bsa newsletter: the telomere times issue 2
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THE TELOMERE TIMES 2014 | ISSUE #2
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!
THE
TELOMERE
TIMES
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 2
Editor’s Note
AG
AR
ICU
S M
US
CA
RIU
S (
FL
Y A
GA
RIC
)
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 Guglielmi-
Vitullo’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
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 3
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
“Nevermore”
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 4
5 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
18 Puzzles
19 Meet our Writers
20—21 Upcoming Events
22 Biology Seminars
23 Contact Info and More!
Table of Contents
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 5
Epigenetics — New Field of Biology Answers Old Questions
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.
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 gel-
electrophoresis, 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.
Written by
Max Guglielmi-Vitullo
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.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 6
DISCOVERY E of F
Brain’s Internal GPS Merits
2014 Nobel Prize
G in H
Physiology or Medicine
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?
On October 6th
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
Written by
Cassandra Poirier
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
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 7
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.
Brain’s
Internal
GPS
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 8
Biological Illustrator
EOFF
the Month
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
Written by
Zarin Arshy
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 10
Interview E with F
Dr. Jean-Philippe Lessard
KATHERINE LEVASSEUR’S
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.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 11
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
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
For more information regarding fellowship scholarships and research
funding please see the following links below:
NSERC Fellowship Information: http://www.nserc-
crsng.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
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
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.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 12
Written by Zarin Arshy
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
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 (e-
cigarette 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
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.
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).
Image: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PxvtDGuSJR8/maxresdefault.jpg
Electronic Cigarettes: new technology with a
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 13
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
So when asked which is
more dismal to your health, e-
cigarettes or your usual run-of-the-
mill 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
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).
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, e-
cigarettes 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 14
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.hc-
sc.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-evidence-
based-appro [Accessed 20 Oct. 2014].
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
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.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 15
Tardigrade
by
Meredi Ortega
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
The Honorable Mrs. Ward: The Microscope. 3rd ed., London 1869.
P
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 16
Fun Facts
►ABOUT◄
the Tardigrade
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.
Written by
Zarin Arshy
Image: http://www.artbytom.com/shop-for-art/The-
Tardigrade-Queen.html
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/accounts/Tardigrada/ [Accessed 24 Oct. 2014].
All hail the tardigrade!
Image: Tardigrade, by Proyecto Agua, Flickr.com.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 17
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-when-
how.com/animal-life/phylum-
tardigrada/
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 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
A B C
D E
F
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 18
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
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 19
Meet Our Writers
C. Poirier: elusive writer.
?
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.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 20
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates on documentary nights and other special events!
Upcoming Events
UK-Canada Synthetic
Biology Workshop
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
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.
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 21
Fall Pubcrawl: Talk Nerdy to Me
Field Trip to the Planetarium
Upcoming Events
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.
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!
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 22
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 November 7th- Miguel Acevedo,
University of Puerto Rico
November 28th- Gregor Fussman,
McGill University
Cell Biology Series November 14th- Martha Mullally,
University of British Columbia
Genomics/Synthetic
Biology Series November 21st- Guillaume Bourque,
McGill University Innovation Centre
Research in
Progress Series December 5th- Vladimir Titorenko/
David Walsh labs, Concordia University
THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 23
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.
The BSA Team
Forget your lab coat or
goggles at home?
Biology students are eligible to
free rental of CLEAN lab coat
and goggles if you catch us in
our office or during hours.
Just provide name and I.D.
COFFEE Stop by during our office hours for a free coffee when you need a quick pick me-up.
Office Hours
Mondays 12:00 - 1:00 pm (VP Comms Kateland Simmons) 1:00 - 2:00 pm (VP Internal Laura Bergeron)
Tuesdays 2:30 - 3:30 pm (VP Social Alex Baird) Wednesdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm (President Krutika Patel) Thursdays 2:00 - 3:00 pm (VP Finance JP Maillet) Fridays 10:30 - 11:30 am (VP Academics Braeden Donaldson)
Feel free to stay for a chat!
?
Room Number
SP-375.21
E-mail [email protected]
Phone +1(514)848-2424 ext. 5499
See us at:
www.bsaconcordia.com
Looking for Writers If you are interested in writing for the newsletter,
please email us at [email protected]!
It grows on you.
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! NEWSLETTER DESIGN: KA BO LEE