Al-Amn Magazine

DOCUMENTARY W Fi nd i ng a cure Pursui ng import ant d i scoveri es i n cancer research hen Zachary (Zach) Ewell was 15 years old, he stumbled across a NOVA documentary episode called “The Ghost in Your Genes.” The documentary featured epigenetics: an exciting field of genetics research that studies how factors such as disease and the environment could tie to genome modifications. That night, Ewell immersed himself in the Brigham Young University website, where he looked over the various majors, ultimately deciding that he wanted to study microbiology. On his first day at BYU New Student Orientation, Ewell learned about the dual doctoral degree for physician-scientists (MD-PhD) and decided that was the degree he would achieve. “A doctor is able to help one patient at a time,” he said. “But through research, you’re able to help multiple people at a time, perhaps many more.” One day after class, Ewell talked to his MMBIO 121 professor Dr. Kim O’Neill and asked about getting involved in O’Neill’s lab. Ewell was welcomed into the lab and began conducting cancer research. Ewell was captivated by lab research and the myriad of molecular biology classes he took. Through his research and studies, he has had the opportunity to present at the annual