Biology Newsletter Issue 14

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Biology Department Newsletter Issue 14: First half of Autumn term, 2020

Our planet in crisis This term we have embarked on a School-wide initiative, ‘The Big Draw – A Climate of Change’, aimed at creating a large art installation of origami cranes with a positive message to help our planet (thank you Miss Baron).

Cranes are majestic white birds which live in communities and frequent marshes and shallow lakes. Drastic loss of marshland has threatened their existence. In 1940 only 15 of these birds remained. Due to the Endangered Species Act protection, these majestic red-crowned birds made an amazing comeback from the brink of extinction. Following decades of effort, whooping cranes are now on the path to recovery. The crane is considered a messenger of God and symbolises good fortune and for good things to come. Read more about cranes in the UK later in the newsletter. In line with this project, if there is one thing that you should do this half-term, please watch David Attenborough’s new documentary on Netflix, ‘A life on our Planet’. David movingly maps how significantly humanity has impacted the planet’s biodiversity in his own lifetime. Young people are the future of the planet, and it is essential that you are all aware of the changes that you can all make to help save our planet.

Historic Nobel prize in Chemistry Two scientists, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, have just been awarded the Nobel prize in Chemistry for their gene editing technology, CRISPR-Cas9. There are two things that are especially astonishing about this particular Nobel. The first is how quickly the prize was awarded after the discovery of these ‘genetic scissors’, a mere 8 years. But perhaps more extraordinary is that the Nobel prize in Chemistry has never been awarded to two females scientists in its 119 year history! Hopefully this will open the doors to a more diverse and inclusive award. Read more about these two amazing women here YouTube explaining CRISPR-Cas9


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Biology Newsletter Issue 14 by Haberdashers' Boys' School - Issuu