About the Project & Inspiration
My inspiration for this project came from studying computational biology over the summer. I explored different computational methods and learned how they could be applied to biological questions. I especially enjoy developing a research question and determining which methods would be most appropriate for investigating it. I wanted to bring together techniques I had studied and applied in previous assignments into one cohesive project, which led me to develop the CFTR Variant Explorer.
The CFTR Variant Explorer is an interactive bioinformatics app that allows users to investigate genetic variants in CFTR, a gene associated with cystic fibrosis. Users can explore individual protein positions, examine recorded variant consequences, compare evolutionary conservation across protein domains, and investigate Random Forest predictions for eligible amino acid substitutions. By combining these features, the app brings together multiple approaches to help users explore patterns in CFTR variation.
What I Learned
Throughout this project, I learned much more about CFTR, its protein domains, evolutionary conservation, and the potential consequences of genetic variants. I also gained experience building my first interactive app using Python and Streamlit, integrating computational analyses, organizing biological data, and presenting scientific information through a more accessible interface.
Accomplishments & Challenges
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is bringing together several bioinformatics and computational biology methods into a single app while keeping its features and visual presentation relatively organized. I had to work through numerous bugs and challenges involving data mapping, missing information for certain protein positions, and how the app handled variants that did not fit neatly into the expected annotations. Debugging these issues required examining the underlying data, tracing errors through the code, and refining the application’s logic and presentation.
Beyond what I learned about computational biology, this experience also changed how I view app development. Since this was my first time building an app, I did not know whether I would enjoy the process. Although debugging could be stressful, I found the experience genuinely fun and rewarding. It made me realize that app development is something I may want to continue exploring beyond this hackathon rather than abandon once the project is finished.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.