coming from the other side: in HS, I did a science fair project relating to the effects of various carotenoids on cancer cells in vitro. I (top part of the class) didn't even really understand what a carotenoid was; my HS, as is probably typical, did not have an organic chemistry class. The only reason my project was anything impressive is because my dad runs a cancer research lab and could foist me off on his grad students. It was a great experience, and I learned tons about what laboratory biological research is like, but it wasn't really my own original effort.