This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, and undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
About the Author
My name is Daniel Burgardt and I am a graduating student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It seems kind of weird that it has been only three short years of college that has gone by and I am already graduating. From here I hope to go back to school and obtain my teaching certificate so that I too can help share the love of science and math to the younger generations that will be coming into this world. This website was created as part of my final capstone project in order to graduate with a degree in Genetics. I chose this particular class because of my interest to go on in schooling to become a high school science teacher as I can use many of the skills, techniques, and information I learned from this class in my teaching of America's next scientists and doctors who will go on to do great things for the world.
I chose Long QT Syndrome and KCNQ1 because of the growing amount of young athletes that are having heart attacks and dying while playing the sport they love. There is no reason why someone at such a young age and in great physical condition should die from a heart attack. Another reason is that before I entered this class a student from my high school died of a heart attack while at basketball practice. He was a great athlete and in great condition yet he was taken by a heart attack none-the-less. I never found out what was the main cause behind his death but could only assume something like Long QT syndrome was behind it.
WIth that I hope that enjoyed the website I created to give a little insight into what Long QT Syndrome is and how KCNQ1 plays a role in the problem. I hope that now that you have become educated about it you can start to tell others and have you friends and family checked for it before it is to late.
I chose Long QT Syndrome and KCNQ1 because of the growing amount of young athletes that are having heart attacks and dying while playing the sport they love. There is no reason why someone at such a young age and in great physical condition should die from a heart attack. Another reason is that before I entered this class a student from my high school died of a heart attack while at basketball practice. He was a great athlete and in great condition yet he was taken by a heart attack none-the-less. I never found out what was the main cause behind his death but could only assume something like Long QT syndrome was behind it.
WIth that I hope that enjoyed the website I created to give a little insight into what Long QT Syndrome is and how KCNQ1 plays a role in the problem. I hope that now that you have become educated about it you can start to tell others and have you friends and family checked for it before it is to late.