THE TELOMERE TIMES
2014 | ISSUE #2
THE TELOMERE TIMES Brought to you by The Biology Students Association
IN THIS ISSUE Epigenetics 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology Interview with Dr. Lessard E-cigarettes Tardigrade Upcoming Events And More!
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Greetings to all of my lovely Biology students!! Hopefully midterms have come to an end and everyone did well! Thank you for taking the time to read our second issue of the Telomere Times to check out all of the hard work that our writers, graphic designers, editors, and supporters put into this issue. We hope you enjoy it! We first embark upon our journey through this newsletter with Max GuglielmiVitullo’s fresh look at epigenetics, followed by Cassandra Poirier’s article about the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology winner. Next we feature Katherine Levasseur’s interview with our very own Dr. Lessard from Concordia University and conclude with Zarin Arshy’s thought-provoking article about the health debate of e-cigarettes. Thank you again for all of your support and the Biology Student Association wishes you a Happy Halloween! Cheers, Kateland Simmons VP Communications
AGARICUS MUSCARIUS (FLY AGARIC)
Editor’s Note
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“Nevermore”
President’s Note Happy Hallows’ Eve biology lovers, and welcome to your virtual trick or treat journey. To some the realm of the unknown is frightening and dangerous, but to a biologist, what better opportunity to uncover the truths of life, than to delve into the unknown history of the biological and medical sciences? In this edition of the Telomere Times, treat yourself to the latest news on novel advancements in epigenetics and neuroscience, while being wary of the tricks that lie ahead from achievements of the past (warning to those with trypophobia!) Finally, take your chances with the grim reaper and trick death for a while longer, by venturing into the debate of e-cigarettes. Midterms have gone by, or for some are bound to rear their ugly heads again; to wish you the happiest and healthiest of study times for finals, the BSA team is offering you services that you will get nowhere else, for FREE and on the DAILY. Pass by our office in SP 375.21 every morning from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM with your reusable mug to fuel your mitochondria with free coffee and tea. Want more? Subscribe to our newsletter, friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to come in for our surprise Muffin Mornings (M & M’s)! Finally, rent lab coats, goggles, and molecular models for your laboratory and tutorial needs. And while you enjoy your free breakfast every morning with your rented lab coat in hand, do remember to pick up a copy of the Telomere Times, to experience just how creative and multifaceted your Concordia biology community can be! In light of all your evaluations ahead, stay healthy, balanced and informed; but if you are to find your coursework driving you crazy, just remember that, “Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence.” —Edgar Allan Poe Krutika Patel President
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Table of Contents
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Epigenetics
6—7
2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
8—9
Biological Illustrator of the Month
10—11
Interview with Dr. Lessard
12—14
E-cigarettes
15—17
Fun Facts about the Tardigrade
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Puzzles
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Meet our Writers
20—21
Upcoming Events
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Biology Seminars
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Contact Info and More!
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Epigenetics — New Field of Biology Answers Old Questions
Written by Max Guglielmi-Vitullo It is a great show of progress made in the recent decades, to see the popularity and prevalence of fundamental biology concepts expand outside of the typical circles of biologists. While the details may be misrepresented, everyone has an idea about Charles Darwin, evolution, and basic ecological concepts. Many people even know of Mendel’s work, though probably not by name. It is through Mendel’s work that we lay the cornerstone for today’s knowledge of genetics and all the answers it has given us; advancements in medicine, greater understanding of the human body, and so much more. However, with every new discovery, a new question will arise; genetics is no exception. Previously we were enamored by discovering the “unit of inheritance” that was described by Mendel’s work, calling them genes or, more specifically, alleles. Now we have come to the interesting issue of understanding how these alleles are controlled and expressed, which is where epigenetics comes in.
Epigenetics is the study of gene expression through what is known as the methylation (turning off) and phosphorylation (turning on) of individual genes. This allows the body to regulate which proteins are made in which cells at specific times, which enables cells to specialize in roles by only producing proteins that are necessary for that cell. Epigenetics is not static; it is something that can be modified by a given environment. It is always changing; genes are always being turned on or off as one continues on with their life, responding to the stresses that their surroundings put on them. Some genes are permanently turned off; you will never find that cells in your stomach produce protein chains meant to be produced by muscle fibers. You will, however, see that some gene expression can be modified or changed altogether to help the body adapt to the stimulus that is currently acting on them. When observing the development of monozygotic, or identical, twins, one can see that they develop differently over the course of their lives. There are small phenotypic differences and one individual may have different tolerances when it comes to disease versus the other for example. Such an observation is very interesting with no plausible explanation without considering epigenetics. In a study done by Mario F. Fraga, a researcher in the department of oncology and immunology at the Spanish National Biotechnology Centre, a large selection of monozygotic twins were tested and questioned.
In order to study this curious situation of physical differences in supposedly identical genomes, multiple samples of DNA were digested alongside endonucleases that were particularly responsive to methylation patterns. Once run through a gelelectrophoresis, the resulting bands could indicate the similarities shared in the methylation between different DNA samples. Other tests included column chromatography that allowed Fraga to see the different degrees of methylation in global histone H4 and histone H3 acetylation. The subjects were also questioned with regards to their lifestyle, habits and relationship with their sibling. They discovered that epigenetic differences were found in one third of all subjects, with emphasis on subjects that had different lifestyles, spent extensive amounts of time separated from one another, and were older in age. Great strides have been taken to try to understand this phenomenon, and a multitude of research is being completed to learn more, such as how uncontrolled methylation of genes can contribute to the development of cancer in an individual; this is especially true when genes are silenced at the wrong time of embryonic development, and can create conditions that cancer can flourish in. Despite our best efforts, we are only starting to understand the implications these epigenetic modifications can have for an individual.
Sources: http://www.pnas.org/content/102/30/10604.full Wong NC, Craig JM (2011). Epigenetics: A Reference Manual. Norfolk, England: Caister Academic Press. ISBN 1-904455-88-3.
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DISCOVERY E of F
Brain’s Internal GPS Merits
2014 Nobel Prize G in H
Physiology or Medicine Written by Cassandra Poirier
Did you know you had an internal GPS? That is, an intricate internal system that allows you to position yourself and navigate increasingly complex environments? th On October 6 2014, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain. Half of the highly coveted prize was awarded to John O’Keefe for his discovery of ‘place cells’ located in the hippocampus, which subserves our ability to generate inner spatial maps of our environment. The other half of the prize was awarded to May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser, a Norwegian couple, for their discovery of ‘grid cells’ located in the entorhinal cortex. This neural network creates coordinate systems that account for our precise positioning and path finding abilities. Together, place cells and grid cells constitute the neural building blocks of our internal GPS. These discoveries have greatly
contributed to furthering our understanding of higher-order cognitive processes, including memory, thinking, and planning. O’Keefe is currently the director of the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre in Neural Circuits and Behavior at University College London. He received his Master of Arts degree in 1964 and his doctorate in 1967 in physiological psychology – now referred to as ‘neuroscience’ – from McGill University. After his post-doctoral fellowship at the University College London, O’Keefe decided to study the role of the limbic system in memory with the use of neurophysiological methods. In one of his experiments conducted in 1971, the neural activity in the hippocampus of freely moving rats was monitored with the use of electrodes. It was found that certain cells in this brain region were activated when the rat was located in one place of a structured environment, whereas other cells became activated when the
rat was in a different place of the same environment. Based on the findings of this study, O’Keefe concluded that these place units in the hippocampus create inner spatial reference maps. This discovery represented a major breakthrough in the field of neuroscience, as there was no physiological evidence for the neural correlates of spatial memory to that date. This evidence provided the basis for the first component of the spatial positioning system, for which O’Keefe was co-awarded the Nobel Prize. The other half of the Nobel Prize was awarded to May-Britt Moser, the director of the Centre for Neural Computation in Trondheim, and Edvard I. Moser, the director of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience in Trondheim. A little over 30 years after O’Keefe’s discovery, Moser and Moser discovered that the activation of a combination of cells located in the entorhinal cortex in rats was
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Brain’s Internal GPS
From left to right: Edvard Moser, John O’Keefe, and May-Britt Moser responsible for generating a unique coordinate system of a given environment. These ‘grid cells’ organized the environment into grids and became differentially activated when the animal would move from one grid to another. In 2005, Moser and Moser concluded that the animal’s navigational ability is subserved by the collective activity of these grid cells in the entorhinal cortex. This discovery provided the basis for the second component of the spatial positioning system in the brain.
The relevance of these findings extends to the clinical level. Cognitive decline is an inevitable aspect of aging. The most frequently reported complaint among healthy older adults is forgetfulness or deterioration of memory. The aging process differentially affects some areas of the brain more than others, and therefore affects some cognitive functions more than others. Indeed, the aging brain of some, but not all people is characterized by cerebral atrophy, ventricular enlargement, and hippocampal atrophy. In patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex are detrimentally affected. The discoveries made by O’Keefe, Moser, and Moser of the brain’s coordinate system responsible for spatial memory may further our understanding of the mechanism for spatial memory loss in aging populations.
Sources: O'Keefe, J., and Dostrovsky, J. (1971). The hippocampus as a spatial map. Preliminary evidence from unit activity in the freely‐moving rat. Brain Research 34, 171-175. O´Keefe, J. (1976). Place units in the hippocampus of the freely moving rat. Experimental Neurology 51, 78-109. Fyhn, M., Molden, S., Witter, M.P., Moser, E.I., Moser, M.B. (2004) Spatial representation in the entorhinal cortex. Science 305, 1258-1264. Hafting, T., Fyhn, M., Molden, S., Moser, M.B., and Moser, E.I. (2005). Microstructure of spatial map in the entorhinal cortex. Nature 436, 801-806. Sargolini, F., Fyhn, M., Hafting, T., McNaughton, B.L., Witter, M.P., Moser, M.B., and Moser, E.I. (2006). Conjunctive representation of position, direction, and velocity in the entorhinal cortex. Science 312, 758-762.
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Biological Illustrator EOFF the Month Written by Zarin Arshy
Robert Hooke (1635—1703) Last month, we introduced you to three spectacular biologists/illustrators who had to convey their discoveries to the world not through photographs or digital media, but through their artisanship; their remarkably close attention to detail and plain skill. This month, we are back with the man who discovered the cell— the English philosopher and polymath, Robert Hooke. A competitor of Isaac Newton, Hooke had expertise in many fields of science including microscopy, architecture, physics (remember Hooke’s Law), astronomy and more. Using his special microscope, he observed what was not previously known to be cells, on a thin slice of cork (shown at right) whose boxed-shape pores reminded him of the tiny rooms/cells in which monks lived, or so it is said. He published these findings with this drawing, the one of the flea below, and others using different lenses in the best-seller, Micrographia. Read much of the book for free in the linked sources below. Sources Hooke R. Micrographia [Internet]. Google Books. 2014 [cited 24 October 2014]. Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=W5FqAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Micrographia&hl=en& sa=X&ei=m15NVN2ZPISoyQS24oKQBg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Micrographia&f=false NPR.org. The Origins Of The Word 'Cell' [Internet]. 2010 [cited 24 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129934828
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Hooke’s Illustration of a Flea
Hooke’s microscope
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KATHERINE LEVASSEUR’S
Interview E with F
Dr. Jean-Philippe Lessard Dr. Jean-Philippe Lessard is an accomplished ecologist who received his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee in 2010 where he worked on the community ecology and biogeography of ants. He is one of Concordia University’s assistant professors who run the recently opened Community Ecology & Biogeography Lab. He will also be teaching BIOL 353, Communities and Ecosystems beginning this coming winter. Much of Dr. Lessard’s research has been done on the biodiversity of ants; more recently his lab has shifted to include odonates, dragonflies and damselflies. Dr. Lessard began his education as an undergraduate student of zoology at McGill University’s Macdonald Campus. Many of the courses offered to zoology students at the time were entomology classes and it was these classes in particular which peaked Dr. Lessard’s interest. During his time at McGill, Dr. Lessard met Dr. Chris Buddle, an associate professor who was just starting his research lab at the Macdonald campus. “He was just starting at the time and was very excited, very enthusiastic about research and gave me my first gig. He let me be his field assistant for the summer,” Dr. Lessard recalled. At the time Dr. Lessard had been reading The Ants, a textbook written by E.O Wilson and B. Hölldobler and from this reading he had become very interested in the diversity of ants. It was from this interest that Dr. Lessard decided on the topic of his
summer project. The project involved the study of the differences between the ant assemblages found in the forests of the McGill Molson Reserve and in the residential backyards located right outside the forests. The research conducted during that summer concluded that there was no overlap between the ant species in the forests and in the backyards. Surprisingly, there were more species of ants in the backyards surrounding the forests then there was in the forests themselves. These findings encompassed Dr. Lessard’s undergraduate project and were published in 2005 in the Canadian Entomologist. Presently Dr. Lessard and his lab are using ants and odonates to seek the answers to questions regarding the biodiversity and the distribution of organisms. These fundamental questions such as, “How is biological diversity maintained through time?”, “What are the processes that allow many species to coexist in one space?” and “Why are there more species in some places than in others?” are the focal point of the research his lab will be conducting. “Nine out of ten animal species are insects but we still know almost nothing about insects, and we know even less about what will happen to them in the future,” said Dr. Lessard. Through these questions, Dr. Lessard seeks to understand the consequences of the biodiversity of insects on the functioning of ecosystems. In northern Quebec
Dr. Jean-Philippe Lessard Assistant Professor at Concordia University
! Looking for field assistants for summer 2015 to help with the collection and mapping of odonates and ants in northern Quebec.
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specifically, almost nothing is known about their biodiversity; Dr. Lessard’s laboratory will be spending a great deal of time next summer in remote areas of the Boreal Forest of the subarctic biome to collect data about the species of odonates and ants found there and to try to understand what drives the biodiversity of these organisms and how they contribute to ecosystem functioning. Dr. Lessard will be looking for field assistants for summer 2015 to help with the collection and mapping of odonates and ants in northern Quebec. This is a great opportunity for undergrads who are interested in the biodiversity of insects and the effects of their biodiversity on the function of ecosystems. Dr. Lessard is looking for students who will be willing to commit a large chunk of their summer to this field work. “We’re always looking for motivated students who aren’t afraid of being outdoors for long periods of time,” said Dr. Lessard. “When I select a student I will be looking at a few things. First I will look if they have field experience or not. Then I will look at their GPA and encourage them to apply
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for the NSERC research fellowship... students should contact me latest February”. For undergraduate students who are looking for opportunities to get experience by volunteering in a research lab there will be an opportunity to do so in Dr. Lessard’s lab starting fall 2015, after they have spent the summer collecting their ant and odonate samples. “Someone with strong genetic skills could come work with me on phylogenetic problems. Someone with strong mathematical skills could work with me on statistical projects…if somebody has strong fieldwork experience then they can come work with us in the summer,” Dr. Lessard explained. Dr. Lessard’s advice for students looking to get involved in research labs is that “you should seek opportunity”. He suggests that students should do their research early regarding the type of work going on in the different labs. If some aspect of the research is exciting to you early on, you should contact the professor
to see if they have any opportunities available to undergrad students. Dr. Lessard suggests that bringing your own funding through fellowships will be a bonus for students and will increase their chances of finding summer field work. For students interested in the 490 independent research project, Dr. Lessard is looking for motivated students who are enthusiastic about learning. “I would expect students to browse my web pages and look at what I am doing to try to see which part of it they like the most,” Dr. Lessard encouraged. For more information regarding Dr. Lessard’s laboratory, ongoing research, along with all of Dr. Lessard’s publications and related information, please see the following links below.
Dr. Lessard’s Community Ecology & Biogeography Lab: http://jeanphilippelessard.com/ Dr. Lessard’s Publications: http://jeanphilippelessard.com/publications/ Molson reserve: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/about/resources/molson The Canadian Entomologist: http://www.esc-sec.ca/journal.php For more information regarding fellowship scholarships and research funding please see the following links below: NSERC Fellowship Information: http://www.nserccrsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/index_eng.asp Fonds de recherche du Québec—Nature et technologies: http://www.frqnt.gouv.qc.ca/en/bourses/index.htm
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Written by Zarin Arshy
Electronic Cigarettes: new technology with a smoked anywhere, do not create secondhand smoke, and will break the habit of smoking. Typical marketing methods included using celebrities, doctors, attractive and modern-looking smokers, as well as showing improved social status, romance and more social activity (Grana and Ling, 2014). Retailer websites and advertisements particularly target young people and even children due to the flavor profiles that are offered. Image: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PxvtDGuSJR8/maxresdefault.jpg Electronic or paper? Ah that is the question, and perhaps the essence of this very digital age. Who would have thought only a few years ago, that this question could be applied to people’s smoking rituals? Enter the electronic cigarette (ecigarette or e-cig). E-cigs are electrically powered, handheld pipes that convert pure liquid nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol and/or glycerin at minimum, into an inhalable gas. Grandfathers around the world may be nodding in disapproval, thinking “you kids and your fandangle, electronic cigarettes.” They are rather sleek in design with different metallic finishes or colors. They can be filled in increasing varieties of fluids called e-liquids. They have batteries (some that can be charged via USB), cartridges, buttons, and LED lights. From a mechanical viewpoint, they are impressive little gadgets rapidly heating and converting fluids
into vapor within your fingertips. But looks aside, it does facilitate the inhalation of a chemical substance that directly affects the central nervous system. With more and more people discovering e-cigs and businesses opening with the sole purpose of selling everything e-cigarette including cafes for leisure smoking, prevalence is expected to steadily increase. But before you unknowingly come under any influence of the bandwagon-effect, it is important that you do know the facts and associated risks. It is important to not allow yourself to become deluded by e-cigarette retailers and makers, as their marketing claims aren’t substantially backed by science. A review done in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that retail websites were making overstretched or unfounded statements about their products, such as e-cigs that can be
A lofty claim made by these retailers it that e-cigarettes can significantly aid in the cessation of smoking. According to Health Canada, among young adults aged 20 – 24, one in five persons is a smoker, nearly all of whom are dependent users (Hc-sc.gc.ca, 2014). With such a relatively high prevalence, it is worth finding alternatives for those who have been unsuccessful at quitting. Many believe e-cigs to be a worthy candidate, because they contain far fewer chemicals than the 7,000 contained in tobacco smoke, 100s of those being toxic and 70 being carcinogenic (Smoking and Tobacco Use, 2014). Unlike tobacco cigarette smoking, their use does not elevate white blood cell, lymphocyte, and granulocyte counts during active or passive (second-hand) smoking (Flouris et al., 2012). Similarly in another study, active e-cig smoking in contrast to active tobacco cigarette smoking, does not alter lung function, although this study only evaluated short-term effects (Flouris et al., 2013).
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13 user. Such is not the case with the alternative form, as users will probably continue usage without counting puffs. Finally, do e-cigarettes help smokers quit as retailers promise? Only one credible study is available to answer this question, and it suggests that they are “modestly effective� as smoking cessation aids. Yet, they were not significantly more helpful than other nicotine replacement therapies such as the Nicorette inhaler (Bullen et al., 2013).
So when asked which is more dismal to your health, ecigarettes or your usual run-of-themill paper tobacco cigarettes, the answer seems intuitive. As well, they appear to be a viable replacement for tobacco smoke. However, they are not completely free of toxins and complications. An investigation on the effects of the e-liquids on human embryonic stem cells, mouse neural stem cells, and human pulmonary fibroblasts showed several flavors of e-liquids to be cytotoxic to the former two cell types. These were owing, not to the nicotine itself, but the chemical flavorings (Bahl et al., 2012). The vapors resulting from the combustion of the liquids and trace substances from the apparatus, may also contain several toxic and carcinogenic substances such as formaldehyde, nitrosamines, free
radicals, toxic gases, heavy metals, and more, although the levels were 9-450 times lower than cigarette smoke (Goniewicz et al., 2014). As for the main active compound, nicotine, it can be considered a poison at high concentrations. This can be worrisome for parents with young children as there have been reports of poisoning in children who ingested the colorful, fragrant liquids (Cdc.gov, 2014). Nicotine has also been shown to regulate some oncogenes (McKee, 2014). Another issue with using e-cigarettes is that each cartridge can allow approximately 100 puffs, as opposed to 15 in tobacco cigarettes. With the actual combustion of the paper and tobacco, there is a measure of consumption and awareness by the
Essentially, there is not enough conclusive evidence to support the claim that the e-cigs can considerably aid in tobacco smoking abstinence. Yet, for a smoker with no intention to quit, it can serve as a buffer between conventional cigarettes to ease the dependence on them. On the other hand, there is still some promise in e-cigs as a replacement (Bullen et al., 2010) for those with a strong desire to quit and with a resilient will, could be worth a try. But for non-smokers, ecigarettes offer no benefits. Though not as potent as cigarettes, they are a slight detriment to one’s health, whose long-term effects are insufficiently understood. Because nicotine is highly habit forming, there is a risk for non-smokers to eventually adopt tobacco cigarettes. This is particularly a point of concern for many healthcare professionals who believe that e-cigarettes could cause a fresh surge of nicotine addiction and consequently tobacco use in the global population (Tobacco.ucsf.edu, 2014). Be wary that e-cigarettes are not merely a new form of
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 cigarettes but an entirely new realm, in which non-smokers may become susceptible—or dare I say, prey—to use by its novelty, its design, experimentation with different flavors, false advertisement and the experience of using it by charging, filling, and maintaining it. Because this is a matter of your health, and nothing is more
14 important than that, it advised to be perceptive of why you use and what part of the experience you are being sold. Hopefully, the presented risks and benefits has helped to equip you with the all the information necessary to come to the best conclusion.
References Bahl, V., Lin, S., Xu, N., Davis, B., Wang, Y. and Talbot, P. (2012). Comparison of electronic cigarette refill fluid cytotoxicity using embryonic and adult models. Reproductive Toxicology, 34(4), pp.529--537. Bullen, C., Howe, C., Laugesen, M., McRobbie, H., Parag, V., Williman, J. and Walker, N. (2013). Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 382(9905), pp.1629--1637. Bullen, C., McRobbie, H., Thornley, S., Glover, M., Lin, R. and Laugesen, M. (2010). Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial. Tobacco control, 19(2), pp.98--103. Caponnetto, P., Campagna, D., Cibella, F., Morjaria, J., Caruso, M., Russo, C. and Polosa, R. (2013). EffiCiency and Safety of an eLectronic cigAreTte (ECLAT) as tobacco cigarettes substitute: a prospective 12-month randomized control design study. PloS one, 8(6), p.66317. Cdc.gov, (2014). Notes from the Field: Calls to Poison Centers for Exposures to Electronic Cigarettes — United States, September 2010–February 2014. [online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6313a4.htm [Accessed 20 Oct. 2014]. Flouris, A., Poulianiti, K., Chorti, M., Jamurtas, A., Kouretas, D., Owolabi, E., Tzatzarakis, M., Tsatsakis, A. and Koutedakis, Y. (2012). Acute effects of electronic and tobacco cigarette smoking on complete blood count. Food and chemical toxicology, 50(10), pp.3600--3603. Flouris, A., Chorti, M., Poulianiti, K., Jamurtas, A., Kostikas, K., Tzatzarakis, M., Wallace Hayes, A., Tsatsakis, A. and Koutedakis, Y. (2013). Acute impact of active and passive electronic cigarette smoking on serum cotinine and lung function. Inhalation toxicology, 25(2), pp.91--101. Grana, R. and Ling, P. (2014). “Smoking Revolution”: A Content Analysis of Electronic Cigarette Retail Websites. American journal of preventive medicine, 46(4), pp.395--403. Goniewicz, M., Knysak, J., Gawron, M., Kosmider, L., Sobczak, A., Kurek, J., Prokopowicz, A., Jablonska-Czapla, M., Rosik-Dulewska, C., Havel, C. and others, (2014). Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes. Tobacco control, 23(2), pp.133--139. Hc-sc.gc.ca, (2014). Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) 2012. [online] Available at: http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/research-recherche/stat/ctums-esutc_2012-eng.php#tabc [Accessed 20 Oct. 2014]. McKee, M. (2014). Electronic cigarettes: proceed with great caution. International Journal of Public Health, [online] 59(5), pp.683-685. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0589-z [Accessed 20 Oct. 2014]. Smoking and Tobacco Use, (2014). CDC - 2010 Surgeon General's Report - Chemicals in Tobacco Smoke - Smoking & Tobacco Use. [online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2010/consumer_booklet/chemicals_smoke/ [Accessed 20 Oct. 2014]. Tobacco.ucsf.edu, (2014). 129 public health and medical authorities from 31 countries write WHO DG Chan urging evidence-based approach to ecigs | Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. [online] Available at: https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/129-public-health-and-medical-authorities-31-countries-write-who-dg-chan-urging-evidencebased-appro [Accessed 20 Oct. 2014].
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Tardigrade by Meredi Ortega
The Honorable Mrs. Ward: The Microscope. 3rd ed., London 1869.
P
ERHAPS i should have been a water bear rake-clawed, moss-fat mote, lumbering along like a jolly little zeppelin, always knowing i can escape the end of the world in my snug tun state
Featured in: The Science Made Marvelous Project—Earthly Matters
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Fun Facts ►ABOUT◄
the Tardigrade Written by Zarin Arshy
They are sometimes called ‘water bears’ or ‘moss piglets’ and rightly so. They live in aquatic environments, have comically plump bodies, and ferocious claws on all 8 appendages. Which nickname do you prefer? Though not technically extremophiles, through cryptobiosis they can tolerate—get ready— Space 1000x more radiation that humans Extreme desiccation Extreme pressure Temperatures ranging from -200 to 100 °C These little guys are thought to be related to arthropods and range in size from 0.05mm - 1.2mm, meaning you would need a 40x objective to see them under a microscope. Within that blob of little volume, they have been able to develop nearly every major organ system including a nervous system with a brain and eyespots. An advantage of their size is that they can skip out on the respiratory system altogether by gas exchange through their cuticle. Despite their size, they are extremely prevalent, having been discovered in nearly all habitats of the world. They have been in existence longer than humans have. It seems they have this evolution thing down. Tardigrade is actually the name of the phylum Tardigrada. Over 900 species of them are known to exist. Their tube-like mouths can coil out like a dozen knives to catch prey or hold onto food matter.
All hail the tardigrade!
Image: http://www.artbytom.com/shop-for-art/TheTardigrade-Queen.html
Image: Tardigrade, by Proyecto Agua, Flickr.com. Sources Apod.nasa.gov, (2014). APOD: 2013 March 6 Tardigrade in Moss. [online] Available at: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130306.html [Accessed 24 Oct. 2014]. Bordenstein, S. (2014). Tardigrades. [online] Serc.carleton.edu. Available at: http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/tar digrade/index.html [Accessed 24 Oct. 2014]. Wright, J. (2001). Cryptobiosis 300 years on from van Leuwenhoek: what have we learned about tardigrades?. Zoologischer Anzeiger-A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3), pp.563--582. Wright, J. (2014). Tardigrada. [online] Animal Diversity Web. Available at: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accou nts/Tardigrada/ [Accessed 24 Oct. 2014].
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Images A, B: DIC images of Hypsibius dujardini by Willow Gabriel (UNC Chapel Hill). Image C: Colored SEM of Macrobiotus richtersii http://www.sciencephoto.com
Image D: 1. Giant yellow water bear (Richtersius coronifer); 2. Large carnivorous water bear (Milnesium tardigradum); 3. Tidal water bear (Echiniscoides sigismundi sigismundi); 4. Turtle water bear (Echiniscus testudo); 5. Balloon water bear (Tanarctus bubulubus). Source: http://what-whenhow.com/animal-life/phylumtardigrada/
Image E: SEM image of Hypsibius dujardini by Bob Goldstein & Vicky Madden (UNC Chapel Hill) Image F: Colored SEM of Echiniscus granulata http://www.sciencephoto.com
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Spot the 5 Differences
Image credit: http://www.curiositiesbydickens.com/wp-content/uploads/tiger-differences.jpg
How many tardigrades can you spot?
Image credit: http://www.baertierchen.de/sep2007/DSC08608.JPG
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Meet Our Writers
Max Guglielmi-Vitullo is an honors Biology student at Concordia. Currently, his interests lie in genetic research, specifically in the field of epigenetics. He hopes that he can make a career in researching this new field. However, for now, he’s hoping to show readers cool and interesting things that are coming up in biology, or even revisiting old topics that have had new approaches taken. On a final note, he hopes that the readers will find interest in what he has to write.
Zarin Arshy is a Concordia Biology graduate to-be whose fascination of the sciences has not fully masked her love of the arts including the literary and fine arts. She believes writing for the BSA newsletter will serve as a nice liaison between these different things. She hopes to draw a sense of patriotism and community among Concordia Biology students, as she thinks they truly have much to take pride in.
Katherine Levasseur is in her second year at Concordia completing a specialization degree in Ecology. She has a passion for conservation and hopes to one day contribute directly to the preservation of natural habitats and wildlife. She is a scuba diver and nature lover who through her writing with the Telomere Times hopes to take greater pride in Concordia and to connect with other students to do the same.
C. Poirier: elusive writer.
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Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates on documentary nights and other special events!
Upcoming Events
UK-Canada Synthetic Biology Workshop October 27, 2014 – October 28, 2014 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Loyola RF 110.00. Visit http://uk-canadasyntheticbiology.yolasite.com/ for more details.
EXPOSCIENCE 2014 November 1, 2014 – November 2, 2014 10:00 AM All day. Interactive science and engineering exhibits for children and adults free to the public. Stewart Hall, Pointe-Claire 176, Bord-du-Lac/Lakeshore Road Pointe-Claire, Quebec. Call 514-848-2424 ext. 3361 for details.
Hoodie Sales November 4th-6th and November 10th-13th 10:30am to 1:30pm in the SP Building by the security desk --Prices start at $30
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Upcoming Events
Fall Pubcrawl: Talk Nerdy to Me November 20th (come to BSA office for tickets- ticket prices pending) Do YOU like a challenge? Are YOU a fan of unlimited beer? Then Pubcrawl: Talk Nerdy to Me is for YOU! Pick a color, form your team, and battle it out with all the rest to come out on top! Sobriety absolutely not guaranteed.
Field Trip to the Planetarium Are YOU interested in experiencing the great enigmatic depths of outer space? Do YOU want to observe and learn about the oldest materials on earth? Then the field trip to the planetarium is for you! Come meet students within your department, and relieve yourself from the exam blues. Look forward to hearing more from the BSA for details on date, time and ticket pricing!
Science Centre for Documentary Day: Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland Interested in one day taking on the journey BSA facilities to the legendary Galapagos Islands? What better way to discover what lies in store for YOU than with a documentary event highlighting the beauty of the destination in question? Not interested in partaking in the Concordia Galapagos Project (CGP)? Don’t worry, participate anyways to comprehensively understand what the foundations of several biological principles are, and why. Visit our Facebook, twitter and website for more information on date, time and ticket pricing!
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Biology Seminars “Biology seminars are held every Friday at 1:15pm in SP-S110 and are open to the public! Come check out guest speakers and some of our own professors give presentations in different fields of Biology such as Ecology, Cell Biology, Genomics and Synthetic Biology. Click on the link provided to find out more information on the speakers! (http://biology.concordia.ca/seminars/)�
Ecology Series
Cell Biology Series
Genomics/Synthetic Biology Series
Research in Progress Series
November 7th- Miguel Acevedo, University of Puerto Rico November 28th- Gregor Fussman, McGill University
November 14th- Martha Mullally, University of British Columbia
November 21st- Guillaume Bourque, McGill University Innovation Centre
December 5th- Vladimir Titorenko/ David Walsh labs, Concordia University
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The BSA Team
? Room Number
SP-375.21 E-mail bsa.concordia@gmail.com Phone +1(514)848-2424 ext. 5499 See us at: www.bsaconcordia.com
From left to right: VP Academics Braeden Donaldson, VP Comms Kateland Simmons, VP Social Alex Baird, VP Internal Laura Bergeron, President Krutika Patel, and VP Finance JP Maillet.
COFFEE
Forget your lab coat or goggles at home?
Stop by during our office hours for a free coffee when you need a quick pick me-up. Office Hours Mondays Biology students are eligible to free rental of CLEAN lab coat and goggles if you catch us in our office or during hours.
Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays
12:00 - 1:00 pm (VP Comms Kateland Simmons) 1:00 - 2:00 pm (VP Internal Laura Bergeron) 2:30 - 3:30 pm (VP Social Alex Baird) 1:30 - 2:30 pm (President Krutika Patel) 2:00 - 3:00 pm (VP Finance JP Maillet) 10:30 - 11:30 am (VP Academics Braeden Donaldson)
Feel free to stay for a chat!
Just provide name and I.D.
VOLUNTEER FOR US Come and volunteer with the BSA! Become involved in your department; Looks great on your CV; Have fun and meet new people! Get a reference letter from the BSA president.
The BSA wishes you a Happy Halloween!
Looking for Writers If you are interested in writing for the newsletter, please email us at bsa.concordia@gmail.com! NEWSLETTER DESIGN: KA BO LEE
It grows on you.