Physiology

UTHSC professor receives $2.2 million for research into arterial stiffness and hypertension – News-Medical.Net

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Oct 15 2020

In humans, large arteries lose elasticity and thicken with age and other pathological conditions, leading to arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure. Age-related arterial stiffening affects a large population and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet it remains poorly understood, with no effective intervention.

Work being done in the lab of Zhongjie Sun, MD, PhD, FAHA, professor and chair of the UTHSC Department of Physiology, is focused on discovering the epigenetic causes of this condition. The National Institutes of Health is supporting these efforts, recently awarding Dr. Sun $2.25 million for his project, "Investigation into Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension."

The study centers on the protein KDM6A, a recently discovered histone demethylase (an enzyme that controls the activity of certain genes by modifying specific proteins). Mutation of this gene causes severe defects in the formation and development of human embryos. The proposed research will investigate whether KDM6A in cells lining the blood vessel walls help regulate the elasticity and structural soundness of the arteries. It will also investigate whether KDM6A is involved in arterial stiffness and hypertension that occurs as we get older.

The idea that KDM6A is essential in maintaining normal arterial health is new, as is the technical approach being taken to prove this hypothesis. Dr. Sun's lab will be using state-of-the-art techniques that allow temporary control of KDM6A at a given time-point in an animal model. This will enable the researchers to study the precise effects of inactivating the enzyme within certain cells.

This grant will help us further explore why blood vessels get stiff in aged people. Our studies may lead to discovery of a new therapeutic target (KDM6A) for aging-related arterial stiffness."

Dr. Zhongjie Sun, the Thomas A. Gerwin Chair of Excellence in Physiology and co-director of the UT Methodist Cardiovascular Institute

Dr. Sun's project is being funded for four years by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

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UTHSC professor receives $2.2 million for research into arterial stiffness and hypertension - News-Medical.Net

Physiology

Nobel Prize awarded to scientists who discovered Hepatitis C – The Mancunion

This year the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton, and Charles M. Rice, who discovered the Hepatitis C virus. The disease, which 71 million people are estimated to be suffering world-wide, is estimated to have killed approximately 399 000 people in 2016 alone.

Hepatitis C is spread through mixing of blood and bodily fluids. Infection can happen through injection drug use, during birth from an infected mother, unregulated tattooing, and in unsafe healthcare settings although the latter is rare in todays modern world.

It is an insidious disease. When the virus first enters the blood it generates an immune response. If the immune response is adequate the virus will be killed and cleared from the body. This, however, is only 15%-30% of cases.

In 70-85% of those infected the infection will become chronic. It targets the liver with severe scarring, known as cirrhosis, varying from person to person in the time it takes to scar. In some people it can happen within a couple of years, while for others it may take decades, with the possibility of the organ losing its function in many cases.

In some people the Hepatitis C virus may even cause cancer. This is because the liver tries to repair itself by generating new cells, but the virus can damage the DNA of these. If mutations in replication-controlling genes occur, the cells begin to proliferate uncontrollably; the result sometimes being cancerous.

The virus causes further damage by promoting inflammation. While inflammation is a healthy response meant to fight off invading pathogens, chronic inflammation can damage and kill cells in multiple ways. One such way is immune cells stimulating liver cells to produce collagen, which makes up the scar tissue. In a chronic infection like Hepatitis C this collagen fibre scar tissue is never properly dissolved. As a result, cells around the scar tissue may be starved for oxygen.

Because of the prevalence and mortality of Hepatitis C, the discovery of the virus causing it is immensely significant. It allowed for the development of blood tests and anti-viral drugs which can effectively treat the disease by blocking the virus from entering liver cells.

However, some obstacles remain. Firstly, the anti-viral drugs are expensive, subsequently limiting their accessibility. Secondly, while the ability to treat the disease is a significant advancement, it is not capable of stopping the spread of the virus. For that, we need a vaccine. And who knows, maybe that will itself be worth a Nobel Prize in a few years time.

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Nobel Prize awarded to scientists who discovered Hepatitis C - The Mancunion

Physiology

BLOGGING THE VIEW: Seven inspiring (and often unknown) facts about South Africa – Zululand Observer

As we continue to work our way through the 10th month of 2020, the stress of the year might begin to take its toll.

Weve survived a pandemic, lost loved ones, had long-held dreams overturned and are sitting with a bank balance substantially depleted.

But the key thing is weve made it this far, and will continue to overcome the difficulties of the year by looking at the positives around us.

Heres an inspirational overview of our countrys achievements over the years as a way to get in the right frame of mind going forwards.

Most official languages on the globeA diverse and multi-cultural society, South Africa is the only country in the world that recognises all 11 languages as official. Most of the citizens can speak at least two of the following languages:* English* isiZulu* isiXhosa* Afrikaans* isiNdebele* Sepedi* Setswana* Sesotho* Xitsonga* SiSwati* Tshivenda

One of first countries legalising same-sex marriageWith one of the most modern constitutions in the world, South Africa was one of the forerunners in legalising same-sex marriage.In fact, South Africa was the fifth country globally to pass this legislation back in 2006.However, there are still many cultures that do not embrace the lifestyle and work is being done to encourage open-minded debate and discussion.

Nobel laureate winnersThe country has many influential citizens, some of whom have been recognised on the international stage with Nobel Prizes.Two of our Nobel Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu) even lived on the same street Vilikazi Street in Soweto.Nobel Prize winners who lived in South Africa when they won the award:* Max Theiler: Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1951)* Albert Luthuli: Nobel Prize for Peace (1960)* Desmond Tutu: Nobel Prize for Peace (1984)* Nadine Gordimer: Nobel Prize in Literature (1991)* Nelson Mandela: Nobel Prize for Peace (1993)* Frederik W de Klerk: Nobel Prize for Peace (1993)* John M Coetzee: Nobel Prize in Literature (2003)Nobel Prize winners born in South Africa but residing elsewhere at the time of the award:* Allan M Cormack: Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1979)* Sydney Brenner: Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (2002)

Coastline of shipwrecksThe wealth of minerals and riches has drawn many an intrepid traveller to South Africas rocky shores, some of whom have had success, many of whom have ended at the bottom of the ocean. Because of this, the 2 500km coastline has more than 2 000 shipwrecks, some more than five centuries old, with many world-class diving sites giving visitors the chance to view them up close.

Worlds highest bungee jumpExtreme adventurers come to South Africa every year to navigate river rapids, swim with sharks and jump off cliffs. In fact, the country is home to the worlds highest commercial bridge-based bungee, the 216m high Bloukrans Bridge in the Eastern Cape.

Astronomical impactThe natural abundance and historical notables found within South Africa have resulted in many World Heritage Sites proclaimed, one of which is the Vredefort Dome. This is home to Earths largest meteor crater which is evidence of the greatest single release of energy in Earths history.The impact crater is about 300km in radius, estimated to be travelling 36 000km per hour

Worlds deepest mineRenowned for its gold mines which triggered the 1886 gold rush, South Africa is home to the worlds deepest mine Mponeng Gold Mine in Witwatersrand.Sitting some 4km deep, the mine could fit 10 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other.

While being inspired by past achievements, we can also look forward to great things in the future, no matter whats happening right now!

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BLOGGING THE VIEW: Seven inspiring (and often unknown) facts about South Africa - Zululand Observer

Biochemistry

Dr. Amy Liao Receives the Wallace A. Coulter Award for Healthcare Innovation – PRNewswire

CHELMSFORD, Mass., Oct. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS) announced today that Dr. Amy Liao, president of Brooks Life Science Services, has received the Biomedical Engineering Society's Wallace A. Coulter award for innovation in healthcare. The Coulter award recognizes an outstanding individual who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to and made important contributions to patient healthcare. Dr. Liao will be speaking at the plenary session of the 2020 Biomedical Engineering Society's virtual meeting on Friday October 16, 2020.

"We are very proud to see Amy recognized by the Biomedical Engineering Society with this award," commented Steve Schwartz, CEO and president of Brooks Automation. "Amy's accomplishments with over 20 years in the field of genomics has led to breakthrough innovations in gene sequencing and gene synthesis, and in GENEWIZ, she built a company that has supported thousands of customers in their pursuit of scientific discoveries. All of us at Brooks congratulate Amy for this recognition of her achievements."

Dr. Amy Liao was appointed President of Brooks Life Sciences Services in April 2020. She joined Brooks in November 2018 following its acquisition of GENEWIZ, a global provider of genomics services, which she co-founded in 1999. Dr. Liao held various leadership positions during her tenure at GENEWIZ culminating in her appointment as Chief Executive Officer in January 2017. Dr. Liao received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from SUNY Stony Brook. She did her post doctorate studies at Columbia University before leaving to found GENEWIZ. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Nankai University, China and an M.S. in Biochemistry from Tsinghua University, China.

About Brooks AutomationBrooks (Nasdaq: BRKS) is a leading provider of life science sample-based solutions and semiconductor manufacturing solutions worldwide. The Company's Life Sciences business provides a full suite of reliable cold-chain sample management solutions and genomic services across areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies for the industry's top pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and healthcare institutions globally. Brooks Life Sciences' GENEWIZ division is a leading provider of DNA gene sequencing and gene synthesis services. With over 40 years as a partner to the semiconductor manufacturing industry, Brooks is a provider of industry-leading precision vacuum robotics, integrated automation systems and contamination control solutions to the world's leading semiconductor chip makers and equipment manufacturers. Brooks is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.brooks.com.

INVESTOR and MEDIA CONTACT:

Mark NamaroffDirector, Investor RelationsBrooks Automation 978.262.2635[emailprotected]

SOURCE Brooks Automation

http://www.brooks.com

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Dr. Amy Liao Receives the Wallace A. Coulter Award for Healthcare Innovation - PRNewswire

Biochemistry

Global Automated Biochemical Analyzers Market (Impact of COVID-19) Size, Status, Top Players, Trends and Forecast to 2026| Beckman Coulter, Hitachi,…

Automated Biochemical Analyzers Market 2020 Updated for the impact of COVID-19Chicago, United States,- Report Hive Research announces the release of the report Automated Biochemical Analyzers Market Research Report by Top Keyplayers, by Type, by Application, Global Forecast to 2025 Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

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Beckman Coulter, Hitachi, Roche, KHB, Thermo Scientific, Dirui, Toshiba, Gaomi Caihong, Sunostik, Urit, Mindray Medical, Abbott, Senlo, Tecom Science, Siemens Healthcare, Rayto

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Fully automatic biochemistry analyzer (FABCA) is a high performance micro-controller based Photometric biochemistry analyzer used to measure various blood biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, urea, protein, and bilirubin etc. that are associated with various disorders such as diabetes, kidney diseases, liver malfunctions and other metabolic derangements. The quantization of these parameters is helpful in diagnosing health disorder. In the proposed project work, it is planned to automate the filter selection, sample aspiration, auto-calibration and other related parameters to be controlled through micro-controller based hardware and software system. It is proposed to automate the sample handling system to cope up with the large no. of blood sample at a time. The modular design of automatic biochemistry analyzer (ABC) analyzer facilitate to be controlled via laptop or PC by usingThe global Automated Biochemical Analyzers market is expected to reach xxx Million USD by 2025, with a CAGR of xx% from 2020 to 2025.

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Global Automated Biochemical Analyzers Market (Impact of COVID-19) Size, Status, Top Players, Trends and Forecast to 2026| Beckman Coulter, Hitachi,...

Biochemistry

Eckley Scholar Erin Yuan ’21 Studies Antioxidants in Spices and Tea – Illinois Wesleyan University

Erin Yuan 21

Oct. 16, 2020

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Senior chemistry major Erin Yuan 21 brought the kitchen into the chemistry lab with her 2020 Eckley research project, studying the interactions of antioxidant contents and properties in tea and spices.

Yuan completed her independent research project as an Illinois Wesleyan University Robert S. and Nell B. Eckley Scholars and Artists Program Scholar, a yearly fellowship offered in the summer to five upperclass students across the arts and sciences.

With the aid of her faculty advisor, Associate Professor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Manori Perera, Yuan studied the difference of antioxidants present in tea and spices, in order to observe the effect of combining them. Yuan hypothesized that novel mixtures, such as cinnamon tea, would significantly differ in antioxidant content from pure spices and tea.

Despite lab closures in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yuan still made progress in her research with slight modification to the project initially proposed. She worked on a literature survey surrounding the project while also working on another component associated with antioxidants in tea. She brought to completion the development of an undergraduate lab that was started by previous research students in Pereras lab. This work led to a manuscript that was later submitted to a chemical education journal. Her work could be used in upper-level chemistry courses like quantitative analysis or capstone labs.

Once the chemistry laboratory reopened, Yuan analyzed the antioxidant concentration of 13 samples using mass spectroscopy an analytical tool useful for measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of one or more molecules present in a sample to determine the presence of antioxidants and UV-visible spectroscopy to test their properties. This work involved instrumentation at Illinois Wesleyan as well as Illinois State University.

While the data collected using mass spectroscopy was not able to clearly show that the hypothesis was valid or invalid, this work provided some new ideas that could enhance the project. For Yuan, this is another skill set that will help in any research lab or industrial work.

Those valuable experiences deepened my understanding of chemistry and strengthened my ability to conduct an independent study, which will make me more confident and comfortable in further studies, Yuan said.

I would describe this experience as a valuable opportunity for immersive learning and an excellent simulation of a researchers life. Unlike doing research during the semester, it gave me a chance to entirely focus on the project with a compact experimental process. What I learned through the project is going to be powerful support for my future study.

By Rachel McCarthy 21

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Eckley Scholar Erin Yuan '21 Studies Antioxidants in Spices and Tea - Illinois Wesleyan University

Biochemistry

Volleyball: Gonzaga’s Talarico provides on and off the court – Bulletin

In volleyball, the libero jersey is not something one just gets. It takes years of hard work and practice to get to this top defensive position.

The same is true for biochemistry majors. They have to spend two years in challenging weed out classes to prove that they belong in their major.

Julia Talarico has proven herself in both these areas as a senior biochemistry major and libero on the Gonzaga volleyball team.

However, it hasnt been an easy road to get to where she is now. Talarico has had to earn her way up to the top.

The first year was a figure it out year for both of us, said Diane Nelson, the head coach of the volleyball team. From me to her it was about who are you. And from her to the program it was about how does she fit into this program.

Freshmen tend to have a challenging first year and Id say she did. She had to learn a ton. I could tell a lot of it had to do with her confidence. We really spent that freshman summer and sophomore year teaching her how to talk to herself positively and evaluate her day to day work in a way that is process oriented not outcome oriented. She started to develop those skills that allowed her to be freer and freer every day.

Talarico found her passion for volleyball at a young age and that passion only grew once she got to GU.

She began playing volleyball when she was 10 in her hometown Chandler, Arizona and began playing club volleyball at 11.

GU was a perfect fit for Talarico both academically and athletically.

I got a phone meeting with Gonzaga, with Diane actually who was an assistant coach at the time, and they said they wanted to get a better look at me and invited me to go to their camp where all the other recruits are too, Talarico said.

She went on to say that at the time she wasnt sure if shed make the team because there were eight other people up for the open positions.

She came to campus on a visit, and I remember it very clearly, she wanted to see a match and that was kind of the last piece in that being the right fit for her, Nelson said. I remember after that match she came up to me and I was thinking she was going to say This isnt the right place to me. But, she came up to me and said I think I really want to be a Zag.

Over the last few years Talarico has grown immensely. She went form not seeing very much court time her freshman year to being one of the most important players on the court.

Junior year I think for Julia was the turning point for her," Nelson said. "We needed a change on the court and each opportunity she got she became more impactful on the court, she started to become the reason the game would change."

Talarico sees putting on the libero jersey as one of the highlights of her college career.

When I first put on the libero jersey it was right in the middle of a game, so I was excited, Talarico said. Its something you are not going to get just by showing up.

Her major is the same way. Advancing within the biochemistry major is not easy, but Talaricos passion for science has only grown stronger over the past three years.

Ever since I was in elementary school, Ive always loved the idea of science, Talarico said. Knowing that you can manipulate molecules and that theyre basically everywhere we live theyre in our bodies, in our world in our air thinking about how these little molecules control our everyday life is really interesting to me.

Finding the balance between volleyball and biochemistry has been a challenge but one that Talarico was ready and willing to take on.

With biochemistry it has nothing to do with athletics or working out, Talarico said. I think I had to start from scratch in learning about the major."

I think its kind of cool that Im the only athlete and I can make so many relationships with normal students. Some students didnt even know I was an athlete until a year or two in. They ask how I balance that and volleyball and I just say, I dont know I dont really have a choice; I just do it, said Talarico.

Over the past two semesters she has had the opportunity to be a teachers assistant for organic chemistry. She is also working on research and her thesis on top of playing volleyball.

Knowing that I can still have science be a part of my life while also still playing volleyball showed my professors that Im not just going through the motions with science I really want to apply myself and make it work with both things being a student and an athlete, Talarico said.

Nelson said Talarico is really good at balancing school and volleyball. The work Talarico puts in on court and in the classroom is clear. She wouldnt have the libero jersey if it wasn't.

She earned the jersey," Nelson said. "She rose to the top of that crew. She felt like it was her turn but she still had to separate herself. We had five defensive specialists in our gym last year and she had to become number one in order to get the jersey.

Talarico is ready to take on an even bigger role this year as the libero and is excited to lead the team and help her teammates develop like she has over the past three years.

I really couldnt be where I am today without everyone in the volleyball community especially my coaches and teammates, Talarico said. They have pushed me so much to be the player I am today. Sure, we all have accomplishments and I have my personal accomplishments, but I couldnt have done that without them pushing me every single day in practice. Its definitely been a team effort to get to where I am today.

Riley Utley is the editor-in-chief. Follow her on Twitter: @rileyutley.

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Volleyball: Gonzaga's Talarico provides on and off the court - Bulletin

Biochemistry

How CCM professor is contributing to development of drugs to combat COVID-19 – ROI-NJ.com

Everyone is looking for a cure for COVID-19. Brian Olson, a professor in the departments of biology and chemistry at County College of Morris, just might be onto something.

Olson recently had his research on coronavirus targets, An Online Repository of Solvation Thermodynamic and Structural Maps of SARS-CoV-2 Targets, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design to assist with the development of drugs to combat the virus.

Olson, who is working with Tom Kurtzman of Lehman College and a team of researchers, is the lead author on the paper, which provides maps of water molecules on the viruss proteins that also are known as solvation maps.

Olson said knowing which water molecules need to be displaced, and which do not, provides essential information to guide the development of drugs to treat COVID-19. The first step toward determining that is mapping where the water molecules are located on the proteins, he said.

We were seeing clusters on multiple continents and were unable to trace the sources of infection, he said. It was clear this was going to be an immediate and international public health issue. That compelled me to do something.

The team utilized GIST, the computational tool developed by Kurtzman.

Now that solvation maps of the COVID-19 virus are available, Olson and his team plan to use that information to search for new drugs, they said. Making the information public and free also will aid others in their search for new and effective pharmaceuticals to defeat the coronavirus.

According to Altmetrics Attention Score, which measures the online attention and activity of research papers, the work conducted by the Olson team ranks in the Top 25%. Given that ranking, based on more than 2,200 views and over 300 downloads of the paper, Olson is encouraged about the development of drugs to fight the coronavirus.

I have never seen the international scientific community come together the way it has now to find some answers, he said. There is international collaboration and the sharing of information that previously would not have been shared.

Olson, who teaches forensic science at CCM, joined the colleges faculty in 2018. At CCM, he and several other professors developed the colleges first virtual reality class to teach students forensic science skills by analyzing murder scenes. Along with his work on the coronavirus, he is researching the development of painkillers to replace opiates.

Olson, who earned his associate degree in science from the Borough of Manhattan Community College, a bachelors in biochemistry from Hunter College and a masters in biochemistry from the City University of New York Graduate Center, is now working on his doctorate in biochemistry from CUNY Graduate Center.

Olson said he is a strong advocate for community colleges.

Community colleges place a high value on quality teaching, he said. I am so fortunate. I have fun researching tiny molecules and, on top of that, I get paid to talk to students about narcotics, murders and other fascinating topics. I cant imagine having a better job.

Original post:
How CCM professor is contributing to development of drugs to combat COVID-19 - ROI-NJ.com

Biochemistry

Before They Were Scientists, They Were Students. These Are The Teachers Who Inspired COVID-19s Leading Experts To Change The World – Forbes

Every person making advances to cure and treat COVID-19 was once in a classroom. Their teachers ... [+] inspired and guided them on their journey.

It was Steve Lantos. 10th grade chemistry.High school biology, Mrs. DeSmet.Probably more than anyone, it was my high-school chemistry teacher, Ms. Thornburg. For me, it was biochemistry.That was my favorite subject.Rohini was her name. My first science teacher in high school, Mr. Alicia.He was the one who inspired me to pursue infectious disease.I would credit who I am today to him. He continues to inspire me even today. Dr. Melvyn Mosher, a funny man who looked like Albert Einstein and was a guest chemistry teacher at my high school.

I spoke to six people on the frontlines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to know who set them on their path to do this lifesaving work. Each one, leading epidemiologists and researchers, told me about a high school science teacher who changed the course of their life. Sometimes, it was how they taught the subject matter. Sometimes, it was that these teachers believed in them when others didnt. Most often, it was both. But one thing was clear: If it werent for these STEM teachers, the doctors and researchers keeping us safe today wouldnt be doing this work. As much as we all are indebted to the frontline scientists, doctors, and researchers keeping us healthy and safe, they are indebted to the teachers who set them on their path. Here are their stories.

Nahid Bhadelia is Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at BU School of Medicine and the Medical Director, Special Pathogens Unit, at Boston Medical Center. Krutika Kuppalli is Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of South Carolina and was the medical lead for an Alternate Care Site for San Franciscos COVID-19 response. Syra Madad is the Senior Director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + Hospitals and is helping oversee New York Citys COVID response; she was also on the breakout Netflix show Pandemic (and shared an inspirational talk at 100Kin10s Summit in April 2020). Gary Krishnan, a senior research fellow at the pharmaceutical giant, Lilly, is leading a team working on a cutting-edge treatment for COVID-19. Raga Krishnakumar is a researcher at Sandia National Labs, working at the intersection of bioscience and national security, looking at a therapeutic molecule that can reduce or alleviate COVID-19 symptoms.And Janelle Sabos is the Global Head of COVID-19 Neutralizing Antibody Clinical Development and Delivery, also at Lilly.

Though the details of their experiences differed some were immigrants, some were born here; some moved often during their childhood, some grew up in close-knit communities; some were on the coast, others in small towns, one was in India their teachers were more alike than different.

Learning was an adventure

Each of them described teachers who made learning exciting and interactive. Raga described a biology teacher who made everything feel exciting and like some sort of adventure we were having. Mrs. DeSmet would paint scenarios youre alone in the woods, and its cold, and you need heat. There are different kinds of wood. What would you do? Nahid described a big focus on experimentation and discovery of science and experimentation in the classroom. Syra talked about how Mr. Alicia provided hands-on experiences. Gary described how his teacher, Ms. Rohini, made it seem like biochemistry was the secret of life. She spoke with such clarity and love about biochemistry that she made her students believe in it. And Janelle talked about how Dr. Mosher would always do experiments you could see, so you could understand the equations you were writing. Ragas voice quickened as she remembered: If this is biology, I am totally sold!I still have that feeling, when I do research, that Im on an adventure.

Biochemistry was the secret of life. - Gary Krishnan, a senior research fellow at the ... [+] pharmaceutical giant, Lilly.

Each student was valued and knew they belonged

Krutika softened as she recalled, I was the kid who got made fun of, because we all got grades starting in elementary school, and if you didnt get all As, you would be made fun of.I felt I wasnt good enough or smart enough or whatever enough. But Ms. Thornburg made it clear that she was there to help Krutika understand. And she made it clear that I was worthy enough to spend time with me. These teachers made it easy to ask questions. Steve was amazing, Nahid shared: No question was too stupid. I could put my guard down, I could relax and learn, versus being called on and being judged. Even with the passage of time, when details had evaporated, these accomplished researchers remembered how their teachers had a way of making everyone feel intelligent. Raga was generally a shy student, she said, so asking questions was a big deal. Knowing that she could ask questions without fear of being labeled opened her up, and opened up the science to her. It made all the difference, especially for someone who is introverted and shy and not necessarily self-confident. And for Janelle, who was bubbly, her mentor let me talk while doing bench research, accommodating me and my personality and style. Nahid started a new school halfway through her freshman year, but it was in Mr. Lantos 10th grade class that she first didnt feel like an outsider, a weirdo.

These teachers were kind and playful without sacrificing rigor

They gave out silly awards at the end of the year. They were open and shared and goofy, but they had discipline. Kind and effective, Raga said, where a lot of other teachers were on either end of that spectrum. The word nurturing showed up often. And they were master storytellers.

They connected their subject matter to what matters to kids

Syra Madad is the Senior Director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + ... [+] Hospitals and is helping oversee New York Citys COVID response. Syra credits a book her teacher gave her called The Hot Zone with igniting her interest in infectious disease.

Syras biology teacher gave her a book called The Hot Zone about ebola and invited her to explore the field of infectious disease. Garys biochemistry teacher would bring everything back to chemistry even current events. Had he not given me that one book, Syra reflected, I would not have gone into special pathogens, which was my entre to everything I do now.

They took time beyond the classroom and got to know students personally

To a T, these folks recalled teachers who were always there for students, during lunch, after school. Janelle told this story: Not having a lot of money, I approached Dr. Mosher and asked if he would mentor me. Girls dont often come to me and ask to do bench research, let alone on weekends and nights, she remembered him saying. He mentored and funded her science fair projects for six years using his lab. Syras teacher, Mr. Alicia, could see that she was motivatedand let her be the lead in dissecting a cat that even the boys who would present themselves as so macho were disgusted by. He made her the central character of stories he would tell about biology, praising her passion and motivation in front of the whole class. Krutika summed it up: Time is the greatest gift. I dont think you recognize that when youre younger. Someone dedicating time to you, that has an impact you might not understand, but when you go back and look, you realize that they were telling you all along you are smart enough, you are worthy.

Raga, who mentors young students through the New York Academy of Sciences, said she tries to keep these lessons in mind when she interacts with people, whether colleagues or mentees, because she knows what a difference someone who believes in you, inspires you, and opens you up can make. As I was talking to Nahid, she looked up her 10th grade chemistry teacher, Mr. Lantos, and practically yelped. I cant believe hes still here! The 35-year veteran of Brookline High School was still inspiring students. This is awesome.

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Before They Were Scientists, They Were Students. These Are The Teachers Who Inspired COVID-19s Leading Experts To Change The World - Forbes

Biochemistry

Excerpt The Chosen Atom – Discovery Institute

Photo: Glassy carbon, by Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) / FAL.

Editors note: We are pleased to offer this excerpt from Dr. Dentons new book, The Miracle of the Cell. Join us on October 21 for a global webinar with Michael Denton celebrating the launch of his new book!

While there may be other forms of chemical life, perhaps based on boron or silicon (for which there is at present no empirical or theoretical evidence), what seems not in doubt is the supreme fitness of carbon for any chemical life form analogous to that on Earth. As Gross and Plaxco confess inAstrobiology, In the end there may very well be only a single element carbon the basis of all life on Earth that is able to support the complex chemistry presumably required to create a self-replicating chemical system.1

What is particularly striking about the properties of the carbon atom is that they appear to be fine-tuned in several different but complementary ways to generate the plenitude of compounds uniquely useful to life. Such a suite of properties, all seemingly arranged to generate a vast inventory of molecules ideal for the biochemistry of living cells, conveys a powerful impression of contrivance. More than a century ago Alfred Russel Wallace expressed, in hisWorld of Life:

We see, therefore, that carbon is perhaps the most unique, in its physical and chemical properties, of the whole series of the elements, and so far as the evidence points, it seems to exist for the one purpose of rendering the development of organized life a possibility. It further appears that its unique chemical properties, in combination with those of the other elements which constitute protoplasm, have enabled the various forms of life to produce that almost infinite variety of substances adapted for mans use and enjoyment, and especially to serve the purposes of his ever-advancing research into the secrets of the universe.2

It turns out that Wallace, peering into the biochemical basis of life, saw what has now become even clearer. Many have believed (and many still do believe) that Darwin drove teleology out of biology forever. But more than a century and half of scientific research since Darwin has shown that the fitness of nature for life on Earth, exemplified so wonderfully in the chosen atom, points irresistibly to purpose and design.

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Excerpt The Chosen Atom - Discovery Institute