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The Omega · Volume 22, Issue 6
News
Biological gold in the hills Luke Henderson Ω Contributor
sion is to discover and deliver medical innovation to treat unmet medical management needs in various disease conditions,” Biopharma’s website stated. “On the other, our target customer/ collaborator is the traditional pharmaceutical industry.” Recently a group of researchers discovered new microbes in some of the world’s deepest caves in Lechuguilla , N.M. The bacteria found have been in absolute isolation from the outside world, but have built-in antibodies, according to an article posted in http://www.sciencedaily. com. The bacteria are resistant to nearly every antibiotic in use by medical doctors. These bacteria are challenging scientists’ understanding of bacteria. “Maybe bacteria harbor more antibiotic producing genes that we haven’t discovered,” Cheeptham said. “The purpose of bioprospecting gives us info we didn’t have before. “There is other knowledge to be gained from this.”
A microbiologist and instructor at TRU has discovered bacteria new to science while exploring caves in Wells Grey Provincial Park. Dr. Naowarat Cheeptham discovered these bacteria while bioprospecting, a term used to describe searching for new life forms for practical use and commercialization. She hopes to discover microbes that could be used in the pharmaceutical industry to benefit humans. “Can we use their compounds they produce to our benefit? Such as anti-cancer agents or anti-microbial agents?” Cheeptham said. Cheeptham chose the caves because of their extreme ecological nature. “When you talk of darkness, you don’t have primary producers for energy, they complete the food web,” she said. “If you don’t have photosynthesis where do you get the energy from? “Caves are actually a near-starved environment.” This was the first bioprospecting in volcanic caves to take place in Canada. Cheeptham expected the life forms to match the uniqueness of their environment. “Wouldn’t they have unique metabolic pathways to be able to produce something new for us?” she said. “We can make use of their metabolic diversity.” During her exploration, Cheeptham did discover a strain of Actinomycete bacteria that may be beneficial to the agricultural industry. The bacteria, at this time only known as E9, has shown anti-microbial properties against Paenibacillus larvae, a destructive honeybee killer that causes Wells Gray Provincial Park. foulbrood disease. — PHOTO Entering isolated COURTESY GERTHMICHAEL/WIKIMEDIA environments, such as caves, is not a simple matter. “You have to be aware that every action you do in the cave can change the native microbial community,” Cheeptham said. This isn’t the first time Cheeptham has undergone an expedition in search of new life forms. She has also done research exploring ocean sediment from Tokyo Bay. Cheeptham is not alone in her bioprospecting. Soricimed Biopharma Inc. is a Canadian-based company in Sackville, N.B., that specializes in discovering and utilizing new microbes. The company’s mission statement is: “To advance the health and wellness of humanity by developing globally applicable cancer and pain management platforms.” Bioprospecting walks a fine line of serving human needs and financial gain. “On the one hand, our mis-
International Intonations
Textbook law in California, trouble in Brazil, and puppies! Mark Hendricks Ω Contributor
New California law to provide free textbooks for students A new law in California will provide students with free electronic textbooks for 50 select lower division courses. Californian governor Jerry Brown signed into law last Thursday a bill that will create a website to serve as an information commons where select textbooks will be available to download for free. Which textbooks will be available hasn’t been decided yet.
Steinberg said in a press release. “Sometimes having to choose between buying the books they need or paying for food and other living expenses.” Where you can find more: www. theatlantic.com
Slums being levelled and residents evicted in Rio
— PHOTO COURTESY JDK243/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
— PHOTO COURTESY ASAHIKO/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The law will give Californian universities the option to either create textbooks or to purchase licenses for already available textbooks. Any textbooks that are created by the Californian universities will have a creative commons license, allowing these textbooks to be used for free by other universities. “Many students are paying more than $1,000 every year on their textbooks,” senate president pro tem (the highest ranking member of the state senate) Darrel
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triggered positive emotions that is associated with approach motivation.” The study is called “The Power of Kawaii”, kawaii being the Japanese word for cute and can be found on the peer-reviewed open access electronic journal site PlosOne. Where you can find more: www. plosone.org
Looking at cute things can improve your performance A recent study at Hiroshima University in Japan found that looking at cute images can improve your performance doing everyday tasks. This study means that those images that flood your Facebook wall or email inbox with more cuteness than a puppy and kitten taking a nap together might actually be helping you in your studies and daily activities. The study measured both fine motor control and concentration skills. Both areas saw significant improvement after viewing cute images. The research team believes this increase is the cause of “cuteness-
Buildings in Rio’s Favela do Metro slums are being levelled and the residents being evicted as Rio attempts to spruce up its image before the World Cup. Approximately half the families in the Favela do Metro have been evicted and placed in a new housing estate. The housing estate was not finished in time and is only able to accommodate half of the families at the moment. This has not halted the demolition as earth movers are in the process of destroying the buildings. “It looks like you are in Iraq or Libya,” Eomar Freitas, one of the last remaining residents, told The Guardian, “I don’t have any neighbours left. It’s a ghost town.” Residents of the Favela do Metro believe the city wants the area to build a new parking lot for the nearby stadium. Jorge Bittar, the city’s housing secretary, said the area was singled out for destruction due to the precarious state of the homes there. Where you can find more: www. guardian.co/uk
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