Category Archives: Biology

Biology

PEN CULTURE Biology department staffing shuffle causes headaches – The Lafayette

The biology department recently underwent several staff shifts, resulting in course selection changes and some confusion among students.

This year, assistant biology professor Khadijah Mitchell is leaving the department for a job at Temple University. Matt Fischl, another visiting assistant professor of biology, is transferring to the neuroscience program.

Additionally, assistant professor of biology Daniel Strmbom will be on research sabbatical next semester.

James Dearworth, the biology department head, said that the department had been searching for a visiting assistant professor and is now planning to begin the process of hiring a new assistant professor.

There is a plan and it seems stressful but its actually the way its typically done, Dearworth said about the process of hiring faculty. The one atypical part was just finding out suddenly [about some professors leaving]. Thats not typical.

When courses for fall 2023 were announced, biology majors, especially underclassmen, were left with fewer options for courses than expected.

Initially, I was stressed about what biology courses to register for, biology major Grace Voss 26 wrote in an email.

Biology major Mae Maddox 26 said that there was a struggle because there were barely any spots in any of the other classes.

The process of offering additional courses, especially so close to and during course registration, requires a lot of thought, according to Dearworth. However, many professors stepped up to create more courses and spaces for students in the wake of staffing changes.

BIOL 113 Quantitative Biology is a requirement for the Biology B.S. and B.A. major. It was not originally offered for the fall 2023 semester, leaving many students wondering when they would be able to take the required course.

I was so worried that it wouldnt be true, Kelsie Bouyer 26 said of claims that BIOL 113 might not be offered in the spring. I was under the impression that you could only take [BIOL 113] in the fall.

One section each of the BIOL 113 class and lab was eventually made available by Eric Ho, an associate professor of biology. Two sections of BIOL 113 will also be taught in the spring semester.

Usually my schedule is to teach it in the spring instead of the fall because in the fall I already lined up two classes, Ho said. I got some feedback from students If they have such a need, then I [will] teach three classes.

Rising sophomores typically take BIOL 113 in the fall of their sophomore year in accordance with therecommended course schedule for biology majors. However, with only one section of the course being offered with twenty spots, many looked to take a different biology course.

I thought I had a better chance, Maddox said about her enrollment in BIOL 213, a biology elective taught by Dearworth. This course was originally not going to be offered, yet he added the course as an additional option for students. Dearworth also increased the lab capacity the night before registration for first-years to [provide] some other registration options, according to an email he sent out to rising biology sophomores.

In addition to courses offered by Ho and Dearworth, many other professors are now overloading their course offerings for next semester.

For example, BIOL 215 Phytopathology was replaced with BIOL 255 Molecular Genetics, a course required for biochemistry majors. Last minute, it was also announced that associate professor of biology Nancy Waters would be teaching BIOL 223 Environmental Problem Solving in Biology.

Another option for biology students is to take 300-level biology electives without the typical 200-level prerequisite for the course. Biology professor Robert Kurt has almost always waived the requirement for BIOL 345 Infectious Disease and BIOL 245 Immunology when students inquired.

I was torn between registering for BIOL 113 and BIOL 345, Voss 26 wrote. BIOL 345 is an elective that I find really interesting I am not sure when [it] will be offered again, so while I have the opportunity to take it, I want to.

While many students had been receiving emails about updates to course selections, some students were still left in the dark about new information.

If I didnt hear about it from my friend, I wouldnt have known that [BIOL 113] was up there, Bouyer, who was not on the email list, said.

Despite the challenges that some faced, Voss did appreciate the communication attempts from the department regarding course changes.

I was impressed with how the Biology department handled this period of transition, Voss wrote. I think they did a good job communicating with first-year students and adding spots and creating new classes for students to take a biology course.

[Students] education is our priority, Ho said. We always try to see what we can do, adjusting to make more courses available.

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PEN CULTURE Biology department staffing shuffle causes headaches - The Lafayette

Biology

Cell and Molecular Biology Student Wins $50000 ‘Faculty for the … – University of Arkansas Newswire

Cassandra Thomas

Selom Ametepe

Selom Ametepe, an international doctoral student in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program in the Graduate School and International Education of the U of A, won a $50,000 Faculty for the Future Fellowship from the Schlumberger Foundation.

The fellowship program works to accelerate gender equity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics by breaking down barriers women face in pursuing scientific careers, specifically in developing and emerging nations. Specifically, the fellowships are awarded to women who are preparing for Ph.D. or post-doctoral study in STEM disciplines to pursue advanced graduate study at top universities in their disciplines abroad.

The funds will help Ametepe, who is a native of Togo, focus on her research toward her goal of becoming a faculty member.

"I'm excited about resources to advance my research," Ametepe said. "I'm excited to meet other women working in other STEM fields and getting to know about their research. I want to thank my adviser, Dr. Timothy Evans, for his unconditional support of my academic endeavors which led to me getting this fellowship. I am very grateful to him for creating a positive working environment where he facilitates our learning opportunities."

"I'm proud of Selom's development as a scientist, and I'm delighted that her potential for leadership has been recognized by the Schlumberger Foundation," said Evans, who is an associate professor of biological sciences. "She's been an essential part of our lab for the last couple of years, and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow her scientific and leadership skills with the support of this fellowship."

Ametepe's research focuses on the nervous system in fruit flies in hopes of transferring knowledge to the human nervous system. She is interested in the mechanisms that guide neurons extensions, axons to form connections with other neural or non-neural cells. She focuses specifically on the gene Roundabout3, which is critical to the development of the nervous system. Using a sophisticated genetic engineering technique called CRISPR gene editing, Ametepe is cutting some portions of the gene to see what parts are crucial for the function of the protein.

"My research will help us know specific ways that the gene controls development of the nervous system," she said.

Before coming to the U of A, Ametepe completed her undergraduate studies at the Universite de Lome, where she graduated with a bachelor's in biomedical sciences. She then worked for five years as a lab analyst at the National Institute of Health in Togo.

Her decision to undertake graduate studies was influenced by two people who she considers as role models: her father, who was a dedicated lab technician, and one of her professors, Dr. Satoguina, professor of immunoparasitology.

"Getting close to her and learning her work ethics gave me hopes and wings and reassured me that I could become a scientist as well," Ametepe said.

Faculty for the Future Fellows are expected to return to their home countries upon completion of their studies to contribute to the economic, social and technological advancement of their home regions by strengthening the STEM teaching and research faculties of their home institutions, as well as through their leadership in science-based entrepreneurship. They are also expected to contribute to the public sector ,where their newly acquired technical and scientific skills can help provide evidence-based support for STEM policy making, including topics of gender representation.

Since its launch in 2004, the program has awarded fellowships more than 800 women from 86 countries for Ph.D. and post-doctoralSTEM research programs. Faculty for the Future is the SLB Foundation's flagship program, a nonprofit organization that supports science and technology education.

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Cell and Molecular Biology Student Wins $50000 'Faculty for the ... - University of Arkansas Newswire

Biology

Biology major Andy Shar discovers 3D printable ink that ‘everyone … – VCU News

By Mary Kate Brogan

About Dreamwork, Team Work: As part of Research Weeks 2023, this series showcases undergraduates and their faculty mentors as they talk about their research and what they've learned from each other along the way.

Finding a 3D printable ink that conducts electricity, yet is strong, flexible and stretchable, has been a goal of materials scientists around the world since 3D printing began, says Daeha Joung, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys College of Humanities and Sciences.

So last year, when Andy Shar came into his lab eager to look for the solution, Joung was apprehensive but gave Shar a chance. And he is grateful he did.

I was trying to find that ink myself, Joung said. But somehow, Andy discovered the recipe.

The discovery has opened up new opportunities for Shar, now a sophomore majoring in biology in the College of Humanities and Sciences and minoring in religious studies in the School of World Studies. Shar, a member of the Honors College, has been working with Joung and his research team through the VCU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Alongside Phillip Glass, a student in the Ph.D. in nanoscience and nanotechnology program, Shar has published two academic papers, including one in the journal Advanced Functional Materials for which he served as the first author. He also has submitted another plus a book chapter and has been invited to present at conferences about the discovery.

The material we discovered was a composite of silicone polydimethylsiloxine, or PDMS and we dispersed carbon nanotubes, or CNT, inside of that silicone, which is something that is kind of difficult to do, Shar said. We used a pretty simple environmentally friendly technique to do it that can occur at room temperature. The fabrication process being easy allows it to be accessible to other people and maybe even companies who want to use it commercially.

Joung, Shar and Glass continue to use the 3D printable ink in the development of customizable patient health monitoring devices and of electronic skin, or eSkin wearable sensors to detect motion of joints or monitor cardiac and respiratory health.

What Dr. Joung has been really pioneering is using 3D printing to create scaffolds that can simulate the spinal cord architecture, Shar said. He and Joung hope this technology, infused with bioprinted information that would allow cells to regrow, can help people with spinal cord injuries regain sensory and motor function.

Here, student and mentor share thoughts on what they learned working together.

What attracted you to this project?

Ill start from the beginning and go to what attracted me to Dr. Joungs lab in the first place: [my] past experience with high school research. Ive always really liked hands-on stuff, and materials science and nanotechnology were two of my main interests coming into VCU. So I liked how he incorporated that with 3D printing which was something Ive never done before but was also excited to use with biological applications. I intend to go into the medical field, so that would be something that would relate to my future profession. So that was definitely something of interest.

For that specific project, I actually started by working with Phillip Glass, whos a physics graduate student, on his project, and it just became a natural progression because I was helping him. I had some interest in chemistry and the process of making the ink and making the material. And as I was helping him, I decided to do my own trials. And I really credit Dr. Joung for giving me the flexibility and independence to do that. I was experimenting around, and once I found an ink that I thought would work, then we decided that if it was unique enough and if it had certain advantages over what was seen in the literature, then we could write a paper about it. So I did more research there.

What did you get out of the experience?

There were a few things I got out of it. Definitely knowledge, learning about the materials science aspect of it, a lot of lessons in perseverance. It took dozens of trials Dr. Joung has seen my array of vials with hundreds of failed attempts. So just being able to learn from your past mistakes. And I didnt give up, because I knew I was getting closer and closer to the end result.

That was really a lesson that I learned, and I also think teamwork. As a group, we held meetings where we presented our findings, so you learn communication skills, how to interact with the group, how to just work with different (technologies) how to use the gantry, how to use the texture analyzer, different machines and then spreading that knowledge as well, and teaching other people who join the lab how to use those same machines.

And then, because of the project, Ive also been able to present at multiple conferences for example, the UROP Symposium, which I will be presenting at this spring, and the annual Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia conference at Christopher Newport University, which was in January. Being able to present to the public and explain to them our findings in terms that they can understand is definitely a skill that Ive learned.

Whats one lesson you learned from Dr. Joung?

From Dr. Joung, Ive learned really just how to be an effective PI [principal investigator]. Its about the coordination of an effective team and really encouraging teamwork and making sure everybodys staying involved, everybody is going at a pace thats comfortable for them but also making sure to push them a little bit. I remember Dr. Joung helping me out whenever I had certain trials not go the way I wanted to and then also setting certain deadlines for me, making sure I met them and just encouraging me to do my best.

I remember, especially during the summer, I was there for maybe 15 to 20 hours a week. And we were really trying to get the paper published. At the very end, it was a lot of data collection, a lot of writing. And I credit Dr. Joung with coordinating me and Phillip, and just making sure that we got everything done in time and that time management wasnt a problem. Thats definitely a lesson I learned from him.

Why does this research matter?

eSkin technology is the future of wearable devices. So what Andy, Phillip and I found is that 3D printable electronic skins can be useful for patients who suffer from skin diseases. Or we can have one that does health monitoring so that its a system where we can directly 3D-print into human organs. We can actually offer new therapeutic options. [As a physicist] Im not going to use these directly with patients. However, this technology can be transferred to the operating room in the future. Then the patients can have the advantage to use this technology. That is our long-term goal for this project.

Lets say we developed a 3D printable electronic device, or wearable flexible device. Now we want to make a connection from this technology into the spinal cord regeneration project. With spinal cord regeneration, there are always issues because of the structural complexity, right? So one of the therapeutic options is stem cell and electrical stimulation therapy. What Andy is doing is adding to it. As Andy mentioned, I am a pioneer of printing stem cells for spinal cord injury regeneration. So now Andy is combining these stem cell printing technologies and these flexible electronics.

We want to test how these two different elements of technology can combine to create a new opportunity for spinal cord regeneration. Everything is kind of related. As physicists, as material scientists, as engineers, our long-term goal is we want to produce and provide new therapeutic options and potential future applications for treatments.

How did Andy help advance the project?

Even before Andy joined, Ive been working on 3D-printing flexible electronics. But the point is that every researcher in the world has the problem of printing flexible and conductive ink. I think Andy spent around four or five months [on it].

He did the hard work on developing that ink that everyone, most every 3D-printing researcher, was looking for. Then Phillip, our graduate student, expanded the inks capabilities and applied it to 3D-printed wearable devices. Thats why their paper is in one of the top-tier materials science journals. When we talk about this paper, whenever I mention that the first author of this paper is a sophomore, people are amazed. Based on this, we got a lot of conference invitations. This is amazing work.

Whats one lesson you learned from Andy?

Although Andy is an undergraduate, there are many things I learned from him, but the main thing was that I had doubted myself: Can I give an independent project to an undergraduate student? In general, many PIs do not really give independent projects to undergraduates, but Andy wanted to be very independent. He actually emphasized to me, I can do it. I can do it. I was a little bit doubtful the very first time; however, I saw his motivation, so thats why I gave him independent projects. He did a great job, and Im continuously giving him very independent projects.

The way Ive trained Andy is like a graduate student. So for me, with Andy and the other graduate students, our training for Andy is all the same.

Beyond the knowledge hes developed and the ink discovery, Andy is a very motivated student-researcher, so he has a strong sense of responsibility. Research is not only about being smart. Research is about where you get the motivation and what excites you. Andys an undergraduate student and sophomore who wants to apply to medical school, especially M.D.-Ph.D. programs. I give a lot of credit to Andy consider how busy he is; however, he still spends a lot of time in the lab. I could see that. I could see hes so excited, and he enjoys his time in the research lab. Hes always smiling, and he always has energy to do new challenges.

So to come back to the question of what I learned from Andy: Motivation is the most important factor to be successful in research.

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Biology major Andy Shar discovers 3D printable ink that 'everyone ... - VCU News

Biology

Biologists discover bees to be brew masters of the insect world: New … – Science Daily

Scientists at the University of California, Irvine have made a remarkable discovery about cellophane bees -- their microbiomes are some of the most fermentative known from the insect world. These bees, which are named for their use of cellophane-like materials to line their subterranean nests, are known for their fascinating behaviors and their important ecological roles as pollinators. Now, researchers have uncovered another aspect of their biology that makes them even more intriguing.

According to a study published in Frontiers in Microbiology, cellophane bees "brew" a liquid food for their offspring, held in chambers called brood cells. The microbiome of these brood cells is dominated by lactobacilli bacteria, which are known for their role in fermenting foods like yogurt, sauerkraut and sourdough bread. The researchers found that these bacteria are highly active in the food provisions of cellophane bees, where they likely play an important role as a source of nutrients for developing larvae.

"This discovery is quite remarkable," said Tobin Hammer, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and lead author. "We know that lactobacilli are important for fermentation of food, but finding wild bees that use them essentially the same way was really surprising. Most of the 20,000 species of bees get their nutrition from nectar and pollen, but for these cellophane bees, we suspect that lactobacilli are also really important. They have effectively evolved from herbivores into omnivores."

The study also found that the food provisions of cellophane bees have much higher bacterial biomass compared to other bee species, matching the unusually fermentative smell that emanates from their brood cells. These uniquely rich, lactobacilli-dominated microbreweries of cellophane bees could have important implications for the health of the bees, as well as for the ecology of the ecosystems in which they live.

"It was intriguing to find that cellophane bees use a strategy called 'spontaneous fermentation,' which is how certain fermented foods like sauerkraut are made. Rather than passing on starter cultures from generation to generation, they use wild strains of lactobacilli that are ubiquitous in flowers," said Hammer. "It suggests that fermentation-based symbioses like this one can evolve without domestication. What makes these bees special is that they've figured out how to create a favorable environment in which lactobacilli can grow really well."

This study highlights the importance of studying the microbiomes of insects, which are often overlooked in favor of more familiar animals like birds and mammals, despite playing an enormous role in ecosystems the world over. By understanding the complex interactions between microbes and their insect hosts, scientists can gain new insights into the biology of these important animals and the ecosystems that they inhabit.

This study was a collaboration between researchers at Cornell University, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, UC Riverside, Colorado State University and the University of Arizona. The National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Simons Foundation provided support.

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Biologists discover bees to be brew masters of the insect world: New ... - Science Daily

Biology

Faculty Collaboration Database Competition Winners Announced … – UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine

The Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation were the basic science and clinical departments with the most participation in new database.

The School of Medicine Office of Research created a faculty collaboration database where faculty can search research interests and affiliations to find new collaborators.

To encourage faculty to participate, the Office of Research offered to provide $300 awards to the departments with the highest percentage of faculty in the database. One award is for a clinical department and another for a basic science department to provide refreshment for a faculty meeting.

The Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation won the competition.

Faculty submissions are still welcome. The faculty collaboration database can be found online, and all faculty can be included in the database, including clinical faculty and colleagues at Novant Health.

Additional questions can be sent to Trisha Dant.

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Faculty Collaboration Database Competition Winners Announced ... - UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine

Biology

She wants to make things better. Biological sciences major heads to … – Rowan Today

Jaden Johnson was still in high school the first day she spent watching surgeries, including one involving the removal of a cancerous organ. She was a biological sciences undergrad in Rowan Universitys College of Science & Mathematics when she first dissected a human cadaver.

And though Johnson is not yet a doctor, one of her biggest cheerleaders says she already possesses the qualities that make for a great physician.

This summer, the Bridgeton, New Jersey, resident will move an hour north to Camden, where she will join the Class of 2027 at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU). An alumnus of the schools Premedical Urban Leaders Summer Enrichment program (PULSE), Johnson is among 112 first-year students selected from a pool of more than 4,500 applicants across the country.

The Camden schools commitment to community service and its student-run health clinic for uninsured patients sparked Johnsons interest in applying. The city and its socioeconomic condition reminded her of her hometown. Last year, she shadowed her own primary care provider, a longtime Bridgeton doctor who held evening office hours each week for uninsured migrant workers who needed medical care.

I want to make an impact wherever I live, said Johnson, who lives in the rural outskirts of Cumberland Countys seat. I want to be able to see the injustices and disparities that Ive felt and seenand work to fix them I just want to make things better.

The daughter of Rowan alumni, Terence Johnson M'04 and Danna Johnson '97, Johnson attended elementary school in Bridgeton, where her mother grew up and now helps students as a school social worker. She later attended Cumberland Regional, a majority white high school, where her father is the assistant principal.

To overcome any educational gaps, her parents gave her extra assignments over the summer and encouraged her to follow her interest in medicine.

I got the math-and-science gene, Johnson joked. They dont know where I got that from.

After graduating at the top of her high school class, she chose to study at her parents alma mater, a 40-minute commute from home. After her first year at Rowan, Johnson enrolled in PULSE, a rigorous, six-week summer program at CMSRU focused on supporting underrepresented and disadvantaged students interested in medicine.

More than 500 students have participated in the program since its founding in 2011 by Dr. Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams, the medical schools senior associate dean for medical education.

The PULSE program was one of the best things that could have happened to me, Johnson said. She met high-achieving students interested in medicine like herself and met physicians of color who shared their own experiences in medicine.

PULSE is designed to address the lack of Black and Hispanic physicians in the United States, said Taruna Chugeria, assistant director in CMSRUs Office for Diversity and Community Affairs. The program provides students with advising, resources and training they might not be able to afford or access otherwise.

When we look at patient populations and the physicians serving them, theres a disparity, Chugeria said. It is important for us as a collective to work to diversify this health care workforce.

Johnson performed so well in the program that Chugeria invited her to teach biology and biochemistry in the programs preparation course for the MCAT, the medical school entrance exam.

Im not someone who is easy to please, Chugeria said. I have nothing but good things to say about Jaden. Shes one of those students who is confident and driven. Thats the kind of doctor I want. Shes a genuinely good person and Im proud of her for everything she has accomplished.

An active member in the Martinson Honors College, Johnson co-founded its Defining Diversity Honors BiPOC group, where she worked to educate her peers about the need for diversity and inclusivity in education, while learning to examine her own biases. Self-described as once very shy, Johnson said the experience strengthened her leadership and public speaking skills.

She also tutors students in organic and biochemistry and serves as a mentor in the Cumberland Bridge to Rowan program, where she provides assistance and advice to underrepresented students in STEM at Rowan College of South Jersey.

Before college, I didnt really have too many mentors in my field that I could relate to, Johnson said. Once I started at Rowan, I was able to start finding these mentors and realizing how many benefits that come with mentors that was something I wanted to give back to.

In April, Johnson received the Deans Outstanding Student Award for Biological & Biomedical Sciences. Jason Heindl, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department, was among her nominators.

She is super gifted intellectually, but also a great person, Heindl said. She clearly has the skills and mindset to become an excellent doctor.

Shelly Thomas, another faculty member who nominated Johnson for the award, praised the students optimism, dedication to excellence and maturity.

Shes just stellar, said Thomas, who referred students to Johnson for tutoring. Shes the kind of person whose leadership pulls others forward with her.

Every spring, Rowan University highlights one graduating senior from each school and college. Read more stories about this years featured graduates.

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She wants to make things better. Biological sciences major heads to ... - Rowan Today

Biology

Biology Without Darwin. Next, Physics Without Newton and Einstein? – The Wire

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has dropped the theory of evolution as propounded by Charles Darwin from the science syllabus for the tenth standard. This has been done as a part of the rationalisation exercise taken up during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to reduce the content load on students. The purging of the section on evolution on the pretext of the pandemic could not have been more ironical the novel coronavirus that caused the pandemic is indeed a result of the natural selection process that Darwin sought to explain and children ought to learn more about it. The theory of evolution is fundamental to understanding the basis of several sub-branches of modern biology like genetics, immunology and so on.

It is hard to believe that the change effected by NCERT, particularly relating to the chapter on evolution and heredity, has anything to the stated goal of reducing the burden on students in the wake of the pandemic. In 2018, minister of state for human resources development Satyapal Singh declared that Darwins theory of evolution was scientifically wrong because no one had ever seen a monkey turn into a human and that ever since man had come on the earth, he was a man. Singh later defended his comments and asserted that schools and colleges should stop teaching the evolution theory. Singh is no more in the education ministry but what he desired is being implemented.

Darwin has raised the hackles of obscurantist groups and different religions in many parts of the world including the US during the past several decades, but only a few have taken the extreme step of stopping teaching evolution to their children. Most of these countries are in the Middle East and Indias neighbourhood. Science textbooks in Pakistan, for instance, have been rubbishing the evolution theory for a long time. The theory has been banned completely in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Algeria and Morocco, and it is not taught in Lebanon. It is taught within the framework of religion in Jordan and is portrayed as an unproven hypothesis in textbooks in Egypt and Tunisia. Darwin is also a subject of many fatwas. In the US, a creationism lobby backed by some Catholic groups has been advocating the teaching of creationism as an alternative to the human evolution theory. Creationists believe that the world humans, natural life, the universe is a creation of the divine power or the god, and it did not evolve.

Implications

The removal of Darwin from the school syllabus is not an innocuous change. Seen in the context of revivalism and a return to the so-called ancient science, it is a retrograde step for the teaching of science and an onslaught on rational thinking and scientific temper. It can adversely impact the quality of higher education in science, scientific research and Indias position as a formidable science and technology power in the world community.

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Also read: Weaponising History: The Hindutva Communal Project

The concept of evolution is fundamental to all branches of biology and research in this field is going to help the world fight against some of the biggest challenges facing humanity be it climate change or antibiotic resistance or future pandemics emanating from the increased animal-human-environment interface. As it is, the teaching of science in Indian schools is a matter of concern. With the new changes in the school curriculum and perhaps more in the future in line with the drive to reinforce traditional values and mythology the teaching of science at the school and college levels could suffer more. Just imagine the state of Indian science in future if our schools start teaching Dashavatara as an alternative to the evolution theory. The dashavatara theory was propagated by Andhra University Vice Chancellor G. Nageshwar Rao at the Indian Science Congress session in 2019. Papers were also presented debunking theories of Newton and Einstein at this meeting.

The school curriculum change has serious implications for scientific research in the country. In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of pseudoscience activities in research institutions and universities in the name of research on ancient knowledge and to provide a scientific basis to myths. Funding agencies like the Department of Science and Technology and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have also been forced to support research on some topics concerning ancient science cow urine, cow dung, spiritual farming, medical astrology etc. With a state agency (NCERT) discarding the theory of evolution, funding agencies may soon have to deal with proposals to study alternatives to the evolution theory and to find a scientific basis for ancient ideas. All such trends dont augur well for the future of Indian science.

Response from scientific community

When Satyapal Singh rubbished the theory of evolution in 2018, the scientific community condemned it strongly. In a rare move, three academies Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the Indian Academy of Science (IASc) and the National Academy of Sciences-India (NASI) issued a joint statement. They categorically stated that Evolutionary theory, to which Darwin made seminal contributions, is well established. There is no scientific dispute about the basic facts of evolution. This is a scientific theory, and one that has made many predictions that have been repeatedly confirmed by experiments and observation.

Referring to Singhs statement that the theory should be removed from the syllabus, the academies said: It would be a retrograde step to remove the teaching of the theory of evolution from school and college curricula or to dilute this by offering non-scientific explanations or myths. Evolutionary biologists presented their arguments and requested the minister to retract his statement. Now that what Singh said then is being implemented by NCERT, the academies should reiterate their stand and use their collective clout to reverse the decision. Science academies the world over have been fighting anti-science and pseudoscience tendencies, and proactively trying to promote public understanding of science. Indian science academies should be no exception.

Also read: The Orwellian Revision of Textbooks

An independent group of scientists and educators, Breakthrough Science Society, has written an open letter criticising NCERT. It said an understanding of the process of evolution is also crucial in building a scientific temper and a rational worldview. The way Darwins painstaking observations and his keen insights led him to the theory of natural selection educates students about the process of science and the importance of critical thinking. Deprivingstudents, who do not go on to study biology after the 10th standard, of any exposure to this vitally important field, is a travesty of education.

The voices of rationality need to become stronger because the onslaught against science is not going to stop at Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution, if the developments leading to this decision are any indication. It should not be seen as just a matter of science education or science academies but as something that concerns society and the country as a whole.

Dr Dinesh C. Sharma is a New Delhi-based journalist and author. His latest book is Indian Innovation, Not Jugaad: 100 Ideas That Transformed India(Roli Books, 2022).

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Biology Without Darwin. Next, Physics Without Newton and Einstein? - The Wire

Biology

Retired Gov. Mifflin biology teacher reflects on 53 years of Earth Days – Reading Eagle

Donald Burger was active in the first Earth Days over 50 years ago as a science teacher in the Gov. Mifflin School District. He now enjoys Earth Day by watching the birds in his Cumru Township backyard feeding station. (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE)

Donald Burger relaxes in the sunroom of his Cumru Township home with his wife of 63 years Jean Ann, keeping a list of birds that visit his extensive feeding station outside for the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University.

A bluebird flies up to a suet log and pecks away at the fat. Burger relates how one day recently he was looking up through the skylight and saw a bald eagle pass over their home.

Those two sights are rather commonplace now, but back during the first Earth Day in 1970, those two birds would not have been so easily found in Berks County, if at all.

Those were heady days for the environmental movement back in the spring of 1970, essentially because there was so much work that needed to be done.

And Burger, a biology teacher who started at Gov. Mifflin High School in 1956, was more than willing to pitch in.

U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Democrat, founded the first Earth Day to raise awareness of impending legislation that would become the Clean Air Act.

Over 20 million Americans took part in activities in schools and colleges to highlight the environment.

Back then, there was bipartisan consensus on the importance of environmental protection, and under the administration of Republican President Richard M. Nixon, environmental legislation cascaded through Congress and to his desk for passage:

The Clean Air Act was passed a few months after the first Earth Day.

The Environmental Protection Agency was established in December 1970.

The EPA banned DDT in June 1972, which led to the comeback of the bald eagle, the osprey and the peregrine falcon, all birds that were almost wiped out due to eggshell thinning caused by the pesticide.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was amended in 1972 to include all hawks and owls, blue jays and crows, providing federal protection to all native bird species in the U.S.

And the Endangered Species Act was passed in December 1973.

Those were teachable moments.

And Burger and his students embraced them all with a particular emphasis on recycling.

There is no away, Burger said, recalling the impetus that became the Gov. Mifflin Ecology Bus, a mobile recycling center that he and over 200 students ran for 11 years.

You throw away things, but they dont go anyplace, he said. Theyre still here.

Ill bet we collected enough material that would have completely filled the gymnasium.

Burger had been particularly concerned about the ubiquitous use of plastics since they persist in the environment. Microplastics have been recently found in the human body with yet unknown health effects.

The plastics dont break down, he said. There hasnt been any evolution of a bacteria that would digest plastic. So it stays in the landfill.

A more recent concern is climate change brought about by global warming.

When you think of deforestation in the Amazon, with the rise of carbon dioxide and of course the warming of the oceans, the North Atlantic, off in Maine, the waters of the Gulf of Maine have warmed, he said. Theres less phytoplankton, and it affects the food web along with excessive fertilization with the runoff into the streams that causes algae blooms.

Burger can see through something as simple as an individual bird how global warming is having an effect on the environment.

We have a little bird, a Carolina wren, I first saw them when we lived in Shillington around 1968, he said.

The bird was at its northern limits in Berks and often died off in severe winters but now is a year-round resident.

In my humble opinion, thats an example of the effect of global warming, he said. A southern bird has come north, and we have it here every day.

Burger can trace his interest in conservation to the inspiration of his own teachers in the Reading School District, with one in particular.

I ended up teaching at Gov. Mifflin for 37 years, he said. I wanted to become Sam Gundy.

Gundy was perhaps the most complete Berks County naturalist of the 20th century. He was mentored by Reading Public Museum founder Levi Mengel, taught biology in the Reading School District before becoming director of the museum, and finally closed out his career as a biology professor at Kutztown University. Gundy died in 2010 at age 92.

Gundy introduced Burger to Hawk Mountain and its curator Maurice Broun, and Burger followed up with taking his students to Hawk Mountain over the years.

Gundy also introduced Burger to the local Baird Ornithological Club, and in 1952 Burger became the youngest president of the organization at age 20.

Now, he said with a smile, Im the oldest former president.

Burger will celebrate his 91st birthday a little over a week after an Earth Day that will include watching the birds at his feeders.

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Retired Gov. Mifflin biology teacher reflects on 53 years of Earth Days - Reading Eagle

Biology

Lecturer in Bioinformatics, School of Biology job with UNIVERSITY … – Times Higher Education

Applications are invited for a permanent post of a Lecturer in Bioinformatics within UCD School of Biology & Environmental Biology.

UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science invites applications for a full-time, permanent Lecturer/Assistant Professor (above the bar) in Bioinformatics with particular interest in next generation sequencing pipelines and analysis for applications in areas such as personalized medicine, health and disease, drug discovery, etc.

The School offers a diverse portfolio of programmes, including BSc degrees in Cell & Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, Zoology and Environmental Biology as well as taught graduate (MSc) degrees in Biological & Biomolecular Science (by negotiated learning), Applied Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability, Plant Biology & Biotechnology. The School also has a strong international research profile across 3 main themes: "Environmental Change & Sustainability: Informing Policy & Practice", "Genetics and Evolution: From Genome to Biome" and "Cellular and Molecular Biology: From Genes to Biotechnology"

The MSc in Biological & Biomolecular Science (by negotiated learning) currently has specialisation streams in areas including cell biology and genetics and the School wishes to develop an additional stream focussing on bioinformatics. The appointee will be expected to work with the current programme team to develop a bioinformatic specialisation stream in the MSc in Biological & Biomolecular Science (by negotiated learning) in addition to teaching bioinformatics to undergraduate and MSc classes. The appointee will also develop their own research programme in an area that complements existing research programmes within the School

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who has demonstrated aptitude, commitment and passion for teaching, with research expertise in bioinformatics. Candidates must have a PhD in an appropriate discipline, a demonstrated capacity to carry out research, excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills, and teaching experience.

IMP. NOTE: When submitting an application, applicants should include a current curriculum vitae, as well as a portfolio of teaching/supervision duties performed to date and a 4-year relevant research plan detailing possible funding opportunities (both Irish and international).

95 Lecturer / Assistant Professor (above the bar) Salary Scale: 59,370 - 94,015 per annum

Appointment will be made on scale and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines

Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 22nd May 2023.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.

UCD are unable to accept late applications.

UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.

Note: Hours of work for academic staff are those as prescribed under Public Service Agreements. For further information please follow link below: https://www.ucd.ie/hr/t4media/Academic%20Contract.pdf

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/

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Lecturer in Bioinformatics, School of Biology job with UNIVERSITY ... - Times Higher Education

Biology

Searching for solutions to the impacts of climate change on human … – UChicago Medicine

The links between climate change and human health are becoming increasingly obvious: Pollution. Extreme weather events. Food scarcity. Pathogen spread.

Meet the University of Chicago Medicine researchers who are tackling this monumental issue, one challenge at a time.

In 2021, He and collaborators published a groundbreaking study showing that by inserting the FTO gene, which affects RNA modification, into rice, the plants grew three times more rice in the lab and 50% more rice in the field. The rice plants also grew longer roots, were better able to withstand stress from drought, and photosynthesized more efficiently. Additional experiments in potato plants yielded similar results.

Now He is the director of the Pritzker Plant Biology Center, a new space to expand his RNA modification work and the research of other scientists searching for innovative ways to promote plant growth and resilience and increase crop yield.

Were considering many layers of pathways for modulating plant growth, he said. RNA modification is one aspect, but were also looking at temperature sensing, because agriculture may have to move north as the climate warms, but northern regions will still be hit by extreme cold fronts, so well need to develop plants that can resist the cold and grow fast. We also need crop plants that can better withstand warm weather. We could even modulate photosynthesis to increase biomass and yield.

In the last several decades weve seen a huge amount of resources being put into human biology and health, and rightfully so, He said. But until now we have not paid enough attention to plant biology, and with climate change, this type of research is just as important.

She studies health disparities caused by social inequity, and wonders how they can be exacerbated by the pressures of climate change. We know that people with lower income, who are experiencing racism or violence, have much higher allostatic load than those who are not facing the same stressors, she said. That chronic activation of stress responses can increase stress hormones like cortisol, and over time that can directly impact health. Chronic stress contributes to a host of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, which is the largest contributor to the racial mortality gap.

Climate change is yet another source of inequity; those with the fewest resources and who are the most vulnerable are disproportionately affected by it, in everything from the rising cost of food to a lack of secure shelter from extreme weather events to increased risk of exposure to pollution and infectious disease.

An area of particular focus for Tung is the intersection between violence and health inequity. Violence is an outcome of inequity, she said. More than medical and mental healthcare, patients who are affected by violent injury will often say they need access to economic and legal resources. For example, eviction can be equally or more toxic to a person than not being able to fully rehab an injured leg. The chronicity of stress related to housing instability has major downstream effects on peoples lives and wellbeing. Add to that the effects of climate change on housing, which have already exacerbated the affordable housing crisis and increased housing damage due to flooding and other natural disasters.

These climate challenges will not only exacerbate existing health inequities, but will increase the strain on an already struggling healthcare system, making it ever more difficult for those most burdened by the effects of climate change to access the resources they need to survive it. The question isnt so much whether these issues will get worse in the future, but rather, how to address it.

Theres a big movement in the health sciences to place a greater emphasis on the social determinants of health, but this is an existential issue, said Tung. Most of the solutions currently available to us rely on addressing the specific needs of an individual person or patient, but they dont provide opportunities for systemic change. If wealth inequality continues to worsen, it will become even more difficult to sustain the services that we are able to offer. Its a never-ending cycle.

It constantly made me think about how different environments can lead to differences in our health, even when were working with a very similar genome, she said. It made me wonder how the biology works when were exposed to certain chemicals or radiation or even biological factors, like a virus. These things can put an imprint on our bodies, but we dont always know what the long-term effects will be.

Her current research focus is on understanding how exposure to UVB radiation and arsenic affect the role of RNA methylation in cancer development. She studies epitranscriptomics the modifications made to RNA that affect how and which proteins are produced within our cells.

She sees a connection between her work and climate change because it all comes back to one thing: human decisions. Climate change and pollution are deeply connected, He said. The chemicals we make and release into the atmosphere are a huge contributor to climate change. Humans are very innovative. However, we humans also create these unexpected and unintended consequences, but because it takes years for the toxic response to appear, we dont realize it right away.

Perhaps the most obvious connection between her work and climate change is one that has been mostly successfully addressed by policy change. Those who grew up in the 1990s likely remember learning about the hole in the ozone layer, caused by human use of chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons. Ozone layer depletion allows more UVB rays to reach the planets surface, affecting everything from agriculture to marine ecosystems to cancer rates in humans. Thanks to international agreements reducing the use of chlorofluorocarbons in the 1980s, the ozone hole is slowly shrinking; but in the meantime, its effects still remain.

One of the challenges He faces is determining which RNA changes are significant. Weve seen RNA modifications in response to UV stress a few times, but we dont really know what the implication of that is, she said. There are classical responses, such as DNA damage, but epitranscriptomics is still in its infantry. We are probably one of the few groups looking at the unique connection between epitranscriptomics and the environment, which is helping us understand how dysfunction in the machinery caused by environmental exposures contributes to diseases.

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Searching for solutions to the impacts of climate change on human ... - UChicago Medicine