Health NewsHot Genomics Topics: 2008
In early January, Dr. Joerg Bohlmann at UBC announced the discovery of genetic secrets that enable pine and spruce trees to fight off pests and disease, and the uncovering of critical new information about forests' natural defense systems. Bohlmann’s study examines the molecular biochemistry of conifers interacting with genomes of bark beetles and bark beetle-associated fungal pathogens. Dr. Bohlmann shared some of his information with us and we included it in the Pine Beetle Inquiry project. A separate blog on the Genome Alberta site by my colleague Matt Bryman shares ongoing developments related to the Pine Beetle and is now called the Tria Project.
My other colleague, Mike Spear blogs his personal experience with genetic analysis through 23andMe and deCODE. He has also made the results available for educators for analysis and class discussions.
Biotechnology Education – Genome Alberta Contributions
It has been percolating in our minds for a year or so, and finally we are setting off on a coordinated and cooperative venture with the Rocky View district’s Chestermere High School. We are working on the pilot project of the Biotechnology Module in Career and Technology Studies (CTS). This is a complementary program designed for Alberta's secondary school students. The course structure of CTS enables the design of a unique program to meet the needs of students. We (Genome Alberta) represent the community resource.
Defending the castle – a pine tree response to MPB attack
Looking at images of pine forests in BC and Alberta, the effects of the MPB epidemic are easy to see. In face of this pictorial assault, it is easy to forget that MPB attacks may not always result in the death of the tree. Pine trees have their own array of defence responses giving them a chance to repulse invading insects (such as MPB) and pathogens. I thought I’d touch on one of the primary responses by pines (and other conifers) in this blog, and that is the production of oleoresin, a viscous and odoriferous mixture of chemical compounds.
Imagining Science is a Winner
Consider this a scoop.
Imagining Science: Art, Science, and Social Change has won an award in the 2009 New York Book Show in the Scholarly & Professional category. The book is part of the Imagining Science project that was the brainchild of brothers Tim and Sean Caulfield. Tim is a Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta and the Principal Investigator for Genome Alberta's GE3LS project. ( GE3LS = Genomics and Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Social issues ). Sean is a Research Chair in Printmaking at U of A and an artist. Sean's work is part of the Imagining Science exhibit currently running at the Alberta Gallery of Art in Edmonton and Tim has an essay in the book.
The project was born in late 2006 and the first meeting of scientists, artists, and social commentators took place at the Banff Centre in Alberta in the summer of 2007. I had just started with Genome Alberta and attended the meeting. It looked like a great idea and I made sure we offered some financial and moral support for the project. Though hindsight is 20-20 there were a lot of people outside the project shaking their heads at the time we bought into the idea.
"Art and Science ?" "What's that all about?" " Why?"
Help Us Help Others
Almost 90,000 people in Calgary had to use the services of the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank last year. In a well-to-do city of a million people that strikes me as a frightening number. It takes 75,000 hours of volunteer time and millions of dollars in food and financial donations to get the job done and Genome Alberta along with Calgary Technologies Inc want to do our part to help out.
Sipping from the Cup of Social Media
Here at Genome Alberta we use social media a lot. We have a Facebook application so you can give away a gene, you can follow mikesgene on Twitter, download a genome sequence and comment on it, view our Picasa photo albums, and of course subscribe to our blog. Social media gives us as a not-for-profit a cost-efficient way to reach a targeted audience. It offers a chance to engage people, to offer information to those who are seeking it out and let's be honest, helps to raise awareness of who we are because one day when the question of funding comes up we'd like a key player to say "hey I've heard of Genome Alberta".