64th Annual STS (2004-2005)
Finalists
Kelley Harris

CALIFORNIA
Kelley Harris, 17, of Sacramento, researched double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinases (PKRs) and inhibitory viral proteins that bind to Z-DNA for her Intel Science Talent Search project in biochemistry. PKRs combat viral pathogenesis by deactivating the self-replicating cellular equipment of the virus. E3L, an inhibitory protein expressed by the poxvirus, binds exclusively to Z-DNA where it disables the antiviral mechanism of PKRs. Abolition of the E3L protein would inactivate the poxvirus, making it unable to infect the host organism. Additionally, Kelley's research of the molecular structure can contribute to the relatively unknown evolution of Z-DNA binding proteins. Kelley, who has perfect SAT scores, is a senior at C. K. McClatchy High School where she is first in her class of 533. The daughter of Glenn Harris and Anne Katten, she toured Brazil with the Sacramento Youth Orchestra as a violinist and earned regional awards for her Scottish Highland dancing. She also enjoys backpacking, white water rafting, and sewing. A bronze medalist in the 2003 International Biology Olympiad, she plans to attend Harvard, study biophysics and pursue a doctorate.