PLAYER NUMBER TWO WILL THEN SAY
WHAT THE SECOND WORD IS.
PLAYER NUMBER ONE WILL SAY WHAT
THE THIRD WORD IS, ALTERNATING
BACK AND FORTH UNTIL ONE
ACTUALLY MISSES ONE OF THE
WORDS.
THEN WE DO THAT WITH NUMBERS.
THEY'LL HAVE A LIST OF 20
NUMBERS OR 30 NUMBERS.
>> THE FINAL CONTEST IS MEDICAL
TRIVIA.
HERE THE STUDENTS WORK IN TEAMS.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> MANY LIVES WERE CHANGED
TODAY.
THE WINNER OF THE WORD
COMPETITION WAS DESU IMUDIA.
>> HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE THIS
WHOLE B.E.S.T. PROGRAM HAS
REALLY HELPED ME WITH BEING MORE
CONFIDENT IN MY MEMORIZATION
SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT I
DO HAVE A GREAT MEMORY AND SO
DOES EVERYBODY ELSE.
IT'S JUST THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN
WHICH WE USE IT AND HOW WE
FIGURE OUT WE HOW BEST CAN BE
ABLE TO MEMORIZE.
AND THIS COMPETITION HAS
DEFINITELY BROUGHT A LOT TO THE
TABLE AND HAS SHOWED ME THAT I
AM CAPABLE OF A LOT MORE THINGS
THAN I THOUGHT.
>> AND TYLYN THOMAS USED HER
TRAINING TO WIN THE NUMBERS
COMPETITION.
>> IT WAS EASY TO MAKE A STORY
OUT OF THEM.
AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS HAVE
PATTERNS, TOO.
SOME OF THEM WOULD BE 43, 44,
AND THEN 33.
OR I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP ON
38th STREET AND THEN I GO ON
19th STREET, LIKE I'M DRIVING.
SO MAKING A STORY OUT OF WHAT
I'VE HAD.
I FELT ACCOMPLISHED AT THE END.
I WAS VERY SURPRISED AT MYSELF
THAT MY BRAIN FUNCTIONED TO GO
THIS LONG WITH THE NUMBERS.
>> LUKE DETLOR LED THE WINNING
TEAM IN THE BRAIN BOWL.
HE FOUND THE B.E.S.T. PROGRAM OF
GREAT SIGNIFICANCE.
>> NOT ONLY DOES IT TEACH YOU
FACTS ABOUT ANATOMY AND HOW TO
BE ETHICAL IN THE MEDICAL FIELD,
BUT IT ALSO GIVES YOU SKILLS FOR
MEMORY AND NOTE-TAKING.
AND THESE SKILLS CAN BE APPLIED
TO ANYTHING THAT YOU SET YOUR
MIND TO.
WE ALSO HAD SOMETHING THAT
REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME AND THAT
IS THAT WE AFFIRMED OURSELVES
EVERY TIME WE BEGAN A MEMORY
EXERCISE.
>> I HAVE GREAT MEMORY.
I HAVE POWERFUL MEMORY.
I HAVE A MEMORY SYSTEM.
>> VERY GOOD.
GO B.E.S.T. TAMPA, RIGHT!
>> I THINK THAT THAT TAUGHT US
CONFIDENCE, AND THAT CONFIDENCE,
I THINK, IS KEY TO HAVING A
GREAT MEMORY AND TO BE ABLE TO
EXPAND IT AS FAR AS WE CAN.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING ANYONE CAN
DO NO MATTER WHAT THEIR
BACKGROUND.
>> IF WE CAN ALLOW STUDENTS IN
THE WORLD AND THE UNITED STATES
AND FLORIDA TO BE, NUMBER ONE,
EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING AND FEEL
VERY CONFIDENT IN WHATEVER THEIR
FIELD OF STUDY IS, THAT'S
EXCITING.
>> THE BENEFITS OF EXPANDING
YOUR MEMORY SKILLS ARE VAST.
>> DID YOU MAKE UP A STORY?
>> YEAH, I MADE A STORY.
>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR STORY
ABOUT THE GIFT.
>> MY LIFE PHILOSOPHY IS TO USE
MY INFLUENCE TO MAKE THE WORLD A
BETTER PLACE.
AND IF I CAN DO THAT AND HELP
SOME STUDENTS AND HELP MAYBE ONE
DAY A DOCTOR OR A NURSE THAT I
TRAINED THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF
ME AND SAVE MY LIFE, THAT WOULD
BE JUST A JOY.
AND THEN TO RAISE A NEW
GENERATION OF HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS THAT ARE
COMPASSIONATE, KIND, LOVING,
AND HAVE A GREAT MEMORY.
>> QUEST FOR MEMORY AT:
>>> INVASIVE SPECIES COME IN
MANY FORMS AND ARE A COMPLEX AND
DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
MITIGATING THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSE
ISN'T EASY, BUT SCIENTISTS ARE
FINDING THAT IT IS ACHIEVABLE AS
LONG AS EVERYONE DOES THEIR
PART.
HERE'S THE STORY.
>> INVASIVE SPECIES.
IT MAY SOUND LIKE SOMETHING OUT
OF A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE, BUT
THEY ARE VERY REAL.
>> THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF
INVASIVE SPECIES.
ONE WOULD BE A NATIVE AND THE
OTHER WOULD BE AN EXOTIC.
EXOTIC INVASIVES ARE THE ONES
THAT COME FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE,
GET INOCULATED INTO AN AREA
BECAUSE WE PLANTED THEM OR
INTRODUCED THEM SOMEHOW,
AND THEN EVENTUALLY JUST KEEP
GROWING SO MUCH THAT THEY START
SHOVING OUT OF THE SPECIES.
WE WANT TO MAINTAIN
BIODIVERSITY.
THE EXOTICS MAKE THINGS LOOK
MORE HOMOGENEOUS.
>> IN SOUTH FLORIDA, GIANT
AFRICAN SNAILS HAVE BECOME A
MAJOR CONCERN.
>> THE BIGGEST SNAIL WE
FOUND HERE IT WAS CLOSE TO
SEVEN INCHES.
>> THE SNAILS THREATEN NATIVE
SPECIES BECAUSE OF THEIR
VORACIOUS APPETITE.
THEY FEAST ON AT LEAST 500 PLANT
SPECIES AND THEIR ABILITY TO
RAPIDLY REPRODUCE.
>> IN SEPTEMBER 2014, ONLY IN
ONE HOUSE WE FOUND MORE THAN
4,000 SNAILS.
>> THEY ALSO POSE A THREAT
TO PEOPLE.
>> THE HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH
THREAT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE
CDC, THE PRESENCE OF
ANGIOSTRONGYLUS CANTONENSIS,
WHICH CAN LEAD TO A VERY RARE
FORM OF MENINGITIS.
AND THERE IS NO CURE FOR THAT.
>> OFTEN, IT'S ANIMALS THAT GET
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
INVASIVE SPECIES, LIKE NILE
MONITOR LIZARDS, BURMESE
PYTHONS, AND LIONFISH ARE WELL
KNOWN TO MANY FLORIDIANS.
BUT EVEN BENIGN LOOKING PLANTS
CAN POSE SERIOUS THREATS TO OUR
NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS.
>> THIS PLANT RIGHT HERE IS
BRAZILIAN PEPPER.
IT'S IN AMONG SOME OTHER TREES,
OAKS, ET CETERA.
I'M NOT TOUCHING IT ON PURPOSE
BECAUSE I MIGHT REACT VERY MUCH
LIKE PEOPLE REACT WITH
POISON IVY.
THIS IS ON THE EDGE OF A
WETLAND, AND IT IS A RATHER NICE
CYPRESS DOME.
I'M THINKING IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
WETLAND.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT BRAZILIAN
PEPPER GROWS WELL ON THE EDGE OF
THOSE WET SOILS AND EVENTUALLY
WILL CROWD OUT A LOT OF THE
OTHER PLANTS HERE AND TAKE OVER
THIS SPACE.
ALSO NOTICE IT'S A FAIRLY EMPTY
ZONE RIGHT HERE.
THAT MIGHT VERY WELL BE DUE TO
THE CHEMICAL RAIN THAT COMES
DOWN FROM THIS PLANT THAT
INHIBITS OTHER PLANTS.
>> THE BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREE WAS
BROUGHT TO THE U.S. AS A NURSERY
PLANT IN THE 19th CENTURY,
BUT IT LONG AGO ESCAPED
BACKYARDS AND HAS THRIVED IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA.
>> IT'S OVER 700,000 ACRES,
PROBABLY MORE LIKE 750,000 ACRES
NOW THAT IS OCCUPIED BY
BRAZILIAN PEPPER.
AND THAT'S VERY COMPARABLE TO
THE COMBINED TWO COUNTIES OF
ORANGE AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES.
>> AS WITH MANY INVASIVES,
ERADICATING BRAZILIAN PEPPER IS
A DIFFICULT TASK.
>> TO GET RID OF THIS MEANS YOU
HAVE TO COME IN HERE AND CUT
THIS, PROBABLY DRAG THOSE
BRANCHES OUT OF HERE, VERY
CAREFULLY CLOTHED SO YOU'RE NOT
BREAKING OUT IN A RASH FROM THIS
CHEMICAL, BUT THEN IT USUALLY
REQUIRES SOME FOLLOW UP BECAUSE
IT CAN RESPROUT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
WILL DO IS TO TREAT THAT STUMP
WITH A CHEMICAL.
THAT REQUIRES SOME TRAINING AND
SOME PERMITS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
NECESSARILY JUST SPRAY THE STUFF
INTO A WETLAND.
>> PREVENTION IS OFTEN A MUCH
CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE, BUT IT
REQUIRES THE EFFORT OF MANY
INDIVIDUALS.
>> THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER CAN --
JUST THINK ABOUT THE KINDS OF
PLANTS THAT THEY MIGHT BE
PLANTING IN THE YARD,
THE ONES THAT WOULD GROW TOO
FAST AND SPREAD TOO FAR.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS
OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE CHOOSE TO
OWN AS PETS, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THOSE
ANIMALS WHEN WE'RE TIRED OF
FEEDING THESE LARGE THINGS.
>> INVASIVE SPECIES CAN HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY THREATEN
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
BUT THEY THREATEN SOMETHING EVEN
MORE PRECIOUS TO MANY
FLORIDIANS.
>> WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
DO WE WANT OUR WORLD TO LOOK
LIKE?
AND HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT WORLD?
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH
ARE WE WISHING TO RETAIN SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND
VALUABLE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED
THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO FLORIDA
OR WHEN WE HAD FAMILIES THAT
GREW UP HERE.
THE THINGS THAT MAKE FLORIDA
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD WILL BE KIND OF
SMUDGED AND ERASED BY INVASIVE
SPECIES FROM LOTS OF OTHER PARTS
OF THE WORLD THAT SHOW UP HERE.
SO WE WILL LOSE THIS UNIQUE
CORNER OF THE WORLD.
THAT SHOULD MATTER TO US
FUNDAMENTALLY.
>> QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AT:
>> AS THE MOST COMMON GENETIC
DISORDER WORLDWIDE, COLOR
BLINDNESS AFFECTS ROUGHLY
1 IN 12 MEN AND 1 IN 200 WOMEN,
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
WHOM HAVE TROUBLE PERCEIVING
RED AND GREEN.
AFTER A DECADE OF GROUNDWORK,
VISIONARY RESEARCHERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MAY
HAVE FINALLY CREATED A CURE FOR
THE COLOR BLINDNESS BLUES.
>> THIS IS SAM.
HE'S A PRETTY SPECIAL MONKEY.
YOU SEE, UNLIKE ALL OTHER MALE
SQUIRREL MONKEYS, SAM CAN SEE
THE COLOR RED AND HAPPILY PROVES
IT IN EXCHANGE FOR A SUGAR
PALLET.
>> AND SQUIRREL MONKEYS, ALL THE
MALES HAVE COLOR VISION
DEFICIENCY, SO THEY ARE ALL
COLOR BLIND.
>> BUT NOT SAM HERE, WHOSE
ABILITY TO SMUSH HIS FACE
AGAINST THE PINK DOTS ON A TOUCH
SCREEN REPRESENTS A CULMINATION
OF COLOR VISION RESEARCH BY
JAY AND MAUREEN NEITZ.
>> MAUREEN IS A GENETICIST AND
GENETIC ENGINEER, AND I'M A
NEUROSCIENTIST.
AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER OUR
EXPERTISE.
>> NOT TO BRING MALE SQUIRREL
MONKEYS UP TO PAR WITH FEMALES.
>> OUR WHOLE GOAL WAS EVENTUALLY
TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN PEOPLE.
>> COLOR-BLIND PEOPLE, MANY OF
WHOM MIGHT BE GREEN WITH ENVY
WATCHING A MONKEY SEE RED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT
COLOR BLINDNESS.
>> OH, YOU MUST SEE ONLY IN
BLACK AND WHITE, LIKE A
BLACK-AND-WHITE TELEVISION,
BUT ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO'S
COLOR BLIND IS NOT COMPLETELY
COLOR BLIND.
>> 99% OF COLOR-BLIND PEOPLE
HAVE THE RED-GREEN VARIETY,
WHICH DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T
SEE RED OR GREEN.
THEY JUST EXPERIENCE RED OR
GREEN DIFFERENTLY FROM
NORMAL PEOPLE.
AND THIS SMALL GAP IN THE COLOR
SPECTRUM CONTAINS EVEN THE MOST
BASIC EXPERIENCES.
>> A RED PEPPER AND A GREEN
PEPPER ALMOST LOOK IDENTICAL.
A GREEN BANANA AND A YELLOW
BANANA, AGAIN, THEY ARE VERY,
VERY HARD TO TELL.
>> A SIMILAR FRUSTRATION CAN
OCCUR AT THE BUTCHER'S COUNTER.
>> A COLOR-BLIND PERSON IS
PRETTY LOST AT BEING ABLE TO
TELL THE NICE BRIGHT RED MEATS
USING THEIR COLOR VISION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU CAN'T
BE USDA MEAT INSPECTOR UNLESS
YOU HAVE PERFECT COLOR VISION.
>> OTHER JOBS ARE DIFFICULT OR
IMPOSSIBLE.
>> PEOPLE WANT TO BE A PILOT OR
THEY WANT TO BE A NURSE.
A NURSE CANNOT REALLY BE
COLOR BLIND.
THERE'S ALL THOSE PILLS THAT ARE
ALL THOSE DIFFERENT COLORS.
IF THE PATIENT IS TURNING BLUE
OR FLUSHED AND THEY ARE RED.
>> OR IF YOU ARE A COLOR-BLIND
VIDEOGRAPHER TRYING TO A MAKE A
VIDEO ABOUT COLOR VISION.
>> IT MAKES YOUR LIFE
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
>> PREACH ON, DR. NEITZ.
>> OH, HONEY, LET'S TAKE A
VACATION TO VERMONT AND SEE THE
BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN COLORS.
YOU KNOW, THE SUNSET.
OH, SWEETHEART, ISN'T IT SO
ROMANTIC?
THE COLOR OF THE SKY LOOKS
PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
>> YOU CAN START TO SEE WHY
1 IN 12 MEN OR 1 IN 200 WOMEN
AFFECTED BY THE DISORDER MIGHT
BE INTERESTED IN A CURE.
>> SO IN 1999, WE DECIDED THAT
WE WOULD GIVE IT A SHOT AND TRY
TO SEE IF WE COULD DO THE CURE.
>> EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
COLOR BLIND ISN'T AN ILLNESS.
IT'S 100% GENETIC.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO THAT -- WELL, THAT --
>> LET'S BACK UP FOR A SECOND.
AT THE BACK OF YOUR EYE IS
YOUR RETINA.
AND INSIDE THAT ARE THREE TYPES
OF PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS CALLED
CONES.
>> THERE'S ONE MORE SENSITIVE TO
RED, ONE MORE SENSITIVE TO BLUE,
AND ONE MORE SENSITIVE TO GREEN.
>> AND EACH OF THESE CONES AND
THEIR CORRESPONDING PIGMENTS ARE
ENCODED BY SPECIFIC GENES.
>> SO HUMANS AND OTHER OLD-WORLD
PRIMATES HAVE TWO GENES ON THE
X CHROMOSOME THAT ENCODE
VISUAL PIGMENTS.
ONE ENCODES THE RED-CONE PIGMENT
AND THE OTHER ONE ENCODES
GREEN-CONE PIGMENT.
>> BUT IF YOU'RE COLOR BLIND --
>> ONLY ONE TYPE, RED OR GREEN,
IS EXPRESSED.
>> FINDING THAT FAULTY GENE WAS
RELATIVELY SIMPLE.
REPLACING THOSE GENES INSIDE THE
CONE CELLS WITH THE RIGHT GENES,
WELL, THAT'S A BIT TRICKIER.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY OF
DELIVERING A GENE TO THE CELLS
THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TREAT AND
NOT INTO OTHER CELLS.
>> FORTUNATELY, NATURE HAS
CRAFTED A REALLY POWERFUL METHOD
OF FORCING DNA INTO A VERY
SPECIFIC CELL -- A VIRUS.
>> THE VIRUS THAT WE USE IS
CALLED ADENO ASSOCIATED VIRUS,
AND PEOPLE CALL IT AAV.
ITS MAIN ADVANTAGE IS THAT YOU
DON'T GET AN IMMUNE RESPONSE
AGAINST THE VIRUS.
>> SO WHILE RESEARCHING HOW TO
LOAD THE THERAPEUTIC GENE INTO
THE VIRUS, THE NEITZS TRAINED A
PAIR OF COLOR-BLIND
MALE SQUIRREL MONKEYS,
SAM AND DALTON,
TO TAKE A COLOR BLINDNESS TEST.
>> EVERY SINGLE MORNING, THE
MONKEYS WAKE UP, AND BEFORE THEY
HAVE BREAKFAST THEY GO, OKAY,
IT'S TIME TO HAVE OUR COLOR
VISION TESTED.
AND THE MONKEY IS TRAINED TO
TOUCH THE PLACE WHERE THEY SEE,
YOU KNOW, THAT COLOR BLOB.
AND THEN THEY GET A TREAT.
THEY CAN BE MOST EFFICIENT AND
GET THE MOST REWARDS IF THEY
JUST TOUCH WITH THEIR NOSE AND
THEN THEY GET DOWN AND GET THEIR
LITTLE TREAT.
>> AND JUST TO BE THOROUGH --
>> WE ALSO RAN UNTREATED
ANIMALS.
YOU KNOW, OCCASIONALLY THEY
MIGHT JUST BY CHANCE TOUCH THE
RIGHT SPOT.
BUT OVER TRIALS YOU KNOW THEY
CAN ONLY REALLY GET IT RIGHT
ALL THE TIME IF THEY HAVE
NORMAL COLOR VISION.
>> ONCE THE MONKEYS WERE TRAINED
AND THE VIRUS WAS READY,
SAM AND DALTON UNDERWENT A
FAIRLY ELABORATE PROCEDURE.
>>> A VITREORETINAL SURGEON
SLIPS THE NEEDLE UNDERNEATH THE
RETINA.
THEN THE FLUID IS INFUSED IN
ORDER TO TREAT THE WHOLE ENTIRE
BACK OF THE EYE.
>> IT WASN'T IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS
THAT IT WORKED.
>> AND WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG
IT WAS GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO
CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AFTER THE
PIGMENT WAS EXPRESSED ROBUSTLY.
>> NOW WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND
YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE ANIMALS, IT'S SO DRAMATIC.
IT'S AN AMAZING THING.
AND IT AMAZED US.
>> ALTHOUGH THE FDA HAS YET TO
APPROVE THE PROCEDURE FOR HUMAN
TRIALS, RECENTLY THE NEITZS HAVE
DEVELOPED A ONE-SHOT VERSION OF
THE CURE.
>> IT'S LIKE AN EVERYDAY SHOT
THAT WOULD TAKE ONE SECOND,
JUST A SHOT RIGHT INTO THE EYE.
>> AND WHILE GETTING A SHOT IN
YOUR EYE SOUNDS TERRIFYING TO
SOME, IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY
FOR LIVING OUT A DREAM OR
GETTING TO SEE A SUNSET IN ALL
ITS GLORY OR MAYBE JUST NOT
LEAVING YOUR HOUSE DRESSED
LIKE THIS.
>> QUEST FOR CLARITY AT:
>>> SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE SPECIAL
CHALLENGES.
ONE SCHOOL IN FLORIDA IS TAKING
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HELP
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IT'S A COMMUNITY SCHOOL,
AND THEIR MISSION IS SIMPLE:
PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY
MEANS BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE
STUDENTS.
>> COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE AN
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE.
IT IS A MODEL THAT HAS BEEN DONE
INTERNATIONALLY.
IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAD A
MODEL STARTED BY THE CHILDREN'S
AID SOCIETY IN NEW YORK.
BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOGETHER TO
HELP IN SCHOOLS OF HIGH NEED.
>> THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL
HAS BEEN IN THE U.S. FOR OVER
20 YEARS.
THIS YEAR, THE CONCEPT COMES TO
THE BAY AREA FOR THE FIRST TIME
TO MORT ELEMENTARY IN TAMPA.
MORT'S INITIAL START WITH THE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL INCLUDES
PARTNERSHIPS.
>> AT MORT WE HAVE EIGHT CORE
PARTNERS, SO WE HAVE A LEAD
SOCIAL SERVICE NONPROFIT THAT IS
CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY.
WE HAVE A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED
HEALTH CENTER THAT IS TAMPA
FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS.
WE HAVE A UNIVERSITY PARTNER,
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA,
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THEN OUTSIDE OF THOSE FOUR
CORE PARTNERS, WE ARE ALSO
BRINGING IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION, THE TAMPA
INNOVATION ALLIANCE,
VAN DYKE CHURCH AND
FLORIDA HOSPITAL.
AND SO EACH OF THESE EIGHT
PARTNERS HAVE MADE A 25-YEAR
COMMITMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> MANY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE
TO STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS,
INCLUDING EDUCATION-BASED
PARENTING CLASSES.
>> THE CLASS IS FACILITATED
THROUGH THE HISPANIC SERVICES
COUNCIL, AND IT'S CALLED
LA RED DE PADRES ACTIVOS.
IT'S ENTIRELY TAUGHT IN SPANISH.
BUT THE GOAL IS TO GET OUR
PARENTS ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN
SCHOOLS.
AND SO EACH WEEK THEY TALK ABOUT
DIFFERENT ISSUES.
THIS IS WHAT THE ROLE OF THE
TEACHER IS.
THIS IS WHAT THE ROLE OF THE
SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS.
THIS IS THE PRINCIPAL.
THIS IS HOW YOU CAN FOLLOW
THROUGH ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
THIS IS HOW YOU CAN ASK
QUESTIONS OR THESE ARE YOUR
RIGHTS AS PARENTS.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TRAINING
CLASS FOR THE SPANISH-SPEAKING
PARENTS AT MORT.
PRINCIPAL WOODLAND JOHNSON IS
THERE TO WELCOME THEM TO A NEW
YEAR AT THE SCHOOL.
>> HAVE WORKED FOR OVER A YEAR
TO GET OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL UP
AND GET OUR NEW PARENT RESOURCE
CENTER UP AND READY.
>> IT TOOK 18 MONTHS OF PLANNING
AND PREPARATION TO GET HERE.
>> A LOT OF FUND-RAISING,
A LOT OF MEETINGS, A LOT OF
WORKING AT GETTING PARTNERS AND
CORPORATE PARTNERS AND BUSINESS
PARTNERS TO REALLY BELIEVE IN
THE PROCESS, TO BELIEVE IN THE
VISION OF WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO
MOVE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
AND THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY AREA
COMMUNITY WHICH THE MORT
COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS IN TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF THE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND WHY WE WANT
TO BE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
>> THE SCHOOL ALSO PROVIDES
EMERGENCY SUPPORT AS NEEDED.
>> WE'VE MADE SURE THAT WE'VE
GOTTEN UP AND RUNNING OUR FOOD
PANTRY.
WE HAVE A LARGE FOOD PANTRY THAT
WE HAVE THROUGH OUTSIDE
DONATIONS AS WELL AS THROUGH
PUBLIX CHARITIES, WHICH IS
SUPPORTING US.
WE ALSO HAVE A CLOTHES CLOSET
WHERE WE HAVE CLOTHES THAT WE
HELP FAMILIES WITH AS WELL.
>> CHANGES ALSO CAME TO MANY OF
THE CLASSROOMS HERE.
>> WE'VE GOT NEW FURNITURE IN
SOME OF OUR CLASSROOMS WITH
WRITE-ON DESKS AND TABLES THAT
MOVE WITH WHEELS SO THEY CAN
REARRANGE THE CLASSROOM AT THE
DROP OF A HAT, AS WELL AS WE'VE
GOTTEN A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE GOT A PARTNERSHIP WITH
PROMETHEAN TECHNOLOGY IN WHICH
WE HAVE PUT LARGE WALLBOARDS
WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE
VERY INTERACTIVE.
THEY ARE CONNECTED TO COMPUTERS.
WE HAVE GOTTEN ONE-ON-ONE
COMPUTERS FOR ALMOST ALL OF OUR
THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH
GRADERS.
>> ONE OF THOSE FIFTH GRADERS IS
RYLEE BOUCHER.
SHE'S ALSO ACTIVE IN THE SCHOOL
AS A STUDENT LEADER.
THE STUDENTS ARE GROUPED INTO
DIFFERENT HOUSES, AND THEY WORK
AS A TEAM TO WIN REWARDS.
>> SO MY ROLE AT THE STUDENT
COUNCIL IS AS PRESIDENT OF THE
BLUE HOUSE, THE HOUSE OF
COURAGE, PART OF MY ROLE, I HAVE
TO LEAD THE STUDENTS, HAVE THEM
SHOW COURAGE, JUST BE MORE
COURAGEOUS IN THE ACTS THEY DO
AT SCHOOL AND TO GET THEM TO
HAVE THE BEHAVIOR, BE HERE
ON TIME.
EVERY TIME A STUDENT IS ON TIME
AND THEY SHOW GOOD BEHAVIOR
THEY'LL GET A POINT FOR THE
HOUSE.
AND THE HOUSE THAT HAS THE MOST
POINTS AT THE END OF THE MONTH,
THEY WILL WIN A PARTY.
MY GOAL IS TO HELP STUDENTS IN
MY HOUSE EARN THAT PARTY.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TEAMWORK TO
RUN A HOUSE, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF
REWARDS IN OUR HOUSE IF STUDENTS
ARE DOING GOOD, BUT THEY HAVE TO
WORK TOGETHER TO EARN THOSE
REWARDS.
>> WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT SO
UNIQUE IS THE GOAL TO GO FAR
BEYOND THE THREE- TO FIVE-YEAR
FUNDING CYCLE OF MOST GRANTS.
PARTNERS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE A
25-YEAR COMMITMENT.
>> WITH THIS 25-YEAR COMMITMENT,
EACH OF THE PARTNERS ARE SAYING
WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR A GENERATION.
SO EVEN WHEN THE GRANT RUNS OUT
IN ONE YEAR, THREE YEARS,
OR FIVE YEARS, THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO FINDING FUNDING SO
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THESE
PROJECTS.
>> ONE SUCH PARTNER IS THE
TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS.
THEIR CEO, CHARLIE BOTTOMS, IS
ALL IN.
>> THIS IS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL,
AND THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT WAS
NEW TO ME.
AND IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY
SCHOOL, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
NEEDS INVOLVEMENT IN THERE.
AND SO IT ONLY MADE A NATURAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR US TO WORK WITH
THE SCHOOL AND PROVIDE HEALTH
CARE ON-SITE TO THE STUDENTS,
ABOUT 840 PLUS, AS WELL AS THE
PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT
IS SURROUNDING HERE.
>> THESE EFFORTS ARE EXPECTED TO
CHANGE THE MORT ELEMENTARY
COMMUNITY FOR DECADES TO COME.
>> I REALLY BELIEVE IN
COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER TO
HELP FIX PROBLEMS, THAT IT'S NOT
A TAP-DOWN APPROACH, BUT A
GROUND-UP APPROACH AND BRINGING
EVERYBODY TOGETHER, MAKING SURE
EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE.
IT'S THE SCHOOLS, IT'S THE
BUSINESS PARTNERS, IT'S THE
RESIDENTS, IT'S THE CHURCHES,
IT'S EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER
TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MAKE
THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE
FOR EVERYBODY.
>> I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE
GOING TO HELP OUR CHILDREN TO
SUCCEED AND BE PREPARED FOR
LIFE, TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT, TO
GET JOBS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY,
WITHIN THE INNOVATE DISTRICT
HERE IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA,
AND THAT'S A BIG PIECE FOR
25 YEARS FROM NOW.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
BOYS AND GIRLS ARE COMING BACK
TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THEY ARE
GIVING BACK, THAT THEY HAVE
JOBS, THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL,
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN.
>> 24% OF CHILDREN IN FLORIDA
LIVE IN POVERTY.
>> AND THAT WRAPS UP THIS
EPISODE OF "WEDU QUEST."
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, AND EDUCATION,
AND TO VIEW THIS SERIES ONLINE,
VISIT US AT WEDU.ORG/QUEST.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
I'M DR. SHANNON McQUAIG.
[ MUSIC ]
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IN PART BY THE HELIOS EDUCATION
FOUNDATION, A PROUD SUPPORTER OF
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON WEDU,
INCLUDING "WEDU QUEST."
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS
DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITY,
VISIT HELIOS.ORG.
A GRANT FROM THE S.L. GIMBEL
FOUNDATION ADVISED FUND AT THE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INLAND
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
AND THE CORPORATION FOR
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LEWIS B. AND LOUISE
HIRSCHFELD CULLMAN,
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AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
PARTICIPATING STATIONS.