The Catalyst January 2017 Edition!

1. Page 10
The
Common
Roots of
Science,
Politics and
Philosophy
January 2017
Volume 7: Issue 3
What
Statistical
Mechanics and
Chaos
Theory Teach
Us about
Kindness
Page 14
University of Ottawa Student Science Journal
Science of 2016Page 20

2. The Team
Executives
Editor-in-Chief
Tanya Yeuchyk
Rédacteur-en-chef
Setti Belhouari
Production Manager
Cassidy Swanston
Staff
Media Manager Saania Tariq
Promotions Managers Narimane Ait
Hamou, Catherine Nguyen
Website Manager Michael Leung
Authors
Narimane Ait Hamou
Shobhitha Balasubramaniam
Setti Belhouari
Sanmeet Chahal
Winston Cheung
Nasim Haghandish
William Ho
David Huynh
Kira Momotova
Hadjar Saidi
Cassidy Swanston
Tanya Yeuchyk
Tina Yuan
Editors
Shobhitha Balasubramaniam
Sanmeet Chahal
Alex Chen
Alya Hammami
Ann Lee
Rebecca Xu
Connie You
Translators
Setti Belhouari
Anastasia Turner
Jade Ashley Kaitlin Choo-Foo
Shamei Benoit LeBlanc
Narimane Ait Hamou
Mihaela Tudoraches
Sanmeet Chahal
January Contents
Articles
8
Baby With 3 DNA Sources
9
A New Year’s Resolution:
Keeping Young Scientists in Science
10
The Common Roots of
Science, Politics and Philosophy
14
What Statistical Mechanics and Chaos Theory Teach
Us about Kindness
16
Science of 2016
20
Science Jokes
Professor Interviews
3
Dr. Alain St-Amant
4
Dr. Robert Smith?
5
Dr. Andrzej Czajkowski
6
Dr. Kathy-Sarah Focsaneanu
Winter Writing Contest
12
The Discovery and Use of
Genetic Engineering
13
Nucelar Energy
Cover Image Source: Trisha
Thompson Adams
2

3. Dr. Alain St-Amant
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Vice-Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Interviewer: Tanya Yeuchyk
2nd Year BIM
Q: What is the path that lead you to where you are
today?
A: I come from Manitoba, so I chose the University of
Winnipeg. My first ever choice was molecular biology- it
sounded cool and I knew I wanted to be a scientist. I
went into biology and I hated it. It was toomuch memo-
rization and not enough logic to me, so I switched over
to chemistry after my first year. I always had a fondness
for the physical and theoretical, and then what happened
was in 1985, I got into what’s called computational
chemistry- everything simulated on computers. I didn’t
enjoy labs as much as I enjoyed the classes, so for me
it was perfect. I also had the equivalent of a minor in
mathematics, so computational chemistry allowed me to
combine my mathematics with my chemistry. Then I did
my grad studies at the Université de Montréal, where I
did a Master’s and PhD in computational chemistry. I
always wanted to be a professor, so I didmy post-doc at
the University of California San Francisco, on computa-
tional chemistry on biological mole-
cules. Then I applied to the Univer-
sity of Ottawa, and it’s the only job
I’ve ever interviewed for. I loved it
and I took the offer when I got it.
I’ve been here ever since.
Q: When did you first realize that
you wanted to be a professor?
A: I just loved the university life.
First year of university, I showed up
and I loved the university setting.
My mom’s a teacher, I would nev-
er want to teach high school, but at
university, the students are so good.
There are still some disinterested
students, but you’re surrounded by
pretty smart kids. I loved the university life, every year
you get to see students leave on good terms, that’s fun to
see. But every year, there’s a new crop of students, and
it’s just a pleasure working with them.
Q: Do you prefer your work as a professor or your du-
ties as vice-dean?
A: I’m lucky, as vice-dean academic I get to combine
the two, I get to meet students through scholarships and
awards ceremonies. There’s the unpleasant side, academ-
ic sanctions and having to withdraw the weaker students
from the program. But all in all, it’s wonderful, I’ve been
doing it for seven years. I love teaching, but I also love
being vice-dean, so I’m happy every day to come into
work. It’s one of the best jobs.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I love watching football, things like fantasy football,
it’s almost like scientific research. I would analyze the
matchups and pick which ones I was more certain about.
In the limited number of years I’ve played, I’ve never lost.
My hobby was doing the math behind the odds, trying to
maximize the chance that I would maximize my points.
Q: Is there a movie that you would recommend to a
student?
A: I love movies. I challenge any person to sit through
Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. It’s about a guy
who owns a farm in Iowa, and a ghost comes back and
he wants to just play baseball, and hears voices, and he
builds a field just so that ghostsfrom the past could come
back and play on a baseball diamond.
It’s amazing, it was a great movie.
Q: What advice would you would
give to a science student?
A: I appreciate that in science, some-
times it’s not obvious where you’re
going to end up. To all those students
who are thinking of applying to med
school, it’s great to have those career
plans, but since you could do any sci-
ence and still apply to medicine, pick
the science that interests you. And, if
science isn’t for you and you prefer
psychology, or engineering, or health
science, go for it. Follow your heart
and don’t worry too much about the
jobs, because anytime you get a Bachelor’s degree, stud-
ies have shown you’ll get a job. Me, I’ve always picked
what I wanted. I started in biology, went into chemis-
try. Did I know I’d get a job in computational chemistry?
No way. I just followed my heart. When I was finishing
up my grad school and I applied for a post-doc, I got to
choose between Harvard and UC San Francisco, which
had a really low profile, but it’s a really good school. I
decided on San Francisco, and my mom freaked out,
“you’re turning down Harvard?” I was totally happy at
San Francisco, it was one of the best decisions I’d ever
made. Follow your heart.
3

4. Dr. Robert Smith? is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Ot-
tawa. His work in applied mathematics, specifically disease modeling, proves, without doubt, the indispensable nature
of mathematics when establishing preventative measures. Known for his engaging writing, speaking, and teaching
style, Dr. Robert Smith? can convey serious topics to mathematicians and non mathematicians alike, through the use
of light-hearted models such as the one studying the chances of humans surviving a zombie apocalypse, and another
one studying the relevance of the Bieber Fever. Visit his website to learn more about his work or to have a good laugh
reading his funny homepage: http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/.
Q: Did you know that you wanted to be mathematician
as a high school student?
A: I was not a particularly a great math student until grade
9 when they gave us calculators. I was freed from the tyr-
anny of numbers and I became good at math concepts.
Actually, I only learned to be good at numbers once I
started teaching. I did my postdoc at Western University.
My postdoc advisor said, You can apply this to HIV. He
blew my mind. I could use math for something real. That
was how I got into disease modeling.
Q: Did you always compete with someone in math
class?
A:Yes. His name is Sam Williams. He is a genius. He was
clearly number one. I rose to number two, but there was
no way to rise to number one. Sam started his PhD in Ox-
ford and finished it in Harvard. Then, he hated math. He
quit and became a film director. That was weird because
he was the math star, and I was the working mathemati-
cian. Suddenly, I was the mathematician and he was not.
Q:Why did you choose Canada?
A: The guy that I was competing wanted to get out of
Australia and go overseas to Oxford or Harvard. I did
his plan because I did not have one. I wrote to the [Ca-
nadian] universities individually. One place, McMaster,
had an email address. It took twenty four hours to get a
response which was like lightening speed back then. Sud-
denly, I was going to Canada. I then did a postdoc at the
University of Colorado, Los Angeles, and then moved to
Champagne, Illinois to do another postdoc. I largely pre-
ferred Canada to the US. I applied for professorship in
Canada. When I got a reply from the University of Otta-
wa, I returned immediately.
Q: What got you into zombies?
A: I was running a course on disease modeling and said
to my students, You can do any disease you want. One
group said, We want to do zombies. Because I had my
science fiction background, I was really into it. I thought
it would be very amusing to publish that. It became this
massive media story and was in fact the number one story
in the world for 24 hours. Collectively, the students and I
won a Guinness World Record of the first mathematical
model of a zombie invasion. I won the Mathematics Am-
bassador Award for the ability to communicate math to
the outside world. Finally, the world knew that what we
do is important. Math can be accessible. You can engage
in math without having to do all the details. Someone else
can do those.
Q: Do you have any final words of wisdom?
A: Something that I had a lot of success with was doing
what I was interested in, rather than doing what I thought
would get me a job. I remember at the start of the nine-
ties, if you went in computer science, then you had a great
future. I am so glad I did not have to do that. I don’t like
programming, but I learned to do that back then. If you
want useful skills, you should probably learn computer
skills, learn how to program, or you should learn statistics
because everyone wants to hire statisticians. But if you
want to have a good life, you need to mix what you are
passionate about. I have had a mad success in life, largely
because I am doing my passion.
Dr. Robert Smith? An Interview By Setti Belhouari
2nd Year BCH and MAT
Image Source: Dr. Robert Smith?
4

5. Q: What is the path that lead you to where you are to-
day?
A: Back in Poland, years and years ago, I did my phys-
ics undergrad. The school I went to offered a concurrent
education program, so we all were trained to be teach-
ers. Prior to this I was in a very competitive high school,
with students who were laureates of provincial-level math
games. My story is not typical because I was actually very
bad in physics. In grade 11, I had a lot of things going on
in my life and maybe school was not the most important
one, but physics hit me very hard. I barely passed, by the
skin of your teeth. From that point, I kept up with the
new material, there was no more risk of failing it, and I
was doing quite well. At the end of [high school], I want-
ed to go into history actually. But then I thought, where
do you find truth? Well, math and physics. And then I
became top of my class at university. When I came to
Canada, I started my PhD program at the University of
Windsor. I had some really amazing teachers there. My
research was in Atomic and Molecular Physics, we did
laser spectroscopy of molecules. Right after [my PhD],
I got hired at the National Research Council in Ottawa
with an NSERC fellowship to work at a time and frequen-
cy group. The scientists there develop a new generation of
atomic clocks. I was finishing up [the project] when I was
already here, teaching. Where I come from as a teacher,
I actually am realistic about how little my students can
possibly know. Nothing was really trivial or natural to me.
Q: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a
professor?
A: When you go into physics and you get your PhD, this
is sort of your dream career. Industry in Canada is not
hiring physicists in large numbers. All my life I was sur-
rounded by professors. My uncle was a professor in as-
tronomy, my father was a professor in physics, and lots
of my neighbours were university professors. I always felt
that they were the most clever people around me, because
they were so interesting and they always had stuff to say.
To me it was a thing to aspire to.
Q: What made you decide to move to Canada?
A: It was personal reasons. I moved to Canada in 1993,
so it was five years after the collapse of communism. I
had a father who left us and lived in Canada since 1968,
so I could become landed immigrant. He was living in
Windsor, that’s why I went there. I pretty much started
taking my courses right away, and a year and a half later,
I brought my financé, my current wife, with me. We’ve
been here ever since. Three more years, and it will be the
placeI call home for the longest time.
Q: Is there a movie or book that you might recommend
to science students?
A: There is a goldmine of interesting literature that is
completely unknown to the Western world. I’m not toot-
ing my horn, because I’m not going to recommend Polish
writers, but I would say Mikhail Bulgakov’s Master and
Margarita. It’s magical book on so many levels. It’s a book
written in secrecy, set in the reality of the Soviet Union
in the1930’s, a time of great purges. But the whole book
is actually quite uplifting. From what I’ve read recently,
it’s a bunch of essays on contemporary issues by Thomas
Sowell, called Black Rednecks and White Liberals. It was
very interesting.
Q: What advice would you give to a science student?
A: I think you made the right choice coming to science.
Overall it’s a pleasure to work with you guys.I’ve noticed
that a lot of [students] think life is over when they can’t
get into med school. Well, every time one door of oppor-
tunity closes, something else opens up. It might be this
other path that will get you where you want to be, some-
times where you didn’t plan to be but it will be equally
interesting. Another thing is not to think that you don’t
stand a chance for an interesting career, simply because
you’re not getting A’s across the board. I’ve met many
very interestingstudents whose their marks are not stel-
lar, but they bring some passion to the table, which is fre-
quently what’s lacking when you’re dealing with across
the board A+ students simply because it took them so
much time to maintain this average. At some point you
want to delve into something and make it your life, and it
will go beyond just scoring high on a test. You want to in-
vest time that can’t be justified by academic success alone,
and that’s what can make you a great scientist. Unfortu-
nately, the system we have of support and scholarships is
based on numbers, so I wouldn’t say forget the grades, but
do not despair if you suffer some setbacks. It doesn’t have
to destroy your prospects of your career.
Dr. Andrzej Czajkowski Professor
Department of Physics
An Interview By Tanya Yeuchyk
2nd Year BIM
5

6. Q: What is the path that lead you
to where you are today?
A: I did not expect to get here. The
one unifying characteristic of all
scientists is that we never seem to
end up where we predicted when
we started. I wanted to be an as-
tronomer ever since the age of six.
When I applied to the University
of Ottawa, my original intention
was to go into physics/mathemat-
ics. I had two pivotal points in my
career. The first was winning the
[Undergraduate Research] Schol-
arship the year that it started, and
that gave me the opportunity to
work in a lab. That’s when I chose
the photochemistry field, and I fell
in love. I switched gears and went
into chemistry, and eventually did
my PhD in photochemistry. My
second career-defining moment
was during my PhD when I real-
ized I enjoyed teaching. I became a
TA and I enjoyed teaching in front
of a classroom more than I en-
joyed standing in front of my fume
hood. That’s when I knew that I
really wanted to focus on a career
in chemistry education rather than
lab-based research. That was sort
of my forked path in science.
Q: What was it like to apply to be
a professor right out of graduate
studies?
A: I have an unusual position,
my technical job description is
“science lecturer”. The way I was
hired is not the typical way a pro-
fessor is hired. My CV was more
focused on teaching experience
rather than research experience,
although I had both. A few days
before my interview, I was sent
a topic, and they said, we’d like
you to give a pretend, 40-minute
lecture on this topic. I also did a
modest research proposal, [about]
other sorts of ideas [I had] for the
scholarship of teaching and learn-
ing in chemistry. And that’s how
I got this job! Now I tell all my
friends and everyone I meet that I
have my dream job, this is exactly
where I want to be.
Image Source: Dr. Kathy-Sarah Focsaneanu
6

7. Dr. Kathy-Sarah FocsaneanuProfessor
Department of Chemistry
Interview by: Tanya Yeuchyk
2nd Year BIM
Q: What kind of research do you
do now?
A: I don’t do traditional lab-based
research, it’s in chemistry educa-
tion. I work
on improving
curriculum,
bringing in
novel tech-
nologies into
the class-
room, testing
them out, de-
veloping best
practices, and working with TAs
to improve their teaching. Some-
times I perform experiments with
teaching methods. My background
in research is in photochemistry,
doing chemical reactions with
light. The reaction is chemistry,
but the light is physics, so I think
it appealed to both parts of why
I loved chemistry and physics so
much. I worked in Tito Scaiano’s
lab for many years, and I did my
PhD there. It was love at first sight
when I joined the photochem lab,
and then I did three summers in
that lab, my honour’s project, and
stuck around and did my PhD as
well.
Q: What inspires you?
A: Definitely travel and scuba div-
ing. That’s my other passion in life,
and I really look forward to travel-
ling around and seeing as much of
the world as I can, and spending a
good amount of time under water.
I think anyone who’s taken a class
with me knows quite well
what my number one
hobby is.
Q: Is there a movie or
book that you might rec-
ommend to science stu-
dents?
A: I’m definitely a pop
culture junkie, so I read
lots and watch lots. When it comes
to books, I love the Harry Potter
series. I think from an artistic point
of view, one of my favourites that I
read over and over again is a graph-
ic novel called Sandman, by Neil
Gaiman. It’s really thought-pro-
voking. As for sci-
ence books, The
Elegant Universe
by Brain Greene,
I read that when I
was sixteen, and it
was the first time
where a general
theory of relativ-
ity was explained
in a way that I could fully grasp.
I’m also desperately waiting for the
next Song of Ice and Fire book.
Q: What advice would you give
to a science student?
A: If you want to become a scien-
tist, you can’t simply learn science,
you have to do science. There’s a
common saying that says, science
is not a spectator sport. My piece
of advice is to participate, get in-
volved in the process of discovery,
of seeing what the actual scientif-
ic method is like. The URS and
UROP are fantastic ways to get
involved sooner than your fourth-
year honours project. Try to dip
your toe in as soon as you can.
When I talk to students and they
ask, how do I get involved, I say, ask
every single professor you meet, do
you know of any research oppor-
tunity out there? Because if you’re
going to be a scientist, you have to
do it, you can’t just
learn it from a book.
Everything that you
are learning was dis-
covered by a scien-
tist. Now, once you
become a scientist
it’s your job to make
your own discoveries
and make your own
contribution to the knowledge base
of humanity. Every little bit pushes
the boundaries of what we know
just a little bit further.
“It’s your job to
make your own dis-
coveries and make
your own contribu-
tion.”
“If you want to be-
come a scientist,
you can’t simply
learn science, you
have to do science.”
7

8. Genetic mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause
the dysfunction of the organelle, which can ultimate-
ly lead to metabolic irregularities. Mitochondria are
cellular compartments which contain their own
DNA and whose function is to provide
energy for the organism. Leigh syndrome
is an example of a mitochondrial disease,
and although rare, its repercussions are se-
vere. Symptoms of this condition emerge
in infancy and include inability to suck
during breastfeeding, loss of coordination
of the head, and a decrease in mobility.
The symptoms worsen with time and in-
clude general weakness and respiratory
problems, resulting in death within a few years after
birth.
Nuclear DNA in children is inherited from both bio-
logical parents. However, mitochondrial DNA (mtD-
NA) is only inherited from the mother. Consequently,
if a healthy mother carries a mitochondrial mutation,
the muta-
tion will be
t r a n s m i t -
ted to all of
her descen-
dants, as
is the case
with Leigh
Syndrome.
The ma-
ternal gene
T A C O 1 ,
which codes
for a trans-
lational activator necessary for the adequate pro-
duction of a protein named COX1, is muted. Until
now, no treatment has been discovered for this dis-
ease. Nevertheless, techniques of in vitro fertlization
(IVF) have recently allowed mothers carrying the
genetical mutation to give birth to healthy children,
free from the syndrome.
A child born using this technique possesses DNA
of three different
origins. Last April,
at a Mexican clin-
ic, the world’s first
child possessing
both of his par-
ents’ DNA and
the mitochondrial
DNA of a female
donor, was born.
Researchers have accomplished this by removing
the nucleus from the oocyte of the biological mother
whose mtDNA contained the mutation and insert-
ing it the enucleated oocyte of the donor. The new
oocyte, which contained the DNA of the biological
mother, was fertilized in vitro using the biological
father’s sperm. This has allowed the formation of a
baby with DNA from three different sources who,
today, is not affected by the illness.
This method seems very promising for couples who
carry genetical diseases and who wish to have chil-
dren. However, complications exist which can im-
pede this dream.
The technique is illegal in certain countries, such
as the United States, due to the fact that significant
risks are associated with this method of procreation.
A study on mice issued from 3 parents demonstrat-
ed that they presented progressive alterations to mi-
tochondrial function which significantly reduced
their lifespan. This technique of procreation using
three DNA sources is very promising for the years to
come. New in-depth studies, however, are necessary
to reduce clinical risks and improve the manipula-
tion of the nucleus transfer.
Baby With 3 DNA Sources
A New Hope for Leigh Syndrome
Hadjar Saidi, 3rd Year HSS
8

9. Most onlookers glance at pure science with eyes
full of admiration. However, under the glorious and
triumphant façade of any acclaimed research insti-
tute stands a heavily burdened foundation: graduate
students, mainly postdoctoral researchers, who bear
the seemingly unbearable task of producing the nu-
merous and much-sought after research papers. To
these students, the scientific institute could just as
well be another factory seeking to increase profit
through the means of questionable shortcuts.
In many fields of study at most institutions, a PhD
laureate must hold
a postdoctoral po-
sition before ob-
taining a faculty
position. To com-
plicate matters
further, the hiring
process for any
faculty position
depends large-
ly on the recom-
mendations of the
postdoctoral advi-
sor, so, the post-
doctoral research-
er’s boss. Aspiring postdoctoral students are thus
obliged to work an average of 12 hours daily with a
yearly salary of approximately $45,000 (The Cana-
dian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars, 2013) -
$11,000 less than the salary of the average librarian.
Most postdoctoral positions are contractual. Post-
doctoral students benefit neither from the work-
place protection of their permanent faculty homo-
logues, nor from the health care services offered to
students. They find themselves in a frustrating grey-
zone, moving from one postdoctoral position to the
other, either because they are clinging to the dream
of obtaining a faculty position, or because they do
not have the proper training for a non-academic ca-
reer.
A study conducted at the University of California
has found that 47% of the PhD students surveyed
could be considered depressed. Unsurprisingly,
most postdoctoral students, young and at the be-
ginning of their careers, are overwhelmed by the
pressure to publish frequently in renowned journals
leaving little-to-no
time (or money) to
engage in long-term
relationships and
start families, for
instance. Such diffi-
cult circumstances,
in addition to the
uncertainty of find-
ing a permanent po-
sition, are reasons
enough for intelli-
gent and promising
young scientists to
quit science.
There is no single solution that can reform the oper-
ation of the modern science institute. Simple mea-
sures to improve the morale of graduate students,
such as offering them generous family leave policies,
health care, and child care, depend on increasing
funding. Until then, 68,000 postdoctoral students
will compete for only 16,000 professorship position
openings in the US alone.
A New Year’s Resolution:
Keeping Young Scientists in Science
An Editorial Reflection on the Modern Academic World
Setti Belhouari, 2nd Year BCH and MAT
Image Source: Stockphoto
9

10. In light of recent political events in the world, a
re-examination of the political landscape is needed
to both make sense of things as they are (i.e. what are
the facts), as well as to give a normative direction for
thingstoflow(whereshouldwego?). Iarguethatanem-
phasis on the shared origins of science and political
philosophy is the most relevant avenue to reach these
goals. Science is the best method we have to discover
facts about the world; the related philosophies may
provide a common direction for us to work towards.
Geopolitical instability in the
Middle East gives strength to in-
surgent groups as well as tremen-
dous outpouring of refugees.
Rising nationalisms and finan-
cial crises in Asia, Europe, and
NorthAmericafurtherfuelanger
and hatred, which are oftentimes
misplaced. The mainstream
news organizations sometimes
appear more like entertainment
than actual objective news. Ev-
eryone seems to have different
values about what is right and
wrong. With all these events oc-
curring simultaneously, it might seem as though the
world is amidst chaos. As science and engineering
students, we are subject to an engrained objectivity
that perhaps the “everyday person on the street” is
not privy to; this is a great strength that should not
be exclusive to “designing better mousetraps”. Per-
haps the next great North American political lead-
ers could not only have a charismatic background,
but also precise technical knowledge tempered
by shared human values such as life and liberty.
ScienceScience, in this context the scientific method, is an
empirical method of building knowledge. It rests on
certain assumptions, namely that there is an objec-
tive “world” outside our minds which operates more
or less by laws which are unchanging or that change
in a predictable manner. So far,
science has brought us fantastic
things such as laptops, vaccines,
space exploration, magnetic
trains, and an overabundance
of food as well as not-so-amaz-
ing things such as poison gas
and nuclear weapons. Science
can be considered a tool which
can be used for good as well as
bad. Science constantly seeks
to falsify itself, and the strongest
ideas which pass test after test,
replication after replication, sur-
vive only until the next pieces of
evidence de-throne those previous assumptions. For
example Newton’s Classical Physics was upended
by Einstein’s General Relativity, which itself is now
grappling with Quantum Physics. It doesn’t always
operate in a perfect way as many studies are not
replicable; but, it’s the best we have so far. I ar-
gue we should work with the best we have. far.
I argue we should work with the best we have.
The Common Roots of
Science, Politics and Philosophy
William Ho, Graduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering
President of the Science and Politics Society
For information on upcoming events, visit the Science and Politics Society Facebook page.
10

11. PoliticsPolitics deals with attaining positions of organized
control over a region, and the usage of the power
and resources that are within. Lawmaking can be
construed as the power to ban or permit actions that
people take. In regards to resource distribution; de-
cisions regarding which agencies receive funding,
ownership of property, and the tax rate are all under
the jurisdiction of federal or municipal governments.
Additionally, a government usually has a monopoly
on force; the police and army are generally agreed as
necessary for public protection and enforcement of
property rights and laws. An efficient state is capable
of organizing and mobilizing enormous amounts of
resources as well as accelerating technological devel-
opment. Politics is firmly intertwined with power,
again with potential to do great good or great harm.
The Common OriginThis story actually starts in ancient Greece (and per-
haps China) thousands of years ago, however it only
really picks up great speed right after the Renais-
sance, roughly 500 years ago. The philosophers I will
mention were Enlightenment-peri-
od academics who applied reason
to many areas of learning, laying
the groundwork for not only mod-
ern political systems but science
as well. Hobbes reasoned that the
natural state of things was one of
chaos without consequence. As a
result, an informal social contract
was attained by some communi-
ty and a power broker (sovereign/
king) who promised to keep them
safe from harm – by force if necessary – and thus
the first states were formed. Locke said that the state
should exist not to serve the king, but to serve the
people, through enforcing laws regarding life, liberty
and property. Hume talks about empiricism which is
the basis of scientific discovery, and also puts forth
notable critiques of the scientific method including
the inductionandis-oughtproblems.Kant shifted phi-
losophy towards epistemology (how do we know
what we know?) and talks about ethics. Are things
goodbecause of the motives behind, or the conse-
quences ahead, or some combination of both? Both
Bentham and Mill focused on utility-based notions
of ethics and political economy.
These philosophers applied reason to the most crucial
problems of their day and the foundations of formal
logic, science and political philosophy all draw their
roots from this primordium. However, catastrophic
events such as the World Wars, the Cold War and
more recent wars and revolutions have drawn the
popular focus away for over a century. Moreover,
as a result of coping with these tragedies, people
have been firmly categorized in opposing or sepa-
rate camps. Capitalist- communist, religious- atheist,
democrat- republican...we should all remember that
the area of facts has no distinction. We are all people,
and perhaps there are a set of “human facts”which
may be a foundation for a set of values that can be
agreed upon by all. Critically-reasoned analysis with
regard to facts, perhaps combined with impassioned
rhetoric may be a possible solution to many of the
global issues we face today. It is also important to
note that we should have healthy skepticism of not
only the facts but also their use, as facts can all too
easily be co-opted to serve malicious agendas.
We are at a crucial point
in history: the technical
prowess which gave rise
to so much prosperity
has left many indifferent
to the logical, liberal and
empirical foundations
that created this world of
abundance, peaceful co-
existence and decreasing
poverty. That same indif-
ference threatens to spill
over to leaders of the next generation. Perhaps this
is best exemplified in anti-vaccination movements,
climate change denial, mass surveillance, wanton
toppling of foreign governments, and uninformed
consumerism emergent in the last decades. It is my
strong opinion that if we equip scientists and engi-
neers with the frameworks and skills to successfully
navigate the political landscape, we will guarantee a
better future for us and our children.
“We are at a crucial point in
history: the technical prowess
which gave rise to so much
prosperity has left many indif-
ferent to the logical, liberal and
empirical foundations that cre-
ated this world of abundance”
11

12. Every prospective parent wonders what their child will
inherit from them, whether it’s a physical trait or the
unfortunate aspect of a genetic disease. However,
there may be a time
when such questions will
become superfluous; this
will be possible through
the use of CRISPR, which
can make specific chang-
es in any strain of DNA.
This genetic engineering
may be a breakthrough
discovery, but also raises
questions about manipu-
lating nature.
CRISPR is an organization
of repeated DNA sequences found in genomes, import-
ant to immune systems due to its’ destruction of virus-
es (3). When replicating, foreign DNA is incorporated
into CRISPR sequences, serving as spacers, which are
regions of non-coding DNA (3). Both CRISPR and the
foreign DNA undergo transcription to become RNA
(3). The CRISPR RNA guides molecular machinery
to destroy the viral material: it is able to do this since it is
copied from the viral DNA segments
and is therefore matched up to it (3).
Cas9, an associated protein of CRIS-
PR, is also important in this function,
as it checks and cleaves foreign DNA
(4).
Genetic engineering can be made pos-
sible by utilizing CRISPR techno logy
to ‘delete’ any given organism’s genes,
modifying genetic sequences. This can
be used to target genetic mutations, as
well as inherited diseases. Different
variants of the Cas9 nuclease have been adopted to
target genome DNA, and it reportedly has a high
efficiency rating of targeting the desired gene. This
means that it has the potential to eliminate diseases such
as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia and it would
therefore be possible to cure defects, even in fetuses. This
gene modification might also be used for creating break-
throughs in food production – through removing certain
genes, it is possible to
give plants longer shelf
lives even under ex-
treme conditions and
serve to make plants
drought-resistant.
However, the scientific
breakthrough is shad-
owed by ethical con-
cerns. There is still the
possibility of mistakes
in the modification
process leading to per-
manent gene mutation and harming the individuals
being tested on. It raises moral questions about how far
this modification can be taken – for example, whether
it would be exploited in order for parents to ‘construct’
their ideal child by not just preventing non-fatal disor-
ders, but by controlling genes in order to change physical
appearance. Genetic modification could also lead to no
genetic variability, which could result in rapid overpopu-
lation. Using CRISPR is also not yet
a fool-proof method, as an attempt to
use it to destroy HIV genes result-
ed in the virus evolving and the
technology being unsuccessful. If
more severe viruses pose a threat,
lack of diversity may actually lead
to severe outbreaks.
Genetic engineering is certainly an
exciting prospect for the future of
science; however, it should be used
with caution. Using the modifica-
tion technique to solve food shortage problems and
eliminating deadly diseases would benefit the global pop-
ulation, but such an important scientific tool should not
be used for superficial aspects, and instead only for bet-
tering the lives of others.
The Discovery and Use of
Genetic Engineering
Kira Momotova, 2nd Year BIO
1st Place, Winter Writing Contest
“It raises moral ques-
tions about how far this
modification can be
taken – for example,
whether it would be ex-
ploited in order for par-
ents to ‘construct’ their
ideal child.”
Image Source: Columbia Science Review
12

13. Sixteen of Canada’s eighteen commercial reactors have
a home in Ontario. While hugely controversial in the
1970s, today, nuclear energy generation is viewed as fa-
vorable by 56% of Canadians. The favorability is not sur-
prising - nuclear energy has many benefits. It has a low
operating cost, is a 24/7 source of energy, is greenhouse
gas-friendly, and produces a vast quantity of electrical
energy. In Ontario, nuclear power meets more than 50%
of Ontario’s electricity needs.
Perhaps, over the short-term, the benefits of nuclear en-
ergy are insurmountable to any downside. Yet, if we look
beyond a generation, nuclear energy becomes less of an
investment in energy, and more
of an investment in uncertainty.
The accumulation of radioac-
tive wastes requires expensive,
careful management for centu-
ries. These costs are not factored
into taxpayer’s dollars today, but
into the taxpayer’s pockets of
tomorrow – dumping our ener-
gy burden on the generations af-
ter us. Sound familiar? Perhaps,
incidents like the Three Mile
Island Accident or the Chernobyl
disaster might also ring a bell. While there are minimal
dangers in the normal operation of nuclear fission pow-
er reactors, accidents, meltdown, and natural hazards
cause reactor accidents that can have catastrophic re-
sults. As Fukushima showed us, these incidents are not
always predictable with the science of today.
Often disregarded is the simple fact that nuclear energy
has become popular in a time of relative peace in North
America and central Europe. However, it should not be
forgotten that there are huge dangers in having reactors
on land. Reactors are easy criminal or terrorist targets
for land attacks. If a bomb damages the cooling infra-
structure of a power plant, catastrophic damage can be
done when the nuclear fission chain reaction runs awry.
The resulting ionizing radiation can damage humans
for generations in an incurable DNA-damaging process.
The misuse of the plutonium that powers nuclear reac-
tors by unstable foreign governments may also result in
the beginnings of nuclear warfare.
Finally, nuclear energy provides
long-term environmental haz-
ards that generations will need to
resolve when we are long gone.
Currently, there is no long-term
storage plan for used plutoni-
um after decommissioning – yet,
plutonium will be radioactive
and dangerous for longer than
humans have inhabited North
America. We have not had a sin-
gle man-made structure survive
through the ages for the duration of
Plutonium-239 which has a half-life of 24,100 years.
Can we be so certain that we will be able to create one?
Like fossil fuels, nuclear energy is another method of
meeting our energy needs today by passing the inevita-
ble burden to future generations. It is not a clean fuel,
and it should not be the solution Ontario turns to in
fulfilling our expanding energy needs.
Nuclear Energy
Tina Yuan, 4th Year BIO
Runner Up, Winter Writing Contest
Submissions for the illustration contest are due
February 20th at 11:59 PM!
Check out the Catalyst website for more
information.
Image Source: Modern Survival Blog
13

14. What Statistical Mechanics and Chaos
Theory Teach Us about Kindness
Sanmeet Chahal, 4th Year PHY
Making the Puzzle
continued from November issue
If we focus on the basic pre-
cept of Statistical Mechanics
we find the following: “The val-
ue of a property such as pressure
or temperature is equivalent to the
average of the sum of the property
corresponding to the microscopic
constituents of the system.” If we
suppose this to be true for other at-
tributes and supposed that kindness
or goodness is also determined by
this same fundamental principle
then we find something remarkably
similar to the quotation by Gandhi,
“Be the change you wish to see in
the world”.
If we substitute kindness for the
word property in our definition
of the fundamental principle of
Statistical Mechanics then we
obtain the fundamental precept
of “Moral Statistical Mechanics”:
“The observable kindness or good-
ness of society is equivalent to the
average of the sum of the observ-
able kindness or goodness of the
citizens in the society.”Here the
global society is representative of a
macrocosm which is composed of
citizens who are the microcosm.
The precept of Moral Statistical
Mechanics is exactly what Gand-
hi meant when we uttered his
famous quotation, namely that if
we wish to effect a global change
in the moral or ethical standards
of society then it is sufficient and
necessary to improve our own
behaviours.
When the gas particle hits the
boundary of its container with some
momentum, it affects the measured
pressure of the gas by a very
minute amount, but that particle
is required to maintain a given
pressure. If the particle in ques-
tion were not to make that colli-
sion then the pressure inside the
box would drop by a calculable
amount. Similarly when one acts
with kindness to-
wards another or
devotes himself
to a moral act
then they too are
like the gas par-
ticle hitting the
boundary of a
gas container.
Although the moral act may not
completely alter the moral stan-
dard or degree of kindness in the
world by a massive amount, they
are necessary to keep it where it
is and were they not to act in
a kind way, then the degree of
kindness in the world decrease by
an observable amount.
I hope by now you see that just
as a collection of gas particles in a
container can create high pressures
and perform useful work, by act-
ing individually, we citizens of
the world can likewise learn from
the fundamentals of Statistical
Mechanics that our actions are not
pointless and they do contribute to
changing the world towards a better
version of itself.
Now we shift our focus on Cha-
os Theory and the lessons it can
teach us about actingkindly. Chaos
Theory states that many complex
systems, society being one such
system, are highly dependent on
their initial conditions. If a chaot-
ic system is set in motion, its future
action would very quickly deviate
from the future it
would have un-
dergone had the
initial conditions
been only slightly
different. Edward
Lorenz said it best,
“The present de-
termines the fu-
ture, but
the approximate present does not
approximately determine the fu-
ture.” If this principle is applied to
ethics then one can conclude that
although our small and individu-
al acts of kindness may be small,
they are like the fluttering of a
butterfly’s wings that could cause
unidentifiable global change like a
hurricane. The teaching is simply
that small actions can have large
effects that we may never realize,
therefore, one should never pass
an opportunity to act kindly be-
cause one never knows to what it
could lead.
“Our actions are not
pointless and they do
contribute to changing
the world towards a bet-
ter version of itself.”
14

15. The second characteristic of a
chaotic system is that it is im-
possible to know all the initial
conditions of the system to make
accurate predictions of the long
term future. Therefore one should
never allow oneself to fall prey to
the illusion that our actions will
never lead to any contribution on
the large scale, because such pre-
dictions are scien-
tifically false. We
can never know
how the world
would turn out
if you defend a
helpless person
or show kindness
where others show
apathy.
The third characteristic of a
chaotic system is that they of-
ten have positive feedback mech-
anisms. This point provides even
greater reason for us to act with
kindness and strengthens the belief
that our actions can create a ripple
effect that is felt on large scales.
By simply doing
one good act, we
can inspire others
to follow our ex-
ample and spread
the value of a kind
action to unknow-
ably large scales.
For example, if
you are at the
drive-through and
find the custom-
er ahead of you
paid for your cof-
fee, then you are
highly motivated
to do the same for
the person behind
you. The positive feelings induced
by that simple act will likely in-
duce you to act more kindly for
the rest of your day, compared to
an alternate history in which that
initial kind act never happened.
In turn as you continue through-
out your day and go out of your
way to help others, other people
will also become inspired to do
the same themselves and the cy-
cle will continue. It is astonishing
yet delightful to imagine that such
a simple act can produce such vast
consequences.
The last char-
acteristic of a
chaotic system
that we will con-
sider is that of
the fractal nature
of a chaotic sys-
tem. Often, com-
plex shapes in nature are created
by self-repeating patterns called
fractals. The same is true for soci-
ety. Many of the issues that we face
as a society, such as global warm-
ing and war, have analogues in the
small scale structures that compose
society, such as personal wasteful-
ness and aggression, respectively.
If one slowly magnifies the faults
in society, then we find that they are
rooted in the faults of every level of
the hierarchy in a society: from the
global, national, and local to in-
dividual. The problems of war,
suffering, pain, and environmental
damage is caused by each level
that can be examined. Howev-
er, if each level contributes to the
faults, each level can contribute to
their resolution. If we improve our
actions so that as individuals we
are acting towards the resolution of
our social issues, then slowly this
change will be reflected in the
actions at the local, national, and
subsequently, global levels of hi-
erarchy.
In conclusion, whether we consider
Chaos Theory or Statistical Me-
chanics, it is evident that science
can teach us not only about the
physical world but also the social
one. From each of the principles
of Chaos Theory and Statistical
Mechanics we can draw lessons
that encourage and implore us to
act kindly so that one day we may
live in a world that lives up to our
ideals. There are many issues that
plague our society but the lessons
derived from Statistical Mechanics
and Chaos Theory suggest that they
can be overcome
and that chang-
es must first be
instituted in the
actions of us
citizens and we
should not wait
or depend on
someone else to
do it for us.
“One should never
pass an opportunity to
act kindly because one
never knows to what it
could lead.”
Image Source:
Wallgot
15

16. January
Nanoparticles vs. Superbugs
Setti Belhouari, 2nd Year BCH
Prashant Nagpal, an assistant professor in the Depart-
ment of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Uni-
versity of Colorado Boulder, and his team of researchers
have made a profound discovery this year. They have suc-
cessfully eradicated 92% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in
a lab-grown culture using a new therapeutic technology
termed “quantum dots”. Quantum dots are light-activat-
ed nanoparticles resembling tiny semiconductors that can
specifically target the infection. Previous metal nanopar-
ticles have been capable of fighting superbugs at the ex-
pense of the surrounding harmless environment. Howev-
er, quantum dots can be activated by specific and variable
wavelengths of light that only target infected cells. In ad-
dition, quantum dots are adaptable and can be tailored to
fight new varieties of drug resistant bacteria. Quantum
dots seem to be a promising treatment for HIV and can-
cer.
February
Back To The Future
Narimane Ait Harmou, 2nd Year BIM
For a long time now, scientists have tried to prove
Albert Einstein’s claim of the existence of gravitation-
al waves. The theory is based on the distortion of space-
time, our universe, due to a heavy or highly energetic
mass. This mass would deform its environment by
forming a slight slope around it. Surrounding objects
start to orbit the mass in a circular motion, following
the trajectory of the deformation. Two objects with
high masses would therefore orbit each other, faster
and closer, until they fuse. An event like this would emit
waves, described as gravitational since they would distort
space-time, hence gravity. For these waves to be felt how-
ever, the event would have to be big enough, such as the
fusion of black holes or the Big Bang. The discovery
of gravitational waves by LIGO (a laboratory focused
on detecting such waves with laser-light technology)
at the start of February has proven the prediction of
the general theory of relativity. We are now closer to
understanding the nature of black holes.
March
Organic Nanowires Synthesized from
Bacteria
Shobhitha Balasubramaniam, 2nd Year BIM
A Michigan State University scientist discovered protein
fibers, produced from Geobacter bacteria, which may have
applications in nanotechnology. These hair-like fibers are
called pili, and are composed of a peptide subunit. They
are noted to resemble “paower lines at the nanoscale”,
capable of transferring charges at approximately one bil-
lion electrons per second. This study is marked as the first
to demonstrate that electrons can travel a thousand times
the distance along proteins previously thought possible.
Geobacter synthesize these fibers in order to breathe min-
erals containing metals such as iron oxides and uranium.
Among several advantages to this profound discovery, the
protein fibers are biodegradable and biocompatible. Thus,
they can be used in medical sensors and devices that are
incorporated in human tissues. Furthermore, traps have
been identified on the surface of the fibers that may bind
metals, signalling their potential application to mining
gold and other metals. Moreover, they can be used to
eliminate the presence of toxic metals. These protein fi-
bers are in fact more efficient than synthetic nanowires,
because they do not require high temperatures and toxic
solvents and can be produced at a cheaper price.The pro-
tein fibers produced from Geobacter bacteria hold prom-
ising innovations for the world of nanotechnology.
Science of 2016
16

17. April
Cure to Paralysis?
Nasim Haghandish, PhD in Cellular and Molecular
Medicine
The disruption of the signals between the nervous sys-
tem and muscles leads to paralysis. This can be caused
by either illness or injury, leaving the patient helpless and
ultimately dependent on others for daily routines. As neu-
rogenesis is believed to cease in adulthood, the body is
incapable of regenerating healthy neurons to transmit the
neuromuscular signals. Now, imagine a paralysed patient
being able to once again perform complex movements.
By decoding intra-cortically recorded signals into re-
al-time muscle activation, a group in the Ohio State Uni-
versity successfully restored movement in a quadriplegic
patient (Bouton et al., 2016). This was done by chron-
ically implanting an intra-cortical microelectrode array
in the patient’s left primary motor cortex, specifically
in the hand area of the cortex. The patient was trained
to use his motor cortical neuronal activity to control a
neuromuscular electrical stimulator capable of decoding
the neuronal signals using machine-learning algorithms.
By converting the neuronal signals into electrical stimuli,
the stimulator delivered the signals to the muscles of the
right forearm using 130 electrodes embedded in a flexible
sleeve wrapped around the patient’s arm. The system al-
lowed the patient to perform six different wrist and hand
motions as well as isolated finger movements to success-
fully grasp, manipulate, and release objects. Additionally,
the ability to regain the sense of touch is another possible
feat. In fact, this was later demonstrated in prosthetics
by a group at the University of Pittsburgh (Flesher et al.,
2016). Thus, the ultimate goal is to develop a wireless and
readily available system to improve the lives of many par-
alyzed patients at the comfort of their own home.
May
European Commission Approves First
Ex-vivo Gene Therapy
Setti Belhouari, 2nd Year BCH
In May 2016, the European Commission approved the
commercialization of Strimvelis, the first ex-vivo stem
cell gene therapy. Strimvelis is used to treat Severe Com-
bined Immunodeficiency due to Adenosine Deaminase
Deficiency (ADA-SCID) which is a rare genetic disease
caused by the inheritance of a faulty gene copy from each
parent. This gene impedes the production of an important
protein, adenosine deaminase, which in turn prevents the
production of lymphocytes, an important class of cells
in the human immune system. The lack of lymphocytes
renders the individual extremely vulnerable to common
infections. The therapy consists of ex-vivo insertion of a
vector containing the functional ADA into the patient’s
bone marrow cells. The “corrected”cells are reintroduced
to the patient via intravenous infusion through which
they will find their way back to the bone marrow. All 18
children on whom the Strimvelis has been tested, the old-
est study dating back 13 years, are alive and well today.
June
Researchers Sustainably Trap Carbon
Dioxide Within 2 Years
Cassidy Swanston, 2nd Year BIO
One proposed method of combatting climate change is
CCS (carbon capture and storage), which involves trap-
ping atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it under-
ground. However, storing it in places such as abandoned
oil and gas reserves can lead to leakage, so researchers
have turned to mineralizing it - trapping it within rock. It
was previously thought impractical because it would take
thousands of years, however, an international team work-
ing in Iceland has successfully completed mineralization
within two years. The carbon dioxide was pumped under-
ground within basalt rocks, which are rich in magnesium,
calcium and iron. The solution reacted with the elements
and formed carbonate minerals, trapping the greenhouse
gas underground. Conveniently, basalt is one of the most
common types of rock on Earth, meaning that this meth-
od has the potential to be widespread, sustainable and en-
vironmentally friendly.
Science of 2016
17

18. July
New Gene Causing ALS Identified
Tanya Yeuchyk, 2nd Year BIM
Materials engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madi-
son have developed the first nanotube transistors that out-
perform silicon and gallium arsenide transistors. These
one atom thick transistors can pass a current that is 1.9
times larger than in silicon transistors. According to ex-
trapolations from single nanotube measurements, carbon
nanotube transistors perform five times faster, and thus
require five times less energy, than silicon transistors. Car-
bon nanotubes have the potential of improving communi-
cations and electric devices. Difficulty in creating carbon
nanotubes arises in removing impurities, as they reduce
the nanotube’s semiconducting properties.
August
Life on Proxima B?
Narmane Ait Hamou, 2nd Year BIM
On the 24th of August 2016, a planet has been discovered
orbiting near the Proxima Centauri star, the closest star
to the sun. Found 4.22 light-years away from Earth, this
exoplanet, called Proxima B, could potentially be similar
to our habitable sphere. Situated at an ideal distance from
its star, Proxima B could have characteristics that could
favor life on its surface. While this is just a hypothe-
sis, scientists think that a part of it could be covered by a
deep ocean which would indicate the presence of water.
Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf type of star, meaning it
is much cooler than the sun we know. Proxima B is closer
to its sun than we are to our sun. This means that the sun
would be much more visible and the sunset is surely an
appreciated phenomenon by the inhabitants of Prox-
ima B. This also means the planet’s climate is very
livable and somewhat similar to ours. The trip to get
there would however take 70 000 years, hence, we can-
not currently confirm the existence of extraterrestrials.
September
Carbon nanotube transistors surpass
silicon transistors
Setti Belhouari, 2nd Year BCH
Materials engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madi-
son have developed the first nanotube transistors that out-
perform silicon and gallium arsenide transistors. These
one atom thick transistors can pass a current that is 1.9
times larger than in silicon transistors. According to ex-
trapolations from single nanotube measurements, carbon
nanotube transistors perform five times faster, and thus
require five times less energy, than silicon transistors. Car-
bon nanotubes have the potential of improving communi-
cations and electric devices. Difficulty in creating carbon
nanotubes arises in removing impurities, as they reduce
the nanotube’s semiconducting properties.
Science of 2016
18

19. October
MC4R Mutation Linked With Obesity
Tanya Yeuchyk, 2nd Year BIM
A receptor whose mutation can lead to obesity has been
identified by a group at the University of Cambridge.
Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) is found in neurons of
the brain stem that participate in regulating nutrition and
appetite. Based on a mouse-model study, the researchers
were able to conclude that a mutation of MC4R causes
an increase in appetite, particularly for high-fat foods. At
the same time, it remarkably leads to a decreased inter-
est in high-sugar foods. This phenomenon was confirmed
in a human study that looked for a relationship between
food preference and an MC4R mutation, and found that
indeed, people with a mutation of this receptor ate more
fatty foods, and less sweet ones. This effect is explained
by the fact that the MC4R pathway is stimulated during
starvation, causing this change in food preference to
promote survival. The defect in the receptor triggers the
famine response in the absence of the correct stimulus. In
fact, 1-5% of obese individuals have mutated MC4R neu-
rons, and experienced rapid weight gain early in life. The
results of this study prove once more that overeating can-
not be explained by simply a lack of self-control. MC4R
will be an important target for weight-loss therapies.
November
Creation of first carbon-silicon bonds in
living cells
Sanmeet Chahal, 4th Year PHY
Silicon is one of the most abundant elements on
Earth, accounting for 30% of the mass of the Earth’s
crust and widely used in semiconductors such as in
computers, solar cells etc. [1, 2]. However, silicon is
completely absent from the biological world with no
known organo-silicon compounds. The broad range
applications of C-Si bonds led a group of scientists
from the California Institute of Technology to ex-
plore the possibility of developing a biological cata-
lyst for them [2, 3]. They realized that although no
natural enzyme catalyzes C-Si bonds, proteins often
have catalytic capabilities distinct from their biological
function [1]. After extensive screening, they decided to
use cytochrome c, one of the proteins in the electron
transport chain, as the basis of their study [1-3]. It was
shown to possess C-Si bond formation activity when Si
containing substrates were provided. However, the cata-
lytic efficiency was relatively low so the group used the
technique of directed evolution to vastly improve the
catalytic rate [3]. The development of the first enzyme
catalyzing organo-silicon bonds is an important mile-
stone in several scientific fields. It provides a new avenue
in pharmaceutical research consisting of Si as well as a
more efficient way to construct C-Si bonds in materials
science.
December
Dinosaur Tail in Amber
Tanya Yeuchyk, 2nd Year BIM
For the first time in history, a dinosaur tail was found
completely preserved in a piece of amber such that details
including its feathering were observable. Lida Xing of the
China University of Geosciences found this specimen at
an amber market in Myanmar, and published a study on
her findings in Current Biology. In essence, amber orig-
inates as a tree resin, which can fossilize over millions
of years into a reddish stone. Animals and insects can
become trapped in the hardening resin, which was exactly
the case with this dinosaur tail, estimated to be 99 million
years old. CT scans and microscopic detailing suggest that
the tail belonged to a non-avialan theropod, and consists
of eight vertebrae. Ryan McKellar of the Royal Saskatch-
ewan Museum explains that because the vertebrae are not
fused, we can determine that the tail does not come from
a prehistoric bird, which is an important evolutionary dis-
tinction. The researchers conclude that they are “eager to
see how additional finds from this region will reshape our
understanding of plumage and soft tissues in dinosaurs
and other vertebrates.”
Science of 2016
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20. Science Jokes
Winston Cheung, 5th year BIM
Why do chemists panic when they get KOH under their NaCl?
Because their base is under assault.
What do fridge owners and plant scientists have in common?
They use crispr to improve vegetable shelf life.
Why was a gold rod the maestro of the orchestra?
It was a good conductor.
David Huynh, 4th year Health Science, minor in Life Sciences
Hey baby, don’t you think we complement each other so well?
We’re like the template and coding strands of DNA!
Strand #1: I’m sorry babe, I’m leaving you.
Strand #2: What? Why?
Strand #1: It’s not you, it’s helicase.
Strand #2: Nooo! Will I ever see you again?
Strand #1: I’m afraid not.
Strand #2: Why not? We complemented each other so well!
Strand #1: Helicase has a way of breaking apart the hydrogen bonds between us
and unzipping genes. She wants to introduce me to a friend of hers.
Strand #2: What? Who?
Strand #1: DNA polymerase.
Person #1: Can I get your number?
Person #2: Sure, it’s 602-1023.
Person #1: I asked for your number, not Avogadro’s number!
Person #2: But I am Amedeo Avogadro!
Submissions for the next edition are due February 6th at 11:59 PM.
Soumettez vos articles, dessins, photographies et blagues avant le 6 février
2016 à 23:59 pour le prochain numéro de mars.
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21. DAT-GMAT-GRE-LSAT-MCAT-OAT-PCAT
Are you thinking about applying to Law School or an-
other Advanced degree program? In about 2 minutes,
Kaplan’s What’s Next quiz will assess where you are
and provide you with free tools to help you move for-
wards to the next step.
ktp.events/Catalyst
www.kaptest.com
1-800-KAP-TEST
bailey.poredos@kaplan.com
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