Genome Alberta GeneSnips Newsletter - April 2, 2008
A Monthly Glimpse Into the World of Genome Alberta
-April 2, 2008-
In this Issue:
- Genome Alberta News
- GE3LS Digest
- Gene of the Month
- Genome Alberta in Pictures
Genome Alberta News
- Geee! in Genome Opens in Edmonton
Geee! in Genome, a travelling exhibit co-sponsored by the Canadian Museum of Nature, Genome Canada, and with the support of Genome Alberta, opened at the Telus World of Science in Edmonton on March 19th. The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Inter-governmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversity, and the Honourable Doug Horner, Alberta Minister of Advanced Education and Technology were on hand to officially open the national tour of the exhibit. Also speaking to a good collection of media and guests were Dr. Martin Godbout, President and CEO of Genome Canada, Harold Robinson from the Canadian Museum of Nature’s Board of Directors and George Smith, President and CEO of the Telus Centre. Perhaps the biggest round of applause though was reserved for Emily Cooley who joined us from Vancouver. Emily is the winner of last year’s Calgary, Alberta, and Canada Youth Science Fair competitions. She talked about the importance of events such as the Geee! in Genome in attracting the attention of young people, hoped the government would continue to support such ventures, and left everyone laughing as she apologized for the fact she isn’t majoring in science at UBC. Ms. Cooley is definitely the model for a well-rounded education. -
Blogging Beetles
The Mountain Pine Beetle Project is in full swing and has become part of Genome Alberta’s blog pages at www.genomealberta.ca/blogs. There are 2 postings up right now and the team hopes to have a weekly post online to help you track the progress of the project and of the beetle that is threatening pine forests in B.C. and Alberta. - 4-D Fame
Christoph Sensen’s 4-D man made it into last month’s issue of Popular Science. On the heels of the page 10 pictorial, CBC Newsworld picked up on the story and it found airtime on Newsworld’s business and technology show and local News Hours from Vancouver to Halifax. Global Television has since expressed interest and Good Morning America is scheduling a visit to the CAVE in the next few weeks. - Funding Announcement
Rob Anders, the Member of Parliament for Calgary West, paid a visit to the Alastair Ross Technology Centre (the building where Genome Alberta is located) last week. He announced $390,500 in funding that will help Calgary’s start-up technology companies. Part of the money will go toward a program to help develop marketing and implementation plans through workshops and coaching for new businesses. Also included in the funding announcement was $221,000 for the design phase of the new expansion of the Alastair Ross Technology Centre. - Calling All Digital Artists!
And finally time is running out to enter our Digital Art Contest. There is a $1,000 first prize and you can find out more details at www.genomealberta.ca and following the links.
GE3LS Digest
Thisis a sample from the GE3LS Digest put out on a regular basis by Genome Alberta’s GE3LS team. If you’d like to receive the full digest, click here
Scientists urge more regulation of DIY kits
for health checks –March 11, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk
Health tests for the "worried well" should be strictly regulated by a new official body which would ensure that claims made by manufacturers are backed up by evidence, according to scientists who say there is widespread public misunderstanding about disease checks. The Royal College of Pathologists and other scientific organizations will tell MPs today that companies offering DIY testing kits for allergies or genetic diseases as well as full body "MOTs" should put data on their product's efficacy in a public database so their claims can be evaluated. "Diagnostic companies have seen a niche in the market, now worth $8bn (£3.97bn) worldwide. But there is no regulation - anyone could set up shop," said Dr Danielle Freedman, medical director of Luton and Dunstable NHS Foundation trust and a member of the executive of the Royal College of Pathologists.
New DNA kit makes donating stem cells a breeze – March 24, 2008
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080324/BC_Rhonda_Stem_Cells_080324/20080324?hub=Health
Stem cells are like a blank canvas. They can grow into any other tissue in the human body. And in some cases, they can save a life. Stem cells are collected by the Bone Marrow Donor Registry Program, recently renamed, OneMatch. Now a unique pilot project here in B.C. is making it easier for people to donate their stem cells to other people. A new DNA kit is making it as simple as brushing your teeth. In fact, the project has been so successful, it’s now being expanded across the country. "It's painless, it's simple, and it can be done in the comfort of your own home," says Angie Gaddy , Acting Regional Communications Manager of Canadian Blood Services. Fewer than 30 per cent of patients needing stem cell transplants will find a match within their own families. The other 70 per cent relies on the province's stem cell and bone marrow network. In the past, becoming a potential stem cell donor meant taking a blood test. … With the kit, the DNA is collected by swabbing the inside of your cheek. Four samples are taken from four different areas. The swabs are then put back into the package, and sent to Canadian Blood Services' lab
More people likely to accept nano than GM, say researchers --- March 14, 2008
http://www.foodnavigator.com
Foods produced using emerging nanotechnology are less likely to come up against consumer hurdles than genetically modified foods since they do not involve tinkering with genes, and therefore have a greater perception of naturalness, says a new paper. The paper, to be published in the journal Trends in Food Science and Technology, sets out to assess the factors that affect public acceptance of innovative technologies and food products by reviewing existing literature on the subject. Alongside the balance between perceived risks and perceived benefits, Michael Siegrist of the Institute for Environmental Decisions' Consumer Behaviour unit in Zurich, Switzerland, said that the perception of naturalness is all-important to the modern consumer, and drew upon a body of research suggesting that almost all the associations evoked by the work 'natural' were positive.
Gene of the Month - The Getaway Gene
ACTN3 is sometimes called the ‘speed gene’ because some studies have suggested that the presence of the gene may prove to be an advantage in sprint events. The gene is associated with fast twitch fibers which, as you can guess from the name, are more prevalent in Olympic sprinters. The ACTN3 gene encodes for the protein associated with those fast twitch fibers. You can test for the ACTN3 (go to http://www.xygene.com/speed.php) but does that mean you can test someone early in life to predict whether they have a future as an athlete? The studies don’t show an absolute correlation and needless to say there are a lot of other genetic factors which affect performance, such as cardiac efficiency and oxygen uptake. Good old-fashioned hard work, desire, and a good coach can also make the difference in the final few steps of a 100 meter or 10,000 meter race. And remember that gene for stubbornness from an earlier issue of Gene Snips? Maybe it can overcome any ACTN3 deficiencies and you’ll persevere until you finish at the top of your next 10K run.
Genome Alberta in Pictures
For more pictures of the exhibit and of the opening visit our Picasa photo sharing site:
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