From left: Professor Virender Kanwal, Lisa-Marie and Orchid Poponne.
They are a year-and-a-half apart, but could pass for twins. Lisa Marie and Orchid Poponne both love biology, are taking the same class, BIO 121, and will be together in a research class next spring.
“”I love biology,” Lisa-Marie says. I want to figure out how the human body works – the chemical processes that go on in a living organism.”
Orchid shares her sister’s love of the subject. “I want to know why, when I run, my heart rate increases and how various body functions work,” she said.
Orchid originally wanted to go into pediatric oncology, but is now planning earn a Ph.D. and become a research scientist. She wants to research cancer, particularly that of children.
“It’s really sad to watch someone who hasn’t started life develop this disease,” she said. “You want to find some way to help.”
Their professor, Virender Kanwal, says the current research is heading in the direction of “smart bombs” that can target only cancerous cells instead of chemotherapy that damages healthy and non-healthy cells alike.
“That’s the future,” she says. Lisa-Marie’s sister shares a love of biology, but want to focus more on genetics, working in recombinant gene technology.
The two are originally from the Caribbean, but now live in Edison. “I love it here at Middlesex,” Lisa-Marie said “It’s affordable and the teachers are excellent. They make sure you get the material and they want you to do well.”
