Norwich, United Kingdom
November 30, 2015
To launch The Genome Analysis Centre’s (TGAC) ‘Scientists on the Loose’ campaign, which encourages public dialogue to show the impact of the Institute’s science, four TGAC scientists presented a summary of their research to the Norfolk Humanists (NH) on 17 November.
To launch The Genome Analysis Centre’s (TGAC) ‘Scientists on the Loose’ campaign, which encourages public dialogue to show the impact of the Institute’s science, four TGAC scientists presented a summary of their research to the Norfolk Humanists (NH) on 17 November.
TGAC Scientists on the Loose: (L-R) Peter Bickerton, Neil Pearson, Tarang Mehta and Luca Penso-Dolfin
The NH meet regularly at local pub The Coachmaker’s Arms in Norwich, to discuss topics of interest ranging from world hunger and evolution to the National Health Service. This event, arranged by Dr Pete Bickerton (TGAC) and Pete Alder (NH), focused on the cutting-edge genetic research and technology at TGAC and how this can benefit society.
The audience of about 15-20 was first introduced to Dr Martin Ayling, Post-doctoral Research Scientist at TGAC, who discussed metagenomics, which is the study of multiple organisms’ DNA at once. For example, we might sample soil and analyse the DNA of whatever is living in it, trying to disentangle DNA from several dozen or even hundreds of species of bacteria, fungi, and insects. In this humorous overview of a new technology, the group saw jigsaw puzzles of photos of Dr Bickerton’s face, to help explain the challenge of resolving similar items from a jumbled collection.
Dr Tarang Mehta, Post-Doctoral Research Scientist at TGAC then shared startling insights into the evolution of cichlid fish. He mentioned Darwin’s observations of finches on small islands in the Galapagos and explained that cichlid fish show a bigger example of ‘adaptive radiation’; thousands of cichlid species evolved in African lakes alone. The audience were largely unprepared for the details of cichlid fish reproduction, particularly the videos! Dr Mehta peppered his talk with advanced scientific details too – it is gene control, rather than new genes, which chiefly governs cichlid speciation; ‘standing variation’ is stored in mutational hotspots within their genomes, ready for tough times when they need to adapt.
The third talk was also about Gene Regulation – Dr Luca Penso-Dolfin, Researcher at TGAC, focused on microRNAs, which he represented with a hammer because they tend to be used for destroying particular genes’ activity. As this is a difficult subject to communicate with words, he compared DNA to books and mRNA to notepaper and made it clear that different mRNA ‘note pages’ apply to different body tissues – an ingenious way of explaining what formal texts obscure with jargon.
The final presentation came from Dr Neil Pearson, Post-doctoral Research Scientist at TGAC, who has been putting a 3D printer to good use, designing and making laboratory consumables. He passed various objects around for people to examine, and explained that by combining a 3D-printed lattice tray and a laser cutter, he is developing a quick and efficient leaf dissection method for gene regulation studies in plants. His enthusiasm was evident; there are many potential applications for 3D printing in scientific research.
Dr Bickerton, Public Engagement & Society Officer in the 361° Division at TGAC, who ended the session by presenting the NH with a 3D-printed ‘logo’, said: “It was wonderful to launch our Scientists on the Loose programme, especially with the Norfolk Humanists who were a very enthused audience. Our scientists were particularly happy with the event, as it was a great, informal atmosphere in which to talk about the wide range of research undertaken at TGAC. The feedback was great; the audience were interested, inspired and intrigued by the technology and promise shown by young scientists who clearly enjoy their work.”
Pete Alder, Vice-Chair of Norfolk Humanists, added: “It was fantastic to have such passionate local scientists come and speak to our group. The endeavour to better understand our world is of critical importance to humanists, and we are proud to know such cutting-edge research is taking place on our doorstep."
Jamie Edwards, Public Engagement & Society, said: “Scientists on the Loose is a public engagement platform aimed at inspiring awareness of the work we do at TGAC amongst the general public in Norwich and East Anglia. Considering the wide-ranging applications of DNA sequencing and bioinformatics, it’s important that people have an understanding of how our research may impact their lives."
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