Twin Research

(07/29/05 - DURHAM) -- Teenage twins from Raleigh spent their summer working alongside scientists at Duke to potentially save lives.

The identical twins both rank at the top of their class at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. They have the same exact grade point average, and they were both chosen for an elite internship program in the Cancer Center at Duke.

Unless you know Wayneho and Waynekid Kam of Raleigh, it's hard to tell who's who, but they are quick to point out their differences. Waynekid Kam mentions, "he doesn't like peanut butter and I do."

One thing they share is a drive to help others, specifically cancer patients. The disease has touched even their young lives. Two of Wayneho's teachers had cancer. That experience, coupled with the twins identical GPA's of over 4.8 landed these rising high school juniors the same coveted summer internship at Duke's Comprehensive Cancer Center. Although they're in different settings.

Waynekid says, "I've been studying exercise on mice one leg exercise and how it affects the non-exercise leg."

Wayheho says, "I'm interested in what my mentor does, he gets to do research and interact with patients as well, that combines the best of both worlds."

Wearing white lab coats, the 16-year olds look right at home working with Duke scientists as they investigate possible cancer treatments. "Interacting with clinical investigators, patients and I think it's been a mutually beneficial experience for all of us."

As you might imagine, both Wayneho and Waynekid are very interested in going to medical school as they can both attend the same university.

Their parents are no doubt hoping they'll get identical scholarships! The Duke internship is called Summer on The Edge and only 14 high school students are selected for it.

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