Ellen Randall Reflecting on Her Journey from Biochemistry to Genomic Medicine
Ellen Randall, Graduated Student at the University of Birmingham, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“A little overdue but in July last year I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a 2:1 (69%) in Biochemistry.
When I began in degree in 2022 I was unsure which direction I wanted to take.
However as my studies progressed I developed an interest in genetics which ultimately led to me specialising in the field and graduating with the degree title ‘Biochemistry with genetics’.
I found eukaryotic genetics particularly interesting, taking modules titled ‘eukaryotic gene expression’ and ‘Current developments and advances in eukaryotic genetics’ both of which I achieved 75% in demonstrating my interest.
Another highlight of my degree was my final year literature review, critical analysis and project proposal, in which I achieved 69%.
For this I researched the benefits and pitfalls of a vegetarian diet at a biochemical level, focusing on the role of a vegetarian diet in cataract development.
My research highlighted that despite a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia among vegetarians, the increased antioxidant content of a vegetarian diet may offer a protective effect against cataract development.
This finding lead to my project proposal titled:
- ‘Exploring the prevailing protective effect of a vegetarian diet against cataract risk through studying protein aggregation’.
The proposed research used UV-spectrophotometry to study how homocysteine and a variety of antioxidants influence protein aggregation in lambs lenses with the aim of explaining the protective effect of a vegetarian diet at a molecular level.
This area of research also formed the basis of my presentation in which I achieved 78%.
None of this would have been possible without the support I received from my friends, family and academics.
Having been awarded both academic and alumni scholarships I chose to continue my studies at the University of Birmingham.
I am now halfway through my masters degree in Genomic Medicine where I am continuing to deepen my knowledge of genetics and its clinical and research applications.”

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