Genome Alberta's Official Newsletter
Genome Alberta Newsletter GeneSnips - December 16, 2008
Genome Alberta News
Give-a-Gene and Support the Food Bank
Nearly 90,000 people went through the doors of the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank looking for help last year and at Christmas the need is particularly acute. December donations to the Food Bank go a long way in carrying the organization through the rest of the year and we’re asking you to ensure the fundraising efforts are successful. This year, Genome Alberta is becoming involved in helping the Food Bank and you can help us in a couple of ways:
First off, for every gene given away on Facebook using the Genomics application developed by Genome Alberta, we will donate 25 cents to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. We're extending this offer as part of our effort to support the CBC-Petro Canada food drive and we’re hoping to give away our target of 1200 genes by December 19th . If you're a Facebook user already all you have to do is look for the Genomics application and if you're not currently registered on Facebook it is free, quick, and easy to sign up. Give a gene and help us support the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------If you’re in the Calgary area we also encourage you to drop by the Calgary Technologies building at 3553-31st N.W. There are bins located in the lobby so you can donate non-perishable food items and if you’d like to make a cash donation come to our office in suite 115 and we’ll issue you a tax receipt on the spot. We’re challenging Calgary’s science and research community to join us in the effort and trust that they will share the relatively good fortune the city enjoys.
The Calgary Food Bank raised $4 million in financial donations and $17 million in food donations to deliver quality emergency food to people in need and are not supported by any government agency nor are they part of the United Way family. Why not add an extra package of pasta, maybe some tins of soup, or even some baby food on your shopping trip, then drop it off at our building.
Genome Alberta staff are also giving their time on December 22nd by will be volunteering their time in the lobby of the CBC building. So why not drop by, say hello and leave a donation and who knows, maybe we’ll even offer you a cup of coffee to see you through the rest of the chilly days we’ve been experiencing.
Opportunities with the Tria Project
Tria is the name of our project looking into Mountain Pine Beetle genomics. It is also Latin for three hence the name, as the project delves into the relationship between the beetle, the tree, and the blue stain fungus carried by the beetle. It is a joint Alberta-B.C. venture and the team has two job opportunities available based at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
- Post-Doctoral Position: Population Genomics of the Mountain Pine Beetle System. You should have a doctoral degree in molecular biology, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, or a closely related field. Download the full job description from our website.
- Bioinformatician. This position was previously advertised in June 2008 under Competition No. S10035335. If you have already applied there is no need to re-submit your application. View a full description
For more information on the jobs or the project contact Genome Alberta’s Project Manager Matt Bryman at mbryman@ualberta.ca
Geee! in Genome Visits Thunder Bay
The Geee! in Genome genomics exhibit has completed a highly successful six week run (September-November) at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, presented by the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI). The exhibit attracted nearly 5000 people, including 1700 elementary and secondary school students from Thunder Bay and regional communities such as Dryden. For more information on OGI, please visit www.OntarioGenomics.ca
Imagining Science Exhibit
With all the hectic activities that seem to surround us at this time of year why not take a break from it all and visit the Imagining Science Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton. The exhibit highlights ten internationally recognized artists reflecting on the relationship between art and science and their work will be on display until February 1st, 2009. The exhibit and related collection of essays came to life largely through the ideas and efforts of Timothy Caulfield and his brother Sean. Tim is Genome Alberta’s GE3LS Principal Investigator and Canada Chair in Health Law and Policy at U of A, and Sean is an artist and Canada Research Chair in Printmaking also at U of A.
One of the scientists speaking at the opening was Dr. Jim Evans a professor of genetics and medicine at the University of North Carolina and Editor-In-Chief of Genetics in Medicine. He spoke about the relationship between Art and Science and has made his presentation available if you would like to explore the question further.
Genome Alberta is proud to be one of the sponsors of the project and hopes you’ll find the time to visit the exhibit or get a copy of the book.
Latest Edition of the Canadian Bioinformatics Help Desk Newsletter
http://gchelpdesk.ualberta.ca/
news/15dec08/cbhd_news_ 15dec08.htm
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
23andMe Poem: Enough to make you spit? – November 18, 2008
http://scienceroll.com/2008/11/18/23andme-poem-enough-to- make-you-spit/
Psst, you want eternal life?
On Sale Now: from Sergey and his wife.
All you need to do is pay
For them to own your DNA.
In return they’ll give you back
Information that you lack
Genetic risk for this and that:
You won’t know what you’re looking at.
B.C. researchers tout advance in study of cancer-linked stem cells – November 23, 2008
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ ContentPosting?newsitemid= 39715026&feedname=CP-HEALTH& show=False&number=0& showbyline=True&subtitle=& detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Scientists at the B.C. Cancer Agency are trumpeting what they say is an important advance in the study of breast cancer, particularly the role of stem cells as a cause of the disease. The lead researcher in a study says the work holds the potential to develop better treatments for this major killer in 10 to 15 years. An article being published in this week's Nature Medicine scientific journal outlines the Vancouver-based research team's success in growing transplanted normal female breast stem cells in mice. It's considered significant because many investigators believe normal breast stem cells that malfunction are behind breast cancers. "So if we can understand the way breast stem cells work it might be possible in the future to develop a drug that would be very effective in targeting these cells when they go wrong," said Peter Eirew, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in genetics at the agency's Terry Fox Lab and University of British Columbia.
The study involved taking normal breast stem cells and transplanting them into specially bred mice whose immune systems would not reject the human tissue. This allowed the stem cells to regrow a complete miniature, milk-producing mammary gland after being transplanted into the immune-deficient mice.Born to Run? Little Ones Get Test for Sports Gene – November 29, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/30genetics.html?_ r=1
When Donna Campiglia learned recently that a genetic test might be able to determine which sports suit the talents of her 2 ½-year-old son, Noah, she instantly said, Where can I get it and how much does it cost? Skip to next paragraph “I could see how some people might think the test would pigeonhole your child into doing fewer sports or being exposed to fewer things, but I still think it’s good to match them with the right activity,” Ms. Campiglia, 36, said as she watched a toddler class at Boulder Indoor Soccer in which Noah struggled to take direction from the coach between juice and potty breaks.“I think it would prevent a lot of parental frustration,” she said. In health-conscious, sports-oriented Boulder, Atlas Sports Genetics is playing into the obsessions of parents by offering a $149 test that aims to predict a child’s natural athletic strengths. The process is simple. Swab inside the child’s cheek and along the gums to collect DNA and return it to a lab for analysis of ACTN3, one gene among more than 20,000 in the human genome. The test’s goal is to determine whether a person would be best at speed and power sports like sprinting or football, or endurance sports like distance running, or a combination of the two. A 2003 study discovered the link between ACTN3 and those athletic abilities.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genome Alberta in Pictures
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe to GeneSnips
To unsubscribe to GeneSnips, please follow this link:
http://www.genomealberta.ca/genesnips/newsletter_unsubscribe.aspx
