Genome Alberta's Official Newsletter
Genome Alberta Newsletter GeneSnips - April 17, 2008
Genome Alberta News
- The Hydrocarbon Energy Metagenome
Genome Alberta’s Chief Science Officer Gijs van Rooijen hosted a one-day workshop in Calgary, focusing on research goals and objectives for the Genome Canada competition on Applied Research in Bioproducts. Twenty representatives from the science community and industry contributed their thoughts and ideas to create a draft Letter of Intent for the latest GC Competition. Also on hand was Phil Hugenholtz from the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genomics Institute. The next step in the process is to finalize the Letter of Intent and then wait for the Genome Canada eligibility decision. There is definitely increased interest in more environmentally friendly ways to extract the bitumen from the Oilsands. Genome Alberta is looking forward to being involved in this growing area of metagenomics and the meeting certainly helped clarify some of the issues that need to be addressed - The Italian Connection
Genome Alberta’s President and CEO David Bailey attended a workshop in Rome, Italy on April 7th and 8th. Genome Canada and the Italian National Research Council co-hosted the 2-day workshop which included about 35 health researchers from each country. The purpose of the workshop was to determine if there were opportunities for collaborative work in the area of health genomics and bioinformatics in an effort to advance the frontiers of science. Although billed as an exploratory meeting, the presentations quickly showed that they were several key areas where teams could develop joint projects in health, such as cancer, cardiovascular, infectious diseases and in all examples, the GELS topics could easily be included. GC is coordinating a short summary which will be distributed to all the Canadian participants. - Mark DNA Day on your Calendar
April 25th, 1953 was the publication date for Watson and Crick’s double helix structure and April 2003 marked the completion of the Human Genome Project. In the United States the National Human Genomics Research Institute commemorates these events by designating April 25th as National DNA Day.
Genome Alberta is noting that day as well by offering something very special to the 70 million people from around the world who use the Facebook social networking site (www.facebook.com). Starting April 25th Facebook users will be able to give a gene to their friends who also use the site. It is a virtual gene of course but there will be 12 of them drawn from the human and insect world. Each gene gift will include some quick facts about the gene, information about Genome Alberta, links to our material and genomics news which we will update daily.
You’ll definitely want to mark the 25th on your calendar and if you’re a Facebook user look for the Genomics Gift. Even if you’re not a Facebook user you’ll want to check our website at www.genomealberta.ca where there will be some new pages hi-lighting the genes. - Canadian Bioinformatics Help Desk Newsletter Available
This biweekly newsletter is intended to keep Genome Canada researchers and other Help Desk users informed about new software, events, job postings, conferences, training opportunities, interviews, publications, awards, and other newsworthy items concerning bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, systems biology, and synthetic biology.
To subscribe to this free biweekly newsletter, please visit https://mail.cs.ualberta.ca/mailman/listinfo/cbhd-newsletter. - From the Westglen ElementarySchool Newsletter:
The Geee ! In Genome
Westglen's grade 6 class was invited to participate in the Opening Ceremony of The Geee ! In Genome exhibit at the TELUS World of Science. This exhibit features the characteristics and role of genes and gene research. Sarah Franko helped cut the ribbon, and our grade 6 students were the first group of elementary students to explore the exhibit. In addition, they were invited to interact with other exhibits that day. One of the speakers, Emily Coolie, inspired all in attendance with her passion and enthusiasm for science. Emily's high school science fair project won The National Science Fair. Her project identifying a genetic flag related to cancer, has sparked further research in this area! Emily is currently a student in the Faculty of Arts at UBC. She explained her decision to register in Arts; although she is passionate about science, she felt she needed to learn about the broader world context, about communication, politics, society and the arts. Then she could better connect these aspects of our lives with scientific research. This was a fabulous concept for our students, particularly in light of our IB program! They enjoyed a chance to speak with Emily and ask her questions about her experiences. Thank you to Mr. Harold Robinson (Westglen Parent) and to Valerie Collins at the TELUS World of Science for including us! Be sure to check out the exhibit while it is here!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GE3LS Digest
This is a sample from the GE3LS Digest put out on a regular basis by Genome Alberta’s GE3LS team. If you’d like to receive the full digest, email rhyde-lay@genomealberta.ca
Sweeps of human DNA yield big discoveries – March 31, 2008
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080331/dna_sweeps_080331/20080331?hub=Health
May We Scan Your Genome? – April 2008
http://www.newsweek.com/id/131743
DNA is hip. At least that's what the new breed of genetic marketers would like you to believe. Last week, Navigenics, a California Web-based company, launched its $2,500 personalized DNA test—spit into a test tube and we'll tell you your risk for heart attack and other conditions—at a storefront in New York's trendy SoHo neighborhood. Computers, set against an orange and pink double helix, showed off Navigenics's Web site. Waiters circulated with pink cocktails—past a woman in a fur shrug over here, past Al Gore, a friend of the company (and partner in a firm that's invested in Navigenics), over there. Tony Bonidy, 60, from Pittsburgh, attended the much-publicized kickoff and wants to get himself and his family tested. "This is incredible," he said.
Award-winning chemist works at the cutting edge – March 2008
http://www.ualberta.ca/~publicas/uofa/signature/buriak-nano.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genome Alberta in Pictures
If a picture is worth a thousand words we have about 25,000 words worth of pictures for you to look at from our Digital Art Contest.
The contest is sponsored by Genome Alberta, Genome B.C., and the GE3LS International Symposium and though the entry deadline has passed voting is open until April 18th.
You can view the entries and vote by going to http://picasaweb.google.com/MikesGene/ArtContest
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe to GeneSnips
To unsubscribe to GeneSnips, please follow this link:
http://www.genomealberta.ca/genesnips/newsletter_unsubscribe.aspx
