By Alyssa Gutierez, Jin Kyu Lee, Mariana Paspuel and Mirkka Puente (Group 2)
Author Archives: Alyssa
Scientific Outreach Project – Illuminating Influenza
Posted in Outreach Project, Science Communication
The Price Tag: Early Life Experiences and its Associations to Molecular Changes
Adverse life experiences during childhood can leave ‘marks’ in DNA. Source: Parents Magazine
Traumatic or adverse experiences during early childhood are associated with ‘genetic tagging’, referred to as DNA methylation, and its possible applications range from developmental psychology to forensics.
DNA methylation and gene expression
DNA is characterized as having four nitrogenous bases – biological compounds containing nitrogen – which are cytosine, adenine, guanine, and thymine. DNA methylation is when another organic compound, called a methyl group, is added to cytosine.
DNA methylation is when a methyl group (circled) is added to a cytosine base in the DNA. Source: Wikipedia
Segments of the DNA which code for specific proteins are referred to as genes. DNA methylation affects the frequency that genes are coded, or ‘expressed’. Ultimately, the mechanism inhibits the expression of genes.
Current state of knowledge
Existing research have probed into how adverse episodes experienced in early childhood are related to repressed genes due to DNA methylation. Factors such as lack of nutrition, exposure to microbes and social environments have been shown to be associated with the methylation of genes regulating inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the response of the immune system to potential pathogens whenever there is an infection or injury. This response is characterized by symptoms such as swelling, redness or pain.
Other studies have found that DNA methylation was present in subjects who have experienced sexual abuse during childhood.
Why is it important?
While the current state of knowledge regarding adverse childhood experiences and DNA methylation is based on correlation, such area serves as a promising avenue in detecting early stages of psychiatric disorders. Schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD) and autism spectrum disorder are only some of the major psychiatric disorders that are influenced by genetics and environmental factors. Given that DNA methylation is also heavily influenced by such factors, future research may be able to discover if there is a link between the biomarking mechanism and the development of these disorders.
Aside from early detection of psychiatric and developmental disorders, DNA methylation can also aid in criminal investigations.
“Methylation is starting to be viewed as a potentially useful tool in criminal investigations – for example, by providing investigators with an approximate age of a person who left behind a sample of their DNA,” said Dr. Michael Kobor, a professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at UBC.
You can view the UBC press release about his research on child abuse and DNA methylation here.
– Alyssa Gutierrez
Back to the Drawing Board: Creativity and its Role in Science
We have lost the art of thinking creatively, and it can hurt our chances in career success.
Undoubtedly, STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics) education is becoming increasingly prevalent. According to a 2016 census by the Government of Canada, several provinces have considerably high percentages of STEM graduates. Among those provinces, Quebec had the highest proportion of STEM graduates (63.2%), while Newfoundland and Labrador, and Alberta closely followed (57.7% and 55.7%, respectively).
Beyond the Bachelor’s Degree
However, STEM students have raised several concerns regarding the current state of education in these fields. A specific issue that was brought up was the lack of focus on the development of critical skills – one of which was creative problem-solving. A 2016 report by Science & Policy Exchange emphasized that critical skills are “transferable across work environments, academic or otherwise, and are therefore vital for success”. Therefore, a deficiency in creative problem-solving skills may prove to be detrimental for a prospective job candidate in STEM disciplines, especially in a job market that grows increasingly competitive each day.
Creative problem-solving skills are not developed overnight; they result from many years of development. Yet, there seems to be less emphasis on this skillset, especially within the school system.
Source: adobe.com
Invention literacy may be the solution.
Invention literacy has the potential to catalyze the development of creative STEM thinkers, but we have to start early.
Jay Silver, the pioneer of the Invention Literacy movement, describes the latter as “the ability to read and write human made stuff, from toaster to apps”. Moreover, there is a “grammar to inventing”, and a “literature of inventions” that can spark the creation of our own inventions. Just as scientists review existing literature to help shape their own studies, inventors can turn to past inventions, such as a car or a hammer, and create something out of it. Invention literacy is the ability to take a piece of man-made object and decompose it to the smallest functional parts.
Jay Silver, pioneer of the Invention Literacy movement, talks about the core concepts of the initiative: observing the surrounding world and redesigning it.
Video: “Hack a Banana, Make a Keyboard!”
Source: ted.com
Creativity starts with observing how the world works – and then changing it.
Invention literacy enables children to redesign the functionality of existing objects. Colleen Graves, a MaKey MaKey advocate, visits and works with numerous schools in developing research projects with the following question: “‘How does ____ work and can I make my own version of it?’” This question motivates children to take ownership of their learning experience. Children are encouraged to use their observations about the world and test out theories of how it works – something that is essential for building up strong STEM thinkers.
Video: “MaKey MaKey – An Invention Kit for Everyone”
Source: youtube.com
Invention literacy encourages everyone to be creative.
Invention literacy also pushes educators to be innovative with their approaches to teaching. For example, learning the fundamental skill of counting money is made more interactive by connecting the MaKey MaKey to a dime, a nickel, a quarter and a penny. It is then used to gather information from the user that is sent to a computer program.
Creative problem skills aren’t only for the resume.
Parents have also seen the firsthand effects of invention literacy – beyond its applications to problem solving. Melissa Taylor, a mother and former elementary-school teacher, described the positive outcomes that resulted from using the MaKey MaKey:
“Not only did my daughter practice her scientific method skills, she also grew a head taller in confidence.”
– Alyssa Gutierrez
Posted in Science Communication
Tagged creativity, education, electronics, engineering, Future, invention literacy, MaKey MaKey, Public Engagement, science, STEM, technology
Our Generation is Becoming Illiterate, But Not In the Way You’d Imagine
A lot of my childhood has been decorated with creative schemes: whether that be using the walls of my home as a gigantic canvas, or writing weekly news bulletins for my family – proudly published and hung on the fridge every Saturday. I didn’t care if something has already been done before; all I knew was that I wanted to create something and turn it into my own. At a young age, I knew that every creation fabricated into existence was different among each person, as each maker imparts a piece of themselves into their creation.
Although I continued my creative efforts throughout high school and even now, albeit a little differently, I admit that as I am getting older, I found that the amount of resources available for creative purposes are dwindling.
Or so I thought.
As children, we viewed the world as a place filled with an endless supply of things that we could use for anything. Sure, we can chalk it up to youthful ignorance and walk away, but I think there’s something worth dwelling upon here. As we continued on, we learned the different functionalities of the built environment and the manmade objects, abiding by an unspoken rule that everything must be used according to the functionality that they were designed to possess.
But who made up that rule, and why are we playing that game; a game, in which, the stakes are much lower than if we choose not to explore what else it can be used for?
What I’m trying to draw your attention to is that we are becoming illiterate of the resources around us – but it’s not too late.
Invention Literacy – what is it?
I’ll admit – when I hear news about a recent invention, the first thing that pops up into my head is a question: “How were they able to come up with something so simple yet innovative?”. What follows is the mental remark that they are simply more knowledgeable.
But that’s not entirely true – there are inventors like Ann Makosinski that are inventing innovative solutions without simultaneously pursuing a post-graduate degree.
Essentially, what I’m trying to say is that rigorous education or knowledge about scientific/engineering concepts aren’t required for you to make a meaningful education – you just have to be literate.
Jay Silver, the pioneer of the Invention Literacy movement, describes the latter as “the ability to read and write human made stuff, from toaster to apps”. He adds that there is a “grammar to inventing”, and a “literature of inventions” that can spark the creation of our own inventions. Just as scientists review existing literature to help shape their own studies, and musicians listen to the works of Beethoven or Miles Davis to help shape a fusion of genres, inventors can turn to past and existing inventions, such as a car or a hammer, and create something out of it – regardless of whether or not it abides by the original design of such invention. However, to be able to create something requires knowledge of the working pieces. To be able to write music, one would need to have a grasp of rhythm and melody. To be able to write comprehensible sentences in English, one would need to know English grammar. Similarly, to be able to invent something, one would need to know the different components that can be used to make up the invention – whether that be a bunch of gears, rulers, etc.
Simply put, invention literacy is the ability to take a piece of man-made object and break it down to the smallest functional parts.
Shifting in mindset and reshaping education
There is a gap in invention literacy amongst our generation. Our education, starting from pre-school education to post-secondary, has placed great emphasis on understanding the mechanisms of things around us, and not a lot on how to create things.
Luckily, there are some other pioneers pushing the Invention Literacy initiative.
Colleen Graves, a librarian-turned-MaKey MaKey-advocate, visits and works with numerous schools in developing research projects with the following question: “‘How does ____ work and can I make my own version of it?’”
This phrase is exemplified through one of the many educational activities that can spur from the MaKey MaKey kit. Learning the fundamental skill of learning how to count money is made more interactive by connecting the MaKey MaKey to a dime, a nickel, a quarter and a penny, and is then used to gather information from the user that is sent to a computer program.
video – MaKey MaKey Piggy Bank
Through the MaKey MaKey, concepts are not merely contained in worksheets and textbooks; instead, they are able to be felt and experienced.
The fruits of being literate
But what about those who are unable to fully feel and experience due to disabilities? This is where the beauty of invention literacy really shines through. By being familiar with what makes a certain object functional, we are able to take it apart and mimic it using the resources available. In the context of the MaKey MaKey technology, various assistive technologies have been created – technologies that would otherwise cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.
video – Assistive Technology prototype built during the Makey Makey workshop
The Takeaway
As daunting as the term may sound, “inventing” is not some kind of alchemy. It was our primary intuition as children – inventing our way through acquiring more knowledge about the world.
However, Jay Silver said it perfectly, “What we know can get in the way of what could be”.
In our pursuit of knowledge, we run the risk of forgetting that the world is malleable – that it is shaped by how we choose to design it. But to be able to design it, not only must we know the components that we can use in our design – we must also have an underlying vision.
How will you choose to shape the world around you?
Alyssa Gutierrez
