63rd Annual STS (2003-2004)
Finalists
Andrei Joseph Levin

MASSACHUSETTS
Andrei Joseph Levin, 17, of Newton, was named a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search for his biochemistry project in molecular genetics focused on retroposed genes. These rare functional genes are copied from a chromosome and inserted into a different place on the genome. A genome-wide search had identified only 60 retroposed genes in humans, and Andrei used that data in his study, searching for corresponding retroposed genes in the mouse genome, which is 85% identical to that of humans. Using software he developed, computer analysis and manual inspection, he identified and analyzed 23 such genes and believes that 16 of them had not been previously discovered. Andrei plays varsity soccer at Maimonides School, Brookline, and is co-captain of the math team. He works with elementary school math students weekly and also volunteers at a soup kitchen. His awards include the Rensselaer Medal in Science and Math and fourth place National French Competition honors (Level 5). He is also fluent in Hebrew and Russian and is currently translating his grandfather's memoirs. The son of Drs. Leonid and Larissa Levin, Andrei plans to major in one or more scientific disciplines at MIT.