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THE TELOMERE TIMES

IN THIS ISSUE Career Fair pg. 3

Chinese Lanterns Night

Documentary Night

Also…

Meet the editors and writers pg. 2,11

Nobel Prizes 2013 pg. 4

IGEM 2013 pg. 5-6

Photos of Past Events and more…

OCTOBER 2013 | ISSUE #2

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 2

Meet$the$Editors$

Steven Le Piane was responsible for the Layout and Design of this Newsletter.

Working on this Newsletter made him realize that…Microsoft Word is a terrible program to use to make Newsletters.

All jokes aside, this newsletter has a lot of promise and we are already getting great reception from writers and for article ideas. However, this newsletter is more than just a collection of articles. It is about being able to look through the articles and getting a glimpse of how students in your program think and perceive the world.

If you have any ideas for a new layout, do not be shy to email

@ Bsa.concordia@gmail.com

Greetings Biology enthusiast and Happy Hallows’ Eve! Welcome (at you own discretion) to the October issue of student journal and biology newsletter THE TELOMERE TIMES. With October drawing to a close, you’ve managed to survive erratic sleep-deprived nights of midterm season and sustain your unhealthy and growing addiction to caffeine. But all has not been so glum! We started off the semester with coveted summer warmth and blissful inebriation at Quadfest 2013, and tested the “frontal lobe hypothesis” with too much to drink at pub-crawl Survival of the Fittest. And while you gear up for upcoming finals by resurfacing old addictions and scheming new survival tactics, the Biology Student Association is working at full force to brighten and lighten your semester with upcoming events highlighted on our newly redesigned website http://bsaconcordia.com/. Journey into a semester of adventure with fieldtrips to the botanical garden, socializing at Wine and Cheese, delving into Documentary Night and rediscovering your career options after graduation with the BSAs’ very first Biology Career Fair!

The Telomere Times is YOUR platform for news, creativity, expression and OPPORTUNITY. In this issue, we explore the concept of scientific development and achievement in relation to personal growth. To one day establish a scientific lifetime achievement, you must bravely venture into the expansive world of competition involving trial and error, camaraderie and discovery; such a growth in knowledge and experience can only be endeavored once you let yourself branch outside of the boundaries of your known and comfortable world.

Arguably, there is no prestige greater than winning a Nobel Prize for your life’s work; alas biology enthusiasts, we have a long way to go before competing and collaborating with the Olympians of scientific research! Max Howards reports on the 2013 Nobel Prize in Medicine to highlight these alumni, while Zarin Arshy and Jabra Zarka extensively explore the struggles, growth and achievements of the undergraduate Concordia team in the iGem 2013 competition. Lastly, International student Kateland Simmons expresses her view of braving a new world to further her studies and explore new and fruitful opportunities.

With all that’s said and done… I did warn you! Brace yourself for the gruesome contents of what lies ahead, and we hope you’ve enjoyed (or better yet survived) the journey ahead.

Wishing you a terrific semester,

Krutika Patel

Editor and BSA Vice President of Academic Affairs

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 3

CALENDAR AND TOPICS

Garden of Light Field Trip Get on a bus to the botanical

gardens and enjoy a spectacle like no other.

Pick up last minute tickets in SP-375-21 5$ includes everything.

Meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 1st in front of SP and go!

Career Fair Come check out your options after your degree and find job

ideas waiting for you. Taking place in the Genomics Building GE-110

from 10 p.m. - 12 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. - 2 p.m. Wine and Cheese

Get casual and come on down to enjoy some of life's

little pleasures. Starting at 6 p.m. in the Hive

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Nobel Prize in Physiology 2013

Page 5

iGEM Tech Competition

Page 6

iGEM Student Testimonial

Page 7

Montreal from the Perspective of an International Student

Page 8

Creepy Crawlers Photo Gallery

Page 9

Past Events Photos

Page 10

Gore Trivia

Page 11

Meet our Writers

Page 12

Volunteering for BSA, Ideas, Contact Info and more!

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2 4

This year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to three researchers "for the discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells." The vesicle transport system is one of the most integral and complex cellular pathways responsible for packaging, sorting, and transporting all of the products produced by the cell. These may be waste products and unwanted proteins scheduled for degradation, or important secreted factors like insulin or neurotransmitters.

The three researchers – all working at American universities – are James Rothman (Yale University), Randy Scheckman (University of California, Berkley), and Thomas Südhof (Stanford University). For a body of work which Professor Juleen Zierath, Chairman of the Nobel Committee of Physiology or Medicine described as a "fundamental discovery in cell physiology," this award may seem long overdue. Rothman and Schekman started their research in the 1970's and 1980's, with Südhof's work following shortly afterwards. The three men are also winners of the Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, often seen as a strong predictor of future Nobel laureates. Randy Scheckman used yeast genetics to elucidate genes encoding the basic regulatory proteins which coordinate the vesicle trafficking pathway. Working with temperature-sensitive yeast mutants, he outlined the sequence of events involved.

immune system impairment, and neurological conditions like epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders. Understanding the key components and regulatory events of this important cellular process provides new targets for medical research to treat some of these illnesses.

Previous winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine include Sir John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for their work in reprogramming mature cells to become pluripotent stem cells (awarded in 2012) and Robert Edwards for the development of in vitro fertilization (awarded in 2010).

News of this award stirred excitement within the Concordia community as well. Dr. Christopher Brett and Dr. Michael Sacher are Concordia professors who also conduct research on vesicle trafficking and know the Nobel laureates on a personal level, having met and worked with them in academic symposiums like the Gordon Research Conference.

"Our field is really excited that it happened because when your field gets recognized for the Nobel Prize it's kind of a big deal," Dr. Brett explains, "everybody... feels proud... because the stuff you're working on and contributing on is recognized in an international spotlight."

The award and corresponding grant money worth 8 million swedish krona ($1.3 million CAN) is to be given out at an official award ceremony in December later this year. More information on their research, including brief interviews with the winners, and footage of the announcement presentation can be found on the organization's website:

http://www.nobelprize.org.

in the secretory pathway and many of the important proteins involved.

James Rothman took a more biochemical approach: working with cell extracts in vitro to study the key proteins which mediate the fusion of vesicles with cell membranes. Two of these proteins – SNAP and NSF – were homologous to the sec17 and sec18 genes identified by Randy Scheckman, and the two worked in concert to clone and prove their functional similarity. Rothman developed the SNARE hypothesis, which stated that SNARES on the target and vesicle membranes (t-SNARES and v-SNARES) provided the mechanical force required for vesicle fusion with synaptic membranes. His work, much of it done during his time at Stanford University, held great significance within the field of neuroscience, as the specificity for these fusion events is a crucial component in the release of neurotransmitters.

The final contributor, Thomas Südhof, was interested in how the fusion of synaptic vesicles was controlled temporally. He discovered that two proteins: synaptotagmin and complexin, play a significant role in regulating these fusion events, with calcium ions acting as the signaling molecule. To win a Nobel prize – in any field – you must demonstrate that your work offers some benefit to mankind. The vesicular transport pathway is a central component in many physiological processes, and therefore is an important contributor to disease. Dysfunction of this pathway can lead to illnesses affecting a wide range of biological systems, including type 2 diabetes,

Discovery Of Machinery Behind Vesicle Transport Wins Nobel

Written by: Max Howard

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Written by: Jabra Zarka

The International Genetically Engineered Machines competition is a world wide innovative biology competition where universities compete first regionally and then globally .The purpose of this competition is to give undergraduates like you an opportunity to do research in Synthetic involving genetic transformation of cells as well as transferring genes from one organism to another!

The Competit ion.

IGEM collaboratively competes with universities who specialize in unique fields to ensure the top prize is rightly awarded. All participating university will be asked to fulfill certain criteria about their chosen genetically engineered machine. Firstly, every university in a certain region competes together and the

winner competes against respective winners from other regions around the globe in MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). This competition has been taking place for nine years now and next summer will mark the 10th anniversary for IGEM. To celebrate this feat, the IGEM committee has decided to have all participating universities compete in the regional trials in MIT not just the winners of each region. Sounds like a good time to join !

Concordia’s Team.

Last year, Concordia was the only participating university in Montreal. The members of the Concordia Team ventured to work on E coli. to program them into pseudo computers. Essentially their project strived to study the interactions of genes amongst one other in E coli ,to crunch numbers and compute information about the signals they receive from their environment. In other words, the E coli could change color in response to a certain change in the environment.

The IGEM team in Concordia consists of 7 undergraduates (5 Biology

majors and 2 Engineers) and 7 graduate students. Dr. Varin and Dr. Nawaf are the advisors of the team. They play an important role in ensuring everything is on track.

Make sure to keep up with the Concordia University IGEM team on their soon to be released website!

Want to participate?

The members of the Concordia team are excitedly looking for undergraduates to join them in continuing their research and participating in IGEM this year. Jeremy Glass-Pilon, team leader of the project voices that, “This IGEM is a great way to have research experience for undergraduate students without any “Spoon feeding”. It’s a student run project with some professors and graduate advisors there to help and make sure all is well.”

Any undergraduate planning on having a rich CV before graduating should definitely apply for this project. In my opinion , IGEM would not only give you the experience of first hand research but also the sense of world wide competitiveness. Any undergraduate who is motivated, dedicated and passionate enough can apply for this since these are the qualities the IGEM team are looking for. The application process will begin in November.

By doing well in the IGEM, Concordia University can really ensure that it will be placed on the map in terms of ingenuity and scientific prowess.

iGEM: A Dynamic Opportunity To Put Concordia Biology Students On The Map

The Nobel Laureates for Physiology or Medicine Photo Credits: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2013/ http://news.yahoo.com/americans-german-win-nobel-cell-transport-113739691.html

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Written by: Zarin Arshy

So now that you are thoroughly aware of the awesome synthetic biology concepts brewing at your very own Concordia University, you’re finishing up your email application to join the team, right? Well, if you are wondering what exactly you would be getting yourself into by signing up, worry not! We have the full, unadulterated scoop for you from Melissa, a 2013 iGEM member. Melissa and I conversed about the various entailments of being an iGEM participant including the work-load, the social aspect, the skills gained, and much more. Melissa’s ultimate message: joining iGEM is totally worth it!

First impressions of iGEM.

Melissa explains that she saw this project as a cool opportunity from the start, but she doubted how big of a role undergraduates would play in something this complex; however as she learned more about it, her suspicions were not confirmed.

I was really surprised. I was expecting him to say something along the lines of, ‘the undergraduates are just basically going to be our slaves,’ but when [Dr. Varin] went into it, he made it very clear that it was all an undergraduate project, and that the undergraduates were in charge, and that he only would serve as a source of information.

Despite being a brilliant student from what I have seen, Melissa admits she was worried she wouldn’t be bringing unique skills to the assemblage that would be an asset to the team. However, their team leader, Jeremy, alleviated these intimidating thoughts by creating a sense of belonging and of teamwork early-on. She states, “He was able to draw us out of our shells, and say ‘we kind of all don’t know what we are doing, so let’s make this a generalized learning experience and make it hands-on. We can do this!’” Indeed, united they were able to become highly adept at what they were doing, and earn the Bronze prize at the regionals (North America). Very impressive work for the first year!

The workload.

As this is an international competition on a revolutionary field, it is easy to guess that the amount of work and time required will not be on the short side. Melissa affirms this and adds “it was a lot of nights where you go home, and you can’t put it down. You have it stuck in your head, and you are constantly thinking about it, and trying to turn it around in your brain to find another avenue to fix it.” She explains that this project becomes your baby, so that motivation to continually try becomes innate; you feel invested. On the other hand the workload would have likely been smaller or more manageable if they had been able to start it in December instead of in the summer, as other teams had and next year’s Concordia iGEM will have. Additionally, since this was only the first year of participating in the competition, time is necessary to get a feel of the type of organization that would be most productive for the team. Melissa believes this can be achieved if each student is assigned a specific role based on their strengths.

What Melissa expected a bit more of was professor involvement. Though being given such autonomy better allowed the students to explore the depths of their potential, the freedom came with pros and cons. “That’s a double-edged sword. Freedom is good… but I realize now we needed more structure and more direction.” But one must keep in mind that this was iGEM Concordia’s very first year, which can now serve as a foundation to build a good system off of for the upcoming years.

The experience earned.

Unlike the standard 4-hour laboratory that comes with a set of problems and solutions, the work done by iGEM participants is an experimental science. The answers aren’t guaranteed, and they might not be what you anticipated. But in trying to find solutions,

your skills and your field of knowledge expand unimaginably. The lab experience and dexterity gained is sought by employers and supervisors as it brings you a step closer to becoming a good researcher. For Melissa, the effects of this project are more direct. It has stimulated her interest in synthetic biology in which she plans to pursue a graduate degree.

The social aspect and networking.

There was a strong social facet of being involved with iGEM as collaborating well contributed to the success of the team. Also, when you see a group of people almost as much as your family on a daily or weekly basis, they essentially become a second family to you. Melissa says they would often chill or grab meals together after a day’s work, so there was a fair balance between work and play. This was also a good opportunity for them to network as people across different disciplines and levels came together to form this team. They even became close with other teams across Canada.

Advice for future iGEM students and final thoughts

As with any discipline, but especially with research, organization on every level is the key. She believes really trying to become friends helps the team dynamic and working with each other’s personalities. Melissa did not hesitate in talking about how much she recommends doing iGEM. “Even after all of the hard work and all of the downs…, the pros that come out of [this experience] are much, much greater, than any of the cons that could have arisen.”

iGEM From A Student’s Perspective

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Montreal As Your New Home: An International Student’s Perspective Written by: Kateland Simmons

Moving to a new country, especially one that possesses a culture very different from your own, can be quite intimidating and take time to adjust to a new way of life. Although I am from a small rural town near Dallas, Texas, the transition from Texas to the fast-paced city life of Montréal was one of the best decisions I have made thus far.

One of the first culture shocks I encountered was most of the street signs and advertisements being in French. I had never been exposed to the language or culture before, so walking around in a new city in which I couldn’t understand the local language was quite confusing. To alleviate this initial confusion, I began to learn basic French to obtain a broader knowledge of this intriguing culture. Moving to a new country was a huge step for me since this was my first experience living by myself, which I’m sure some of you are experiencing this semester! But fear not, because it shall become easier with time as you discover more about this diverse city.

Finding a support system within Concordia University and making friends were two big factors that helped me through my adjustment period. I achieved this goal by attending the new student orientation, international student events, and meeting people through class and mutual friends. I even joined the Montreal Piping and Drumming School to learn how to play the bagpipes and gained a great friend circle there. Networking with other students in your faculty is wise so you can study together and support each other through your academic journey. Concordia’s Counseling and Development Services and my biology advisors served as positive influences to give me direction in my program, which was a huge relief. If you haven’t checked out the city yet, I have a few suggestions for places that I have grown to love during my time here. Several restaurants that are cost efficient (some offer student discounts) and delicious are Seoul Chako (Korean BBQ), Buffet Maharaja (Indian), Prêt à Manger (Thai, Szechuan), La Maison Bulgogi (Korean), and Sports Station. If you are in the mood for some tasty beer, check out Brutopia! The Old Port is an excellent place to visit to see a piece of Quebec history and to enjoy multiple events. If you want to discover more unique places in Montréal, talk to some local people or students who have lived here for a while and I am sure you will be pleased with the results. Montréal has served as the fresh new beginning that I needed in life and has presented many new opportunities to take advantage of. Don’t be afraid to talk to as many people as you can to network and learn about what Concordia University has to offer. This year has been an exciting new adventure in my life and I hope you seek out the many great things that Montréal has to offer.

A photo of the sunset from Kateland’s backyard in Texas

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2

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Recently Discovered Species Creepy Crawler Edition

Devil Worm Dive-Bombing Wasp Kollasmosoma sentum

Largest Millipede Crurifarcimen vagans

Sazima’s Tarantula Pterinoppelma sazimai

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/pictures/120529-top-ten-new-species-2011-science-animals/#/top-10-species-2011-wandering-leg-sausage-millipede_53961_600x450.jpg

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2

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Make sure you come see us during

our other events…Especially the Career

Fair!

If you haven’t made it to one of our events, we don’t know WHAT you’re waiting for… Top left and bottom right were from our Quadfest that took place in September.

The two photos on the bottom left are from our incredibly successful Pubcrawl, “Survival of the Fittest”. The Blue Team took home the Gold.

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2

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Questions

1 . Loa Loa Filariasis is a parasite nematode living in Africa. I t is transported from deer fl ies to humans. In what part of the body does this creepy crawler reside?

2. Horseshoe crabs are ancient arthropods that dwell in shallow waters. Their devilish shape could be the inspiration for a horror movie yet their bodies are useful to humans. In what way does their anatomy help humanity?

3. Centipedes are usually associated with nightmare and fear. In most cases, these multi legged beings are small and stay hidden in the dark. In other cases, the reputation fits the stereotype. Scolopendra gigantean is the largest known centipede. Up to how long can it grow?

GORE TRIVIA

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Zarin is a final year Concordia Biology student 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.

Jabra is a third year Biology major from Lebanon. Since moving to Montreal to study, he has been pursuing his dream of one day getting into Med School and becoming a surgeon. He decided to become a writer in the BSA newsletter in order to find his creative writing style. Not only that, but he is excited and focused on the challenges that lie ahead!

Kateland Simmons is an international student from Dallas, Texas in her second year of Concordia’s Biology program. Writing has always been a cathartic and enjoyable activity for her throughout her life. Through hey writing, she hopes that she can encourage people to see life through a different perspective and also become more informed about the amazing opportunities the field of science has to offer. Commencing a degree at a new university can be confusing in terms of knowing exactly what to do, so she is motivated to help students find direction in their field by writing about relevant topics of interest.

ZARIN ARSHY JABRA ZARKA KATELAND SIMMONS

MEET OUR WRITERS

Max Howard is finishing up his last year at Concordia with a degree in Honours Biology and a Minor in Creative Writing. He is originally from Toronto, and spends his summers in Muskoka canoe tripping and enjoying the outdoors. As a mainly prose fiction writer, Max is seeking to learn more about journalistic style by combining two of his interests: writing and science. He hopes to apply this knowledge in his academic writing, or to potentially explore a career in scientific journalism.

Max Howard

THE TELOMERE TIMES | ISSUE #2

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THIS IS YOUR BSA TEAM

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.

FAST FACTS

100% Volunteering for the BSA makes you 100% more involved

100% You will enjoy your experience 100% of the time.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Bsa.concordia@gmail.com ROOM NUMBER SP 375.21

www.bsa.concordia.com

Te lephone: +1 (514) 848-2424 Ext. 5499 Of f i ce Hours : Monday: 12-2PM Tuesday: 2-4PM Thursday: 3:30-5:50PM

Free Rental of Lab Coat and Goggles

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 COFFEE COFFEE

Stop by for some FREE coffee during our office hours posted on the right, or anytime you see us in the office…

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING THROUGH OUR NEWSLETTER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE

CONTACT US WITH THE INFORMATION ABOVE.