HELIX 23-24 Vol. 5 Issue 1

October-December 2023

Volume 5 Issue 1

About the Cover The cover centrally shows a person whose head is filled with an abstract mix of colors that emanate outwards as a spiral surrounds their aura. Various glows, lines, shapes, textures, and colors also surround the person which showcase the boundless and imaginative realms and possibility of life’s fiction and oddities.

This artistic depiction serves as a metaphor for the power of fiction to transport us, challenge our perceptions, and expand our understanding of both the possible and the peculiar. Much like human nature nested in our mind, it is symbolic of life’s complexity, as we deal with the endless prospects of our everyday existence. That as vast and scary and, conversely, as colorful and unique the elements of life are, we must embrace its complexity. This embrace is the heart of this HELIX Issue.

Cover art designed and conceptualized by Mike Aaron L. Banguis Creative Editor

A Letter from the Editor Biology, like all the other sciences, is fueled by a curiosity to discover, debunk, and innovate. Without these hallmarks, we cannot progress our understanding of what everything is, especially that of life. As our understanding continuously grows and flourishes through the ages, so too will the complexity of our discoveries, debunked mysteries, and innovations.

Suffice it to say that science is complex, and this complexity is only further sustained by a collective curiosity. That is to say that for every failed or successful experiment and every slump or Eureka, there is a profound, communal humanity. In truth, the very nature of our existence is built upon the curiosity of those who came before and those in the present.

These ideas have built up our renewed thinking, powering our sense of progress and thirst for wisdom. Today, we continue to push the boundaries of what was “thought to be” and “what can be,” hoping to make something out of one thing or, dare we say, defy the laws and make something out of nothing.

In this issue, HELIX discusses the complexity of biology, exploring the different oddities and perspectives we’ve unraveled through the generations and the possibilities of turning something otherwise fiction into reality. In doing so, HELIX hopes to continually embrace the complexity of life and invite others to do so as well.

Alfonso A. Bello Editor-in-Chief

The HELIX Publication Oct-Dec 2023

Editorial Board Alfonso Bello

Francesca Danielle Suguitan

Mike Aaron Banguis

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor

Creatives Editor

Vince Albarillo

Alexis Bienne Montaller

News Editor

Explorer Editor

News Annix Laude

Betty Mercado

Derreck De Leon

News Writer

News Writer

News Writer

Explorer Riz Balaga

Nicola Caparas

Tim Dumlao

Jacob Pagulayan

Explorer Writer

Explorer Writer

Explorer Writer

Explorer Writer

Opinion Creatives Anya Dimanlig

Sophia Dumlao

Kayla Baang

Artist

Artist

Artist

Jeremy Eviota

Florence Nualla

Artist

Artist

Table of Contents News

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Ateneo BOx Soars: A Retrospect of Launched Projects, Initiatives

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Life Beyond Earth: Exploring Hycean Planets

Opinion

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Privacy: A Mere Inconvenience

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A Cellular Conundrum: Stem Cells and Religion

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Gaza’s Silent Casualty

Explorer

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Philippine Peculiarities: Underwater Fauna Wonderland

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Wings of Wonder: Unveiling the Genetic Marvels Behind Santa’s Reindeer Fleet

Ateneo BOx Soars: A Retrospect of Launched Projects, Initiatives Written by Vince Albarillo /Illustrated by Florence Nualla noting the success of making this year’s iteration.

News

Immediately following the GA, the formal recruitment process of the core teams (CT) for various projects was held through All Aboard BOx. To accustom them to BOx systems and guide them in project implementation, newly recruited CTs were also oriented on technical details and processes in the CT Seminar (CTSem).

In tandem, year-long member-oriented initiatives, the Biology Undergraduate Mentorship Program (BUMP) and the Leadership Empowerment and Apprenticeship Program (LEAP), also commenced.

As the first semester of AY 2023–2024 comes to a close, members of the Ateneo Biological Organization (BOx) enjoyed the fruits of their labor. The newly-inducted Executive and Central Board (EBCB) deemed it fit to have as many events and activities as possible for both new and returning members.

In an interview, BOx President Andrea Peñaflor (3 BS BIO) expressed her pride in both concluded and future BOx events, given her unwavering trust in a very committed EBCB. “[They] are very ambitious, genuinely passionate people that [have their own] initiatives, dreams, and aspirations for BOx,” Peñaflor stated. She highlighted their independence when it came to handling their projects.

From Chrysalis to Flight To kick off the academic year, freshmen from Biology and Life Sciences courses were warmly welcomed in the SEC-B Foyer during the three-day Freshie Welcome Week in early August. This eventually led to the formal LaunchBOx: Quantum, which aimed to introduce freshmen to their new life in Ateneo.

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Despite challenges in scheduling, Programs Head Karyll Tan (2 BS BIO) believes the event successfully inducted its new members, just as the previous iteration did for her.

Then, in early September, BOx participated in COA-M RecWeek, which saw the recruitment of over 500 BOx members, setting a new record for the organization’s history.

Moreover, BOx also won the Best Organization Board Award, courtesy of the Department of Design and Documentation (DODD).

To formally introduce the new members to BOx, the organization also held its very own Metamorphosis-themed General Assembly (GA) which took place on September 20 at the MVP Roofdeck.

According to Associate Vice President (AVP) for Member Enrichment Kim Ronquillo (3 BS BIO), there were challenges in accounting for the groundbreaking number of BOx members this year. “The whole [team] had to decide whether or not we [could] accommodate everyone for an onsite GA event,” Ronquillo stated. However, these issues were swiftly resolved, with Ronquillo also

From the bright to the drab To officiate the start of advocacy-related projects, the Department of Advocacy (DOA) led masterclasses called “eXpress,” as a means to integrate classroom learning with the most pressing issues of society in the STEM sector.

This year’s very first masterclass on October 17 was featured as a Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB) talk, boasting renowned speakers who provided insights about navigating the scientific world as a queer individual, highlighting intersectionalities and necessary avenues for discourse.

Simultaneously, the organization also showed the documentary “DELIKADO” by awardwinning Director Karl Malakunas, which shed light on the commonly disregarded issue of environmental protection as it presents the ongoing struggle of environmental protectors in Palawan.

“[Given the One Health Framework], green spaces [indicate] a clean environment [that is] beneficial for our mental and physical health,” Angeles states. He adds that awareness could also influence policy-making and conservation strategies on campus.

The Avatar-themed SustainaBOx also returned this year last November 13 to 24. The initiative involved a series of bingo challenges, a watch party, and a sustainability talk given by Quezon City’s Chief Environmental Management Specialist Kristine Lea S. Gaon, MBA. As maintained by AVP for Bioeducation Gabrielle Lavitoria (3 BS BIO), the project entailed gathering and inspiring people to live a more sustainable lifestyle even in little ways. “[Sustainability] has, at its core, altruism—we forgo a sustainable lifestyle for a life that serves us immediate comfort,” she mentioned.

Despite the disappointment felt by the team upon the suspension of onsite classes for the talk, their adaptability to the situation allowed the project to end on a high note. Moreover, they expressed glee in surpassing their goals for participants in the challenges, watch party, and the sustainability talk.

In addition, beyond its main advocacies, the organization also puts stock into relationshipbuilding and creating rapport among members, which is the main goal of Tambay Week. It was held on November 13 to 15 in the SEC-B Foyer.

Beating hearts as one Ending the semester on a high note, BeatBOx went head-tohead against nine other organizations in Rhythm-in-Blue (RiB) 2023: A Dance Odyssey, the first onsite iteration of the inter-organization dance competition since 2019.

The dance troupe made history when they secured the championship, alongside the individual Best Performer award for member Alyanna Alcoran (3 BS BIO).

According to Peñaflor, BOx has always had a history of appearing in the finals of RiB but has never bagged the championship, making the win a monumental achievement for the organization and its alumni. “[The alumni, including the faculty] were so supportive and excited for the comeback of BOx,” she commented. “I am so happy that the team gets to witness the [support

from multiple generations] because they deserve that,” she added.

Due to a number of factors, the troupe was only able to practice less than a week before the competition. Their routine was also completed a night before, and their emotions ultimately manifested on stage as they wooed both the judges and audience.

News

Becoming avatars for nature and nurture In collaboration with the Ateneo Wild, BOx hosted “Into the Wild,” a series of anticipated nature walks that occurred on October 23, 25, and 27. According to AVP for Bioactivism Covenant Angeles (3 BS BIO), the team wanted the participants to both learn about campus biodiversity as well as gain awareness of the importance of urban green spaces.

BeatBOx Captain Kanah Saavedra (3 BS BIO) expressed great happiness at their win. “The road was a bumpy one, but we were still able to push through. [We] hope we made all of BOx proud!” she exclaimed.

Moving forward Ateneo BOx has inevitably faced challenges in its transition from an online setting to fully onsite.

Peñaflor stated that although BOx is not perfect, it ceaselessly tries–a testament to the dedication, work ethic, and talents employed by members of the community.

“It’s easy to say that it’s just because of a specific [proponent], but when you look at it, it’s more complex than a mycelial network,” she humorfully adds.

She emphasizes the members’ eagerness to give support and actualize their passions. “If everyone tries to connect with each other through the projects, I’m very confident that they can find their people and their room to grow in BOx,” she concluded.

Looking forward to the next semester, Peñaflor encourages members to anticipate future projects in the organization, including SportsFest, LoveBOx, and Marine Rehabilitation.

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Life Beyond Earth: Exploring Hycean Planets Written by Annika Laude and Bettina Mercado / Illustrated by Jeremy Eviota

News

The possibility of other worlds has become a reality since the confirmation of 51 Pegasi b in 1995, and there are many more waiting to be discovered.

Last September 2023, a team of astrophysicists and astrobiologists investigated the biomarkers of the newly discovered “Hycean planets.”

“Hycean planets are a category of theoretical super-Earth-size or sub-Neptune-size planets with a relatively thin hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a substantial surface ocean,” says astrophysicist Knicole Colón. These worlds, whose size can be up to ten times the mass of Earth, are commonly found orbiting red dwarfs with several hallmark features, including vast oceans, thermal vents, and hydrogenous atmospheres, the source of their categorical name.

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“The way to definitively identify these planets includes measuring their masses and sizes, as well as studying the atmospheric composition,” Colón adds. She elaborated on challenges in identification, which include obtaining precise measurements of size and mass, as well as detecting changes in the amount of light blocked when the planet passes in front of its star. Research done by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and other observatories points to a possible candidate for a Hycean world: K2-18b.

K2-18b: Possibilities Beyond Earth The exoplanet K2-18b has a mass almost nine times and a radius thrice that of Earth. The use of spectrograph detectors from the JWST has allowed researchers to detect carbon dioxide and methane in its atmosphere. The absence of ammonia indicated the possibility of an ocean, and thus, life.

“What type of host star [it orbits] will have implications [on] how far the planet has to be from it to evolve and sustain life,” Cruz posits. This is corroborated

by Colón, who adds that different types of radiation would change what kind of life would evolve. “It is likely that gravity would be a major factor in determining what kind of life could be supported on such a planet,” she concludes.

The possibility of encountering alien life within these planets has many implications. To Cruz, being able to find life outside Earth goes beyond just being a matter of curiosity or achievement. He emphasizes the vast impact it has on how we view evolution and the relationships between the trees of life across all planets, as well as existing social structures like religion.

Next steps As space exploration continues to flourish, the chance of finding new life-sustaining planets becomes more likely. Astronomers have long been searching for signals, but the hunt has only just begun amidst the silence.

“I remembered Carl Sagan said that if we were alone in the universe, it would be an awful waste of space,” Cruz mentioned. “If we [can] show that we are worthy of communicating with them, [that we’re] organisms that are just as capable of wonderful advancements in technology and civilization, and [aliens] could benefit from collaborating with us, [then we] could be partners,” he speculates.

News

This raises discussions about extraterrestrial life and how humans will fit into the equation. However, expectations of similar life to Earth’s should be tempered.

For biologist Ronald Cruz, PhD, it would not be right to assume similarities except at the molecular level.

Moreover, there are several factors to consider when theorizing about Hycean life.

Similarly, Colón believes that if humans were truly the most advanced civilization, then we have “the responsibility to carefully and safely interact with the extraterrestrial life we discover.” She hopes that if we come across advanced/intelligent extraterrestrial life, then maybe both races can co-exist. “With so many stars and [planets] in the universe, I don’t see how we could possibly be alone,” Colón remarks, adding her excitement to the possibility of life beyond Earth.

While technology such as Kepler and TRAPPIST have aided in the hunt for exoplanets, it is still unknown as to what sort of technology would trigger first contact.

Despite the arduous journey, the search for extraterrestrial life and the planets they inhabit still proves a worthwhile and promising endeavor.

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Privacy: A Mere Inconvenience Written by Vince Albarillo / Illusrated by Mike Aaron L. Banguis

Opinion

Life used to be simple. It used to be a warm morning filled with the cacophony of birds, the smell of my mother’s cooking, and the mirth of early morning television seems like another lifetime. Sadly, nowadays, the hustle and bustle of my every day has me on edge constantly. The connection of everything forces me to move and pause simultaneously.

There is a dichotomy between social media showing me how everyone is productive and pushing content that manipulates me into staying on their sites, feeding them more data. When did things become so hectic?

Although the internet brought the world together, advances in technology have allowed algorithms to provide us the convenience of nonthinking, shifting our focus towards better and greater things. The time spent looking for content, whether it be videos, blog posts, or entire essays (courtesy of ChatGPT), has been reduced since these websites seem to always know what we’re looking for. Since we do less, we are enticed to do more. We continue to optimize our lives, yet we never know when to stop.

The society we live in incentivizes constant growth, even if one lacks the capacity to do so. As such, the roles of sites like Facebook and Twitter shifted from small platforms to large corporations.

Nowadays, especially in the “social media capital of the world,” becoming a content creator is increasingly becoming necessary to survive the country’s ever-changing economy.

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You might ask: what is the cost? Privacy. Although in the greater scheme of things, that is more of an inconvenience than anything.

A Data-driven World As technology progressed and the internet became more widespread, we began to live in an increasingly data-driven world.

The benefits of its all–efficiency, convenience, and global connectivity seems to outweigh the cost of giving personal data. The provision of such is not the issue in of itself, but rather the potential breaches in trust that may have long-term repercussions for the giver of data.

Growing up on the internet, I personally witnessed the massive changes in the attitudes of users across various social media platforms. Posts in feeds were usually shown chronologically, lacking any sort of true blueprint.

It all changed when Facebook introduced EdgeRank in 2009 which, among other algorithms, began to cater to the whim of the individual, all from the data provided by the users themselves. Eventually, parameters gained from user data increased across all websites, leading to a more complex algorithm that knows its users better than they know themselves.

Canvas, our beloved learning management system, is owned and operated by the private company Instructure, which means that they have access to a great deal of confidential information for both students and instructors. Though their policies state that these remain strictly confidential, the fact remains that we willingly entrust them with sensitive data. Note, however, that concerns with privacy may lie far beyond the digital world, as even data as significant as those in our genome can be accessed and exposed.

HeLa cells were the first ‘immortal’ human cell line that went on to be beneficial in the realm of biomedical research, being vital in the development of the polio vaccine among other treatments. The first of these were sampled from Lacks’ tumor during a cancer check-up.

She unfortunately succumbed to the illness on October 4, 1951. Neither she nor her family were able to give consent for her cells’ use in research.

It was only 25 years later that her family learned of the so-called “HeLa” cells.

Fortunately, issues of compensation and privacy of the family were addressed in 2013, when the National Institute of Health stated that the full genome of Lacks would only be shared with researchers.

Still, this highlights the implications of entrusting one’s genetic data, as the information in it encapsulates not just the individual, but also their relatives and others with similar characteristics. These concerns are the crux of the recent 23andMe data breach.

“If one has nothing to hide, does it matter if our data is breached?”

23andMe is a genetics testing company that offers directto-consumer genetic testing to determine ancestry and identify diseases. The company frames its testing as empowering people by providing complete and convenient access to their genetic information.

The company assures that “genetic data will not be shared with employers, insurance companies, public databases, or 3rd party marketers” without explicit consent.

However, this did not stop hackers

from targeting individual accounts, stealing names, years of birth, and general descriptions of genetic data.

Even as a person who shares nothing about himself on the internet, the far-reaching implications are terrifying. With genetic data, groups of people or ethnicities can be singled out and be discriminated against.

Individuals with specific diseases may find themselves hounded by insurance companies or ignored by potential employers. These concerns compound the immediate issues both our generation and future generations face.

The Irony of Free Will Can we even afford to pay attention to this right now? We are becoming increasingly aware of our diminishing space in the world as a perpetual vicious cycle of human exploitation and capitalism feeds the unsustainable growth of society.

The capacity of this planet is being exceeded by our consumption.

Must we, then, value ethics over overall societal benefits?

After all, our free relinquishment of thought and extensive information databases to machines allow us to optimize our lives and focus on the more immediate issues of the world such as poverty, hunger, and genocide.

In the grand scheme of things, privacy is a mere afterthought, an inconvenient vestige of a world that faces destruction in the farflung future which continues to view evolution as a natural step. However, I argue that we must realign our priorities and what we consider as ‘good,’ as pulling from Sartre himself, these are determined by the benefits they provide for an individual, and thus, inform their decision.

Surrendering one’s will to companies for the sake of convenience is, in itself, a choice. To the vast majority, this is not an issue, which highlights the necessity of societal contexts when addressing and integrating these problems into the public consciousness.

We’ve all heard of the phrase, “man is condemned to be free.” Though ironically, humans may choose to forgo their capacity to exercise free will by entrusting their fate to an algorithm controlled by the capitalist machine. After all, why would people care about ethical issues that do not bring them immediate harm? Can people afford to think about the problem and contribute to discourse when their primary concern is putting food on the table? Privacy is a luxury–a privilege for the many and a mere inconvenience for the few. What space is left for dialogue?

What Now? I must admit that this sort of discussion comes at the risk of fearmongering and teeters on the line of paranoia. However, I believe it is more than justified, as stressing and dissenting views within discourse are necessary to keep humanity grounded and open pathways for change. This is to say that if we do not try to break the status quo, who else will?

Opinion

The HeLa cells Science, historically, has been ethically questionable when viewed from a contemporary lens.

This begs the question: “do privacy and ethical concerns preclude overall societal benefits?” Perhaps the prime exemplar of these types of rhetoric is from the case of one woman, Henrietta Lacks, whose cells continue to live to this very day.

An apt analogy is akin to safety regulations in the workplace; “regulations are written in blood.”

Purely reactive modes of action lead to unnecessary loss and even death.

Before things worsen, we must take the initiative to make it better. As unregulated capitalism gives away jobs to artificial intelligence in lieu of real people, consumes resources before they can be replenished, and preserves inequalities that kill the masses. Those who can must do their part in fighting back and face all of these issues head-on.

All I can do right now is to be critical and careful of who or what I place my trust in, and urge others–the ones with the capacity to do so–to think of the future and those who struggle but desire to continue living in the present. Until the world stops being the way it is, I will keep dreaming of the warm morning, mother’s cooking, and the early morning television—the simple, private life.

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A Cellular Conundrum: Stem Cells and Religion Written by Annika C. Laude / Illustrated by Mike Aaron L. Banguis

Opinion 12

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Being asked what we want to be when we grow up somehow reminds me of embryonic stem cells. Much like a child dreaming and leading to become whatever they want, these cells transform into almost any cell type in the body as needed. Stem cells have long contributed to breakthroughs in disease repair and cruelty-free drug testing. Though, as promising as their contributions are, embryonic stem cells are grotesquely obtained by killing developing embryos.

This has led to criticism from the Catholic Church that scientists are “killing life,” as it considers any stage of life valuable, even as early as

zygotic conception. The controversy surrounding embryonic stem cells is not the first time religious beliefs have clashed with scientific reason; in fact, church officials have denounced many scientists merely because their findings did not correlate with the Church’s beliefs.

For instance, one of the most iconic examples between science and religion’s feud was between Galileo Galilei’s heliocentric findings and the Church’s geocentric claims. Because Galileo insisted that the Earth revolves around the Sun rather than the opposite, the Church labeled him a heretic and forbade him to teach and defend anything heliocentric. o most, this signals a sort of longstanding conservatism within the church, being reluctant to accept new discoveries, especially in exciting, ever-changing fields within science.

Bible Says The Church body in the Philippines says that research that uses adult stem cells or umbilical cord blood cells is deemed acceptable.

However, much like the rest of the world, they claim that research using

embryonic stem cells is deemed unacceptable as scientists are killing embryos to save lives.

To hear it more clearly, Archbishop Socrates Villegas claims that even the earliest stages of life are considered “complete human beings,” and that cutting off further development is “morally repugnant.”

This seems to be a recurring rationale within the Church, claiming that such a procedure goes against their beliefs of procreation and that there is a need to “respect life at all times.”

However, as strange as it seems, there are actually several passages in the Bible that contradict the learned notion that life and creation of the soul begin at conception. One such passage comes from Ecclesiastes 11:5: “The spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child;” it seems as if the Bible says that life begins upon osteogenesis or bone formation.

Scientifically speaking, this happens during the sixth or seventh week of embryonic development, which begins much later than fertilization.

Another contradictory passage comes from Genesis 2:7: “Then the Lord God […] breathed into [the first man’s] nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Babies first breathe within 10 seconds after delivery; post-conception. Despite having passages detailing that born and unborn children are equally worthy, the Bible states nothing about life beginning at conception. Merely relying on religious documents like the Bible would otherwise be insufficient in supporting justifiable claims, adding to the complexity of this issue.

A Matter of Perspective Particularly, Judaism and Islam have their own stances that differ from the Christian notion of “life at conception.” To Jewish editor and Bioethics fellow Eric Cohen, life begins 40 days after conception, inviting us to “see the embryos as God sees [humanity]; in the eyes of God, we don’t seem like much.” To the Muslims, academics argue that the ensoulment begins between forty to one hundred-twenty days after conception, giving some leeway to embryonic stem cell research.

In fact, not all Christians are the same. Two Christian panelists, Presbyterian minister John Davis and United Church of Christ minister Llewellyn Smith, echo the previous viewpoints.

Smith additionally endorses blastocyst research in general, as long as it is not done for reproductive purposes such as in vitro fertilization. However, these blastocysts could be used as part of embryonic stem cell research, which some other religious bodies endorse.

From this, it could reasonably be deduced that communities care about how scientists would use the cells and how much of them they use. From Jewish denominations, the Presbyterian Church, to the Jewish, Hindu, and Islam faith, opinions regarding stem cell research and usage are not absolute—and they shouldn’t be.

Promising breakthroughs Regardless, science doesn’t stop in the face of being unable to reconcile religion and science.

Yu et al (2007) notably created induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells out of skin cells by injecting them with DNA-containing viruses which contain genes that reprogram cells to an embryonic state. This technique allowed for stem cell creation without embryo destruction, making stem cell harvest even less cumbersome.

Despite its promising breakthrough, these cells could develop mutations from the virus and cause diseases like cancer, rendering them unprepared for medical use.

It would not be until almost 16 years later, when Buckberry et al (2023) developed a transient-native treatment (TNT), a technique that resets the epigenome when creating iPS cells to make them closer to embryonic stem cells.

In fact, it was even found that TNT cells could differentiate better than standard reprogrammed cells, sparking hope that TNT will advance therapy research. If TNT-based stem cell therapy would dominate this field, then perhaps the Church would welcome it.

Opinion

While it may seem tempting to argue that all religion and science are at odds, there have been some religions that do support embryonic stem cell research.

tackles the spiritual and abstract; allowing one to dominate the other proves harmful.

While it may seem tempting to use science to explain everything, it still has its limits. To add, one must acknowledge the existence of miracles—surprising deviations from natural laws. God works in mysterious ways, and His work can fill in what science has yet to explain.

Religion, while seemingly strict, can guide scientists down a moral path to appropriate applications of inventions and discoveries, and science can teach us to appreciate God’s work through nature’s wonders.

To partake or not to partake in embryonic stem cell research?

Whatever the answer, I feel that it is objectively beneficial. While human lives are said to be worthy, I still wonder if we have to continue killing those to save others. Thankfully, there have been newly created techniques that can address this issue and hopefully bring this stem cell debacle to an end.

All in all, despite their opposite natures, religion, and science do not have to clash all the time; one should not reject both when analyzing phenomena and must remember that God reveals Himself in both fields. While science tackles the natural and concrete, religion

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Gaza’s Silent Casualty Written by Francesca Danielle O. Suguitan / Illustrated by Anya Dimanlig

Opinion

I have a garden at home, lush with life and greenery, modest and simple. Tending to my plants has been a part of my routine despite the hustle and bustle of my daily life. Lifestyle bloggers are quick to boast about the grandness of their exotic flower collections and pruned shrubbery. What they neglect to tell you is how in tune you will eventually become with your surroundings. In an increasingly worsening climate, dire action is needed to prevent the worst from tiding over the warmer days that we have accepted as our new normal.

day. To add insult to injury, millions more are displaced and entire generations are treated as strangers in their land.

Every conscious decision we make has some bearing on the environment. Suffice it to say, the more global a decision, the larger its effect. What worries me most isn’t the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the weather nowadays, but rather how the world is treating climate change. The way nations approach it is almost paradoxical: they speak of moving toward sustainable and all-inclusive development but adversely support climate-destroying operations and initiatives. The same concept can be applied to war.

War’s Biggest Victim Despite the consistent and extensive use of bombs, Israel emphasizes that environmental conservation is taken seriously amidst the increasingly dire state of our environment. While this may appear as a noble endeavor, in reality, this serves as a mere form of environmental apartheid.

Decades ago, we set upon pledges and agreements to avoid repeating the horrors of past wars, but now, with the current humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, hundreds to thousands of human lives are lost every

While the toll of human suffering is immeasurable and is an obvious call for immediate alleviation, another victim suffers, albeit in silence: nature. The conflict in the region has generationally affected millions of Palestinians but it has also led to the continued destruction of our environment.

To say that Israel is no victim has become a hot topic for debate but people fail to realize that the very same nation is a modern-day colonizer. Israel’s “green colonialism” seeks to prevent the Palestinians from returning to their land and further erase any trace of their presence in Gaza.

Not only are Palestinians displaced from their homes and denied their Right of Return, but the land is also destroyed beyond recognition. Palestinian suffering has been documented extensively from pictures of grieving families torn apart and videos of armed bombardment to the scent of death and destruction hanging from every news headline.

Not only does Israel push for ethnic cleansing, disenfranchisement, and dispossession, but it seeks to reclaim its “Holy Land’ by all means necessary, even if that land is built on a generation’s worth of debris and bodies. That is to say that Israel seeks to rip out the roots of Palestine’s culture and heritage both literally and figuratively.

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Israel may reason that these perceived illegal settlements must be removed by force, but is this price worth paying? Instead of keeping the sanctity of their socalled “Holy Land”, an appropriation of Palestine’s land occurs as the nation continues to suffer. The effects of war are catastrophic and while conflict is unavoidable, war is not a part of our nature—the environment is caught in the crossfire.

The Might of Global Superpowers You may ask yourself, then: Do we not already have the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide global development? Were not the most influential countries in attendance for the numerous summits to address climate change? Simply put, these promises are just words with no action in the end. These lofty, yet hollow promises, may have assured the world that systemic change would come in the future but nothing can come of it without action.

In the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), over 200 countries attended to analyze the current status of their vowed SDGs. Suffice it to say, it was found that the world’s response was insufficient.

What started as a deadline of 2030, could easily balloon upwards to a later year until the point of no return.

If these superpowers were really against injustice, both human and climate, they would not only condemn the blatant massacre of Palestinians but also halt any form of support including silence. Global superpowers have vowed to overturn global warming, yet here they are supporting an armed conflict that contributes millions of tons of CO2 emissions, contaminating water sources in Gaza.

There is no denying that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. Despite this fact, the world does nothing, much like how we are not progressing as much as think we are in terms of environmental change. Gaza remains the home of over 2 million people, and their future is just as unpredictable as the tides of environmental change ushered in by these crimes against humanity.

The Future of Gaza To both nations, infrastructure is easily replaceable. As long as people remain alive, their culture and heritage will never fade. However, they neglect to realize that it does not matter if they have no land to return to.

Is fighting for the so-called “Holy Land” that is rightfully your nation’s according to some book worth it when this land would inevitably be destroyed by the time the conflict is over? For some, it’s risking life and death.

For others, the right to a homeland overrules any ethical and moral violation. Though, do the means justify the ends?

When the Notre Dame Cathedral was in flames, the whole world cried in agony. Conversely, while Palestine continues to burn, the world remains silent. Cathedrals can be built and rebuilt, but a nation crumbles at the loss of its people.

Opinion

Over 800,000 olive trees were illegally uprooted in both Gaza and the West Bank.1 Constant bombardment over the lands and seas of Palestine not only jeopardizes natural habitats but destroys complex ecosystems to the point of no return. This daily bombardment has also caused an excess amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, where Gaza suffers a 1.5℃ increase in temperature with each passing year.

For the rest of the world, the Gaza conflict will pass in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, for Palestinians, each blink could very well be their last.

Temporary ceasefire? A difference of political interest?

Do these reasons matter when human lives are traded in exchange?

We talk about not repeating the past, and changing to adjust to the tides for a better future, yet climate change remains accelerated, and war, which serves no good purpose, is still rampant.

War knows no distinction among its victims, even in a targeted dispute. Ultimately, this conflict is not one of just Israel and Palestine, but a war against humanity and nature itself. Standing with Palestine means standing for a future that is pro-humanity, a future that sees the flourishing of both humans and our environment.

I am endlessly fortunate to have a roof over my head and a space for life. I have a garden at home, lush with life and greenery, modest and simple. Palestine was once brimming with life, lush with a rich culture that permeated their cities like roots, whose citizens lived modest lives and enjoyed simple happiness. Even at the mercy of their colonizers, Palestinians weather through every hardship as if they were blades of grass. As weeds can grow from concrete, so too will life in Gaza hopefully once more.

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Philippine Peculiarities Underwater Fauna Wonderland Written by Riz Balaga & Nicole Caparas / Illustrated by Sophia Dumlao

Explorer

Ever wondered who you’ll meet beneath the waves? With a daring plunge into our local seas, one is bound to find a peculiar world with even more peculiar characters. Talking yellow sponges and pink seastars may be nowhere in sight, but our real underwater friends have quirks that rival even our favorite childhood fictional creatures.

Dive into the deep and see the richness of Philippine marine biodiversity for yourself. Get to know some of the most bizarre, but also most dazzling inhabitants of our very own underwater wonderland.

Not-So-Terrible Claws In your underwater journey, it might be helpful for someone to have your back. Meet Dinochelus ausubeli, more commonly referred to as the terrible claw lobster from its moniker. Dinochelus is derived from the Greek words dino and chelus, which mean terrible and claw respectively. On the other hand, ausubeli is from Census of Marine Life’s co-founder Jesse Ausubel. This was given in recognition of his contributions to the success of said census.

These lobsters are unlike your normal bottomdwellers as they brandish a massive claw with a short, bulbous palm and unusually long, spiny fingers for capturing prey and apparently regulating body temperature. The terrible claw lobster also boasts a protective inverted T-plate in front of its mouth. However, despite its terrifying appearance, it is both small—only an inch long—and harmless to humans.

The lobster is just one of the species discovered for the Census of Marine Life in 2007. It inhabits the Philippine Sea, just off the coasts of Quezon and Aurora provinces. Generally, lobsters are vital to the seafloor environment as their grazing activities prevent algae overgrowth and maintain a healthy balance between the number of corals and algae.

While the terrible claw lobster isn’t much different from its ecological role, its unique morphology allows it to capture larger prey and win mating fights against other lobsters. Additionally, its deep-sea traits mean that the lobster is completely blind but it can nonetheless sense both predator and prey throughout the seafloor.

Feather-like Beauty Our next underwater fascination, Pennatula phosphorea, looks exactly like what it is called: a sea pen. While a sea pen appears to be a singular organism, it is more akin to a miniature sea condominium. Its quilllike resemblance can be attributed to its colonial nature, with each sea pen consisting of multiple small, yet highly specialized organisms called polyps that contribute to its overall survival.

This isn’t the only talent the sea pens have. Upon exposure to touch or other environmental stimuli, sea pens luminesce. They quite literally glow, making for a light show symbolic of the deepwater wonders.

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Sharks Bubble Up Like Soda Pop In the unlikely event you strike boredom in Atlantis, perhaps the smartest choice is to avoid choosing sharks as a means of entertainment. Yet for the case of the bubble shark, it may be the only way to see its unique attribute.

As a defense mechanism, Cephaloscyllium ventriosum, more commonly referred to as bubble sharks or inflatable sharks fill their stomach with water to inflate twice their size. However, their unique mechanisms are just a testament to their habitat, the Verde Island Passage, which has bustling biodiversity. Apart from having large concentrations of shore fish in the world, the passage supports the livelihoods of over 2 million people by boasting tourist sites, fisheries, and routes for international shipping ports.

Due to its economic value, the habitat faces multiple man-made threats such as destructive fishing practices, pollution, unsustainable land use, and irresponsible tourism. Not to mention that Climate change is also a cause for concern to the strait. With these threats, bubble sharks can’t just bubble up to defend themselves, action must be taken. Fortunately, efforts have been made for its preservation as government and local communities lead studies and formulate plans catering to the area’s most pressing issues.

We’ve Got Your Shell The Pelochelys cantorii, better known as the Cantor’s giant soft-shelled turtle, emerges as another unique character, defying the sluggish turtle stereotype with its peculiar features and lifestyle. This freshwater marvel boasts a leathery shell that can grow over a meter long. It also weighs a whopping 100 kg, and its broad, semi-circular head earns it the moniker “frog-faced softshelled turtle”.

While most turtles plod along, Cantor’s turtles opt for a life of secrecy, buried in riverbed sands, only surfacing

As if habitat destruction weren’t enough, these turtles are also victims of the fishing trade. Even then, once released, fishermen sometimes leave hooks embedded, leading to fatal consequences. This dual assault from habitat destruction and direct hunting had led to the critical endangerment of the species.

Explorer

While a remarkable sight, sea pens also have practical uses for their neighbors by serving as a shelter, substrate, food source, and refuge for invertebrate and fish eggs alike. Sea pens also alter water current flow at the sediment-water interface, which increases base retention and sedimentation of nutrients and organic matter.

However, our feather-like friend has obstacles of its own.

Being prone to bottom fishing or other disturbances, sea pens are considered Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and require special management consideration.

twice a day for breath and ambush-style hunting—an odd quality that distinguishes them from the typical pawikan notion.

However, these fascinating creatures face a perilous existence, especially at the hands of human activities. Particularly, unregulated sand mining and the construction of illegal dams wreak havoc on their river habitats, disrupting their nesting and foraging grounds. The construction frenzy, coupled with unbridled agricultural expansion, subjects these creatures to a steep decline in their already dwindling populations.

Dugong dugo By now, you’re probably not as fascinated with the animals you’ve seen, but have you ever pictured a creature that truly blurs the lines between reality and myth? Enter the dugong, a peculiar marine mammal often mistaken for the mythical mermaid. In fact, this intriguing sea dweller has captured the interest of seafarers for centuries.

Aquatic biologist Janice Ragaza, PhD, describes the Dugong as “unique” due to its “large brownish-greyish body, whale-like tail but with absent dorsal fins, and flippers.” Ragaza also mentions that these creatures are treated as sacred animals, as they are associated with fertility likely due to their large shape.

Unfortunately, contrary to their large stature, Dugongs are on the brink of extinction due to anthropogenic disturbances. With a lifespan of over 70 years and slow reproduction rates, these gentle giants are vulnerable to direct capture for meat, hide, and oil.

The difficulty remains in transforming ingrained cultural norms and traditions in small coastal communities that have long engaged in hunting Dugongs.

Apart from direct capture, habitat degradation and loss, accidental by-catch, hunting, and climate change are also factors to consider about this rare creature.

Ragaza notes that steps to protect and conserve Dugongs have been made but cannot be enforced with absolute certainty. Notably, an Administrative Order in 2004 declared Dugongs as Critically Endangered, meaning its protection is under the purview of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147).

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Different Traits, Same Problems As we navigate the complex waters of conservation, understanding and protecting these odd underwater animals is not just a task for scientists; it’s a call for everyone to contribute to preserving the wonders inhabiting our oceans.

Explorer 18

In the Philippines’ vibrant underwater world, odd and extraordinary creatures exist. Even with the tremendous amount of creatures discovered over the years, scientists believe we’ve barely scratched the surface. However, how are we able to discover and learn about them if the very ecosystem that harbors these wonders faces a precarious future? It is no wonder then that numerous ocean conservation groups, armed with passion and purpose, are on the front lines.

Whether you’re a local, eager to make a difference, or an adventurous soul seeking volunteer opportunities to help safeguard the country’s marine treasures, you may reach out to organizations such as the Marine Conservation Philippines, Institute for Marine Research, People and the Sea, Balyena.org, Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), and Save Philippine Seas. No donation or contribution is too small because you may just tip the scales toward a thriving marine environment.

While awareness is important, it may not be enough anymore; remember that conversation is the first step to actionable change. As bizarre and sometimes scary as these creatures are, they are ultimately helpless against the polluted tides of people. It is then our responsibility to help enact change that can slowly mitigate and repair the damage caused, and sometimes that can only happen if we embrace the peculiar, dive into action, and become guardians of the deep blue! After all, we do not do it for ourselves, we do it for life.

Explorer

Wings of Wonder: Unveiling the Genetic Marvels Behind Santa’s Reindeer Fleet Written by Jacob Pagulayan and Jhazzel Timothy Dumlao / Illustrated by Kayla Baang

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Ho-ho-ho! On the merriest day of the year, Santa Claus, not just pictured as the loving gift-giver, but also a mastermind in the realm of genetics, pulled off the ultimate Christmas miracle—flying reindeer! Have you ever wondered though how those trusty reindeer manage to flap across the night sky with such regality?

Santa Claus, or Dr. Claus, might just have the answer.

Explorer

Imagine him donning a lab coat over his iconic red suit as he dived into the world of genetic experimentation. What if, with a touch of genetic magic, he transformed those land-loving reindeer into celestial beings by borrowing a little something from the Earth’s winged nocturnal friends, the bats? Embark on a whimsical journey to decode the secrets behind Santa’s flying marvel, enchanting the Christmas Eve sky!

The Gift of Genetics Making reindeer fly is no simple feat in biology. There are many rules to follow in the world of genetics. For instance, the feasibility of a foreign gene being accepted into a new genome must be studied because its compatibility with the new host genome is crucial.

Additionally, the different methods of gene editing must be analyzed in order to properly insert and edit the new DNA into the reindeer’s cell.

Lastly, the control of gene expression must be properly performed in order to achieve the desired expression of a certain DNA segment.

For now, however, let’s go back to the basics! Genes are the carriers of information that, simply, make eyes eyes, hearts hearts,

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and make you, you. The genetic information is stored in sequences of bases, represented by the letters A, G, T, and C. These letters are like codes in computer programming that, when arranged differently, encode for distinct purposes. This language of life is then deciphered through a series of three-letter codes, also known as codons, which get translated into amino acids that build proteins that ultimately make up an organism.

Therefore, to turn flight from dream to reality, Santa must first design a DNA segment that will allow reindeer to form a mechanism to fly, and find a genetic sequence that will integrate the foreign genes that allow for wing formation into the reindeer’s genome. Let’s say, in this case, Santa utilized bats as the source organism for reasons beyond the fact they contain wings.

Hox, Hox, Hox! Merry Christmas!

Bats are unique as they are the only flying mammals.

Limb formation among mammals shares similar morphology. Bat wing formation shares similar morphogenesis with other mammals such as mice, such as the formation

of muscles and bones. This may indicate a common ancestral gene that has diverged over time to adapt to flight in bats, the only mammal that could fly.

Why would it be the case that Santa used bats? Perhaps, it could be because of this common ancestral gene, namely the highly conserved Hox genes. These genes have remained unchanged throughout evolution, among many organisms, from fruit flies to humans, because of their important functions in the general morphology of organisms. If these genes are present in so many organisms, why didn’t Santa just choose any organism that could fly such as birds?

We go back to morphology.

Bats and other mammals share similar morphological traits. The similar muscle and bone formation and patterning between bats and other mammals indicate a more identical gene sequence and expression, which is proven by the fact that homologs, genes that are derived from a common gene, do in fact share similar sequences.

Now that Santa has decided to use bats, the gene of interest must be determined. There are many Hox genes present in organisms, and bats are no exception to that.

It would be hard to determine the

Another gene that was discovered to be responsible for bat wing differentiation is the Hoxb2 gene as, relative to other Hox genes, it showed significantly less evolutionary conservation indicating its specific necessity in only bats.

This gene showed positive selection along the bat ancestry line proving its necessity and importance in wing formation in bats. The gene’s specific function is to produce a transcription factor, enzymes that aid in regulating gene expression, that are involved in development.

Santa’s Little Workshop Now that Santa has the theoretical genetic “ingredients” needed to create wings in reindeer, Santa must now embark on the arduous journey of melding the genes of bats with the reindeer. How? In order to understand the process, we must first understand the power of recombinant DNA technology, specifically the term “transgenesis,” to sculpt a creature that embodies the essence of Santa’s ho-ho-ho magic.

Transgenesis is essentially the addition of foreign genetic information to animals and the specific inhibition of original gene expression. In Santa’s case, he may use transgenesis to potentially endow the reindeer not just with wings but with enhanced navigation abilities or even a mystical glow akin to Rudolph’s red nose!

To do all of this, one of the techniques Santa could use is CRISPR, a cut-and-paste-like

technology. Using the precision of restriction enzymes within the CRISPR process, specific cuts can be made in the reindeer’s DNA. Then, plasmid vectors that carry crucial bat wing genes can be introduced and seamlessly integrated by joining the two DNA segments together.

Following these precise edits, the cellular repair mechanisms of the reindeer will activate, mending the DNA breaks created by the CRISPR process. Then, like magic, the bat’s wing gene can get incorporated into the reindeer’s genome. This modified DNA, now equipped with bat wing instructions, is now part of the reindeer’s genetic material.

We’re not done yet though!

Let’s say that Santa did do all those mentioned steps, there is of course no certainty in its expression. A genome contains all the genetic information an organism needs but every part of an organism is unique in form and function. This is made possible by an organism’s natural way of controlling which genes are expressed and which aren’t. Basically, just because a reindeer has the gene for bat wings does not mean wings will form.

To express these genes, Santa must consider proteins called transcription factors and regulators which orchestrate gene expression. In the case of bats, various transcription factors direct the development of limbs and digits.

Their presence ensures the proper expression of appendage-forming HoxD genes, laying the foundation for wing formation.

Thus, with the utilization of both transcription factors and transcription regulators, specific genes can be targeted for gene expression. If Santa were somehow

able to get a hold of and mechanize all the required proteins, then he could, in theory, allow his reindeer to fly!

Explorer

exact gene of interest, but thankfully, studies point to the HoxD gene as the primary gene responsible for wing formation in bats as it is responsible for patterning and skeletal growth.

The Real Christmas Miracle, Flying Reindeer!

How realistic would all of this be though? It may not actually be that far off. Recent groundbreaking studies reveal a potential for mutations from insertions demonstrated in transgenic mice.

Specifically, a severe limb formation defect was induced using this technology. Then again, comparing a mouse to a reindeer is making leaps and bounds and we might actually be far from seeing flying reindeer.

As we theorize the necessary steps in making reindeer fly, we learn that achieving desired traits through transgenesis is no simple task. It requires precision in gene selection and in controlling gene expression.

The miracle of Christmas Day seems like a scientific masterpiece, but only when it is truly tested can flying reindeer be called a reality.

Whether Santa’s ability to make reindeer fly is attributed to magic or the mystery of transgenics, it serves as a reminder that the spirit of curiosity and pursuit of knowledge and wisdom can lead to extraordinary discoveries. Santa’s true methods may never be known to us, but all of us could work our way toward a better understanding of this scientific miracle!

Who knows, maybe one day when we glance at the night sky on Christmas Eve, we might actually see these fabled flying reindeer and Dr. Santa Claus himself! For now, however, let us remember the magic that Biology can bring —the possibility of a flying Rudolph!

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Life Beyond Earth: Exploring Hycean Planets

Privacy: A Mere Inconvenience

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