The diversity of life sciences research in Cell & Systems Biology was shared with the public through hands-on demonstrations at the Science Rendezvous science festival on a sunny Saturday, May 9th. Visitors explored neuroscience, developmental biology, plant biology, genomics, and cell biology while speaking with students, staff and faculty behind the research.
We were grateful for volunteers Rachel Ho, Phoenix Hewko and Nori Watanabe who learned quickly and who swiftly adapted to presenting several different activities.
Seeing life at the microscopic level
Visitors took home smartphone images of microscopic cells as Professor Heather McFarlane showed the fascinating shapes that cells take from discs to columns to jigsaw pieces. This demonstrations connected into McFarlane‘s research on plant cell wall biosynthesis and provided context for our Molecular Networks of the Cell specialization.
Neil Macpherson showed what was happening inside the cell by inviting visitors to view models depicting the organelles of plant and animal cells. They were encouraged to use pipe cleaners and modelling clay to create their own chloroplasts, mitochondria or other components of Cell & Molecular Biology inside glass dishes representing the cell.
The way cells work together to build a body was shown by regenerating planarian flatworms. After decapitation, they could regrow one head…or two heads(!) depending on chemical signals studied in our Stem Cells & Developmental Biology specialization. This wonky worms exhibit was developed by Professor Ritu Sarpal and demonstrated by Edlin Liang.
Kitchen science reveals surprising links to modern research
Visitors squished bananas to break them apart and used kitchen supplies to extract DNA as Human Biology Professor Alistair Dias and Professor Haley Zubyk described how this ‘Peal to Reveal’ technique worked to reveal stringy white strands of DNA. They went on to explain how extracting DNA from prehistoric animal remains could guide genome editing using Genome Biology.
Curious guests observed colourful changes as red cabbage leaf extract responded to pH changes when they added soap, lemon juice or other liquids. Hyunsuh Lee explained how pH reflects levels of acid or base and described Plant Biology research in the Yoshioka lab looking at how pH and other environmental conditions affect plant immune responses.
Neuroscience across the animal kingdom
Visitors flexed their muscles as Stephanie Shisis demonstrated an electromyograph to measure their nerve impulses. This instrument is used by students in our Animal Physiology laboratories. As guests dotted with electrodes observed their own neurological traces, Shisis explained how she observes disrupted traces in her research on neurodegenerative disorders in mammals.
Wriggling worms showed neurological changes under the microscope as Ruby He demonstrated the C. elegans nematodes she studies as part of our Neuroscience graduate program. Since these transparent worms have only 302 neurons, He and the other researchers in the Calarco lab can trace the development of the nervous system through the life of the worm and look at the abnormalities that come from disrupted gene expression.
Showing off our beautiful science images
We presented colourful images depicting our research to the gathered crowds. There were lots of giveaways, as visitors took home flyers, stickers, banana DNA and a colouring page from artwork by Meghan Cao.
Thank you to all our presenters, and to Lisa Matchett, Reta Alam and Kenana al Kakouni who provided behind the scenes support!
