63rd Annual STS (2003-2004)
Finalists
Divya Nettimi

VIRGINIA
Divya Nettimi, 17, of Oakton, developed a method of calculating theoretically the rate at which myosin, a molecular biomotor, reacts with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy source, and drives muscle contraction for her Intel Science Talent Search project in biochemistry. She applied a Michaelis-Menten model to the myosin-ATP reaction system and derived an equation using kinetics, thermodynamics and experimental data. Her calculations show that a myosin molecule moves along an actin filament in muscle at approximately 2.5 X 107 nanometers per second. Divya found that the reaction rate is primarily affected by myosin, and only indirectly by ATP, suggesting more and denser muscle tissue is needed to add more myosin in order to perform more strenuous activity. At Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, she helped start the Assistive Technology Club that makes reading devices to help motor-disabled children learn to communicate. Among her long list of honors is the Congressional Award Bronze Medal. Born in India, Divya is the daughter of Vidyadhar and Kalyani Nettimi. She plans to attend Harvard and become a research scientist.