Irene Uchida
Her Life
Impact on Society
Bibliography
The Science
Cytogenetics
Technology
Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomes in cells. (science.ca, n.d.). This field can be useful in diagnosing many genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome, which Dr. Uchida focused on specifically. (science.ca, n.d.).
Education
Career
Personal Life
Dr. Irene Uchida was a Japanese Canadian who was born in Vancouver in 1917. (science.ca, n.d.) Her name was originally Ayako, however she got the name Irene from her piano teacher who found her Japanese name hard to pronounce. (Plokhii, 2013)
Dr. Uchida attended UBC at the age of 21, studying English Literature. (Plokhii, 2013) After 2 years of her studies, she decided to go visit her mother and sister in Japan. (Plokhii, 2013) She stayed in Japan for a year, and returned home just before the attack at Pearl Harbour in 1941. (Plokhii, 2013)
After she was released from the internment camp in 1944, Dr. Uchida went to the University of Toronto to finish her Bachelor of Arts degree (Plokhii, 2013). She planned to pursue a degree in social work, however she eventually made the decision to study zoology instead. (Plokhii, 2013). This decision was influenced by one her professors, who taught her an introductory genetics course. (Plokhii, 2013)
In 1942, after the attack at Pearl Harbour, Dr. Uchida and the members of her family who were living in Vancouver were forcibly relocated to an internment camp in the interior part of British Colombia. (Plokhii, 2013) Because of her education, Dr. Uchida was asked to become a principal of a school at the internment camp, where she taught about 500 students. (Plokhii, 2013) #
In 1951, Dr. Uchida graduated with a PhD in zoology. (Plokhii, 2013)
Dr. Uchida was said to have a unique personality. She was very generous, humble, feisty, and a hard worker. (science.ca, n.d.)
After completing her PhD, Dr. Uchida worked at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. She studied with Dr. Norma Walker, who was the professor who influenced her further study of genetics. At Sick Kids, Dr. Walker and Dr. Uchida studied "the genetics of twins and congenital heart disease". (Plokii, 2013) #
Dr. Uchida worked at Sick Kids until 1959. Shortly after her time at Sick Kids, Dr. Uchida was hired by Dr. Harry Medovy to lead the first National Cytogenetics Lab in Winnipeg. (Plokhii, 2013)
In Winnipeg, Dr. Uchida made a lot of progress in the field of genetics. She made the discovery that radiation is connected to Down syndrome. (Plokhii, 2013) While she was completing research, she also diagnosed patients who had rare birth defects. (Plokhii, 2013) #
Dr. Uchida left Winnipeg in 1969 and worked as a visiting scientists for a short period of time at the University of London in England. (Plokhii, 2013)
Dr. Uchida then returned to Canada and worked at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She collaborated with a genetics professor, Prof. Viola Freeman, who also became good friends with her. (Plokhii, 2013)
Dr. Uchida retired in 1955, after working at McMaster for 22 years, followed by the Oshawa General Hospital at the end of her career. (Plokii, 2013)
Dr. Uchida won many awards for her research. For example, she was named one of 25 Outstanding Women during the International Women's Year in Ontario in 1975, and she was also named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993. (science.ca, n.d.). Dr. Uchida also published more than 95 scientific papers during her career. (Government of Canada, 2000)
Dr. Uchida focused a majority of her studies on what causes the extra chromosome in the human body which leads to Down syndrome.
Humans have 23 pairs of identical chromosomes which contain unique genes. An alteration in the number of chromosomes can lead to genetic diseases such as Down syndrome. (science.ca, n.d.) Down syndrome in particular is caused by the tripling of chromosome number 21 during conception (science.ca, n.d.)
Science and Medicine
“Irene Ayako Uchida.” Science.ca, GCS Research Society , www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=21#science.
Plokhii, Olesia. “Irene Uchida, World-Renowned Leader in Genetics Research.” The Globe and Mail, 13 Sept. 2013, beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/irene-uchida-world-renowned-leader-in-genetics-research/article14324306/?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com&.
Knowledge of connection between X-rays and Down syndrome allows women to make more informed decisions about their health care.
Many medical scanning technologies, such as X-ray machines, have been important factors in Dr. Uchida's research.
There are also health risks that come along with using these technologies. For example, radiation that patients are exposed to during X-rays can lead to diseases such as cancer (Mayo Clinic, 2015). These risks are often small and outweighed by the benefits of the X-ray, however for some groups of people, such as pregnant women, the risks are increased (Mayo Clinic, 2015). This links to Dr. Uchida's research about the links between radiation and Down syndrome.
“Irene Uchida, World-Class Scientist Was Known for Her Enthusiasm.” Network , McMaster University , fhs.mcmaster.ca/networkfall2014/irene_uchida.html.
Dr. Uchida discovered that there is a connection between women's exposure to radiation and Down Syndrome in their children. (McMaster University, 2014) This significant discovery made scientific history and paved the way for further research.
“Celebrating Women's Achievements: Irene Ayako Uchida.” Library and Archives Canada , Government of Canada , 2 Oct. 2000, www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/030001-1414-e.html.
“X-Ray: Tests and Procedures.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 26 Mar. 2015, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/x-ray/basics/risks/prc-20009519.
According to the Mayo Clinic, "an X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside your body — particularly your bones." Beams from an X-ray machine pass through the body of the patient and are absorbed in different amounts, depending on the part of the body. (Mayo Clinic, 2015) Information from X-rays can lead to more effective treatment of patients, as problems within the human body can be more easily detected.
Gender Equality and Perserverance
Understanding chromosomes and how they lead to genetic diseases may contribute to further research into how to eradicate these diseases in the future.
Knowledge about cytogenetics allows Down syndrome to be diagnosed in fetuses.
As a female scientist, Dr. Uchida has helped to pave the path for women in STEM. Her perseverance is also extremely evident through everything she achieved despite other obstacles she may have experienced, such as being forced to live in internment camps.
Destigmatizing intellectual disabilities
Dr. Uchida spreads a positive message about clients she works with that have Down syndrome. This helps to reduce the stigma around people who have intellectual disabilities.
This links to how discussion around people with disabilities has changed overtime. People with disabilities should be included in society just like anyone else would be, rather than being excluded and isolated as they have been in the past and still are in many situations. Although many people and institutions have started to adapt towards a more accepting and inclusive mindset, our society still has a long way to go. The research of cytogenetics simplifies our way of thinking about the differences between people who are neuro-typical and people with Down syndrome. It demonstrates how people with Down syndrome are just regular people who may have been born with a different set of chromosomes than the typical person.
“Down Syndrome - GeneEd - Genetics, Education, Discovery.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, geneed.nlm.nih.gov/topic_subtopic.php?tid=142&sid=147.
As you can see in the image to the right, a person with Down syndrome has an additional copy of chromosome 21. (GeneEd, n.d.) For this reason, Down syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21. (science.ca, n.d.)
Some symptoms associated with Down syndrome are intellectual disability, distinctive facial characteristics, and increased risk of heart defects and digestive problems. (GeneEd, n.d.)
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Japanese Canadians faced a lot of discrimination from other Canadians. (CBC, 2001). Ian MacKenzie, the federal cabinet minister from British Columbia at the time of the attack at Pearl Harbour, said: "It is the governments plan to get these people out of B.C. as fast as possible... Let our slogan be for British Columbia: No Japs from the Rockies to the seas." (CBC, 2001).
Living conditions for Japanese Canadians were inhumane during this time. "Hundreds of women and children were squeezed into the livestock building" while waiting to be taken inland. (CBC, 2001). At most internment camps, Japanese Canadians lived in shacks, and many were separated from their families. (CBC, 2001)
“Japanese Internment.” CBC News, CBC/Radio Canada, 2001, www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP14CH3PA3LE.html.
Dr. Uchida's continued perserverance to study and start her career after leaving the internment camps demonstrated how she was very passionate and determined.