This document provides a summary of various science-related articles and topics, including: bacteria living in the human body (90% of cells are bacteria); a discovery that alcohol can be made from used coffee grounds; a science survival guide for university students with tips; and a cover story about a frog's mating strategy being first-come, first-serve. It also includes brief science news articles on a woman who drank Coke instead of water for 16 years, the relationship between cocaine use and education, and a 2007 climate change prediction that has proven somewhat accurate. The document aims to inform and engage students in various areas of science.

1. Zoology
Mating Strategy: First
Come, First Serve
Microbiology
How many bacteria live
within us?
Students Share Their
Own Experience!
What is their research like?
Science Survival Guide 2013
Dogmatism
What's the danger in it?
What to Feed Your
Brain?
... and more !
http://oformi.net/gallery/zhivotnye/23652-cyaishub.htm
Stem Cells
iPSC cells replacing
lab animals?

2. September Contents
THE TEAM
Editor­in­Chief
Kelsey Huus
Production Manager
Aleksandra Shalakahova
Authors
Annalise Mathers
Kelsey Huus
Aleksandra Shalakhova
Jason Kwan
Julia Bayne
Aida Ahrari
Liam Peet-Pare
Sophie Fiset
Vanessa Nzeribe
Katherine Shan
Paula Adler
Danielle Walker
Editors
Paula Adler
Nasim Haghandish
Sophie Fiset
Onyi Maduekwe
Elizabeth O'Reilly
Jennifer Simpson
Madiha Sadaf
Illustration
Mariko Sumi
Special thanks to the SSA
2 CATALYST
Science Briefs...........................................................3
Woman Drinks Coke Instead of Water for 16 Years
Cocaine Use Related to Educational Achievement
Weather Forecast for 2018: Cloudy With a Chance of
Climate Change
Human Body is Ninety Percent Bacteria
Welcome to The Big Leagues..............................4
A 'Ground' Breaking Discovery............................5
Science Survival Guide 2013 ..............................6
A Research Journey................................................7
Immerse Yourself: Science Extracurriculars.8
Brain Food: Eating Like a Scientist...................9
Students Talk About Their Experience..........10
Lean, Share, Grow
The First Step
Poetic Corner...........................................................11
Ode to a Young Scientist
The Stem Cells Conundrum................................12
Cover Story..............................................................13
Frog’s Mating Strategy is First-Come, First Serve
The Danger of Dogmatism..................................14
Sources.....................................................................15

3. WOMAN DRINKS COKE INSTEAD OF WATER FOR
16 YEARS
Have you ever wondered what would happen to you if
you drank two litres of cola each day instead of water?
The doctors who treated a 31-year-old woman who
drank only cola for 16 years could tell you: severe
arrhythmia, fainting fits (falling “flat” on the ground), and
dangerously low blood potassium levels. Let’s hope she
drank Diet Coke or they might have to treat her for Type
2 diabetes as well.
COCAINE USE RELATED TO A PERSON’S
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
According to an article published in the American Journal of
Public Health, the people most likely to use cocaine are those
with a low level of educational achievement. The price of
cocaine fell sharply during the 1980s (from roughly $600/g in
the early 1980s to $120/g in 2013), which may be why 1.5%
of young adults in the United States report cocaine use in the
past month. But really, did we need a study to tell us that
cocaine use and educational achievement are inversely
correlated? (Interesting fact: Coca-Cola contained cocaine
from the time it was launched in 1886 until 1903, when
cocaine was removed from the recipe).
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 2018: CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Global warming has been, well, a hot topic. In 2007, a group of researchers from the United Kingdom published a
controversial paper in the journal Science that presented audacious predictions of how the global climate and
temperatures would change until 2018. The team used a dynamic global climate model that takes into account the
state of the atmosphere and ocean together with projected levels of man-made greenhouse gases and solar
irradiance in order to
establish forecasts for a
whole decade. The model
predicted that 2014 would
be 0.30°C warmer than
2004, and that half or more
of the years between 2009
and 2018 would be warmer
than 1998 (the two warmest
years on record are 1998
and 2005). And while
changes in climate thus far
have not been quite as
Paula Adler, 4th Year BIM
dramatic as predicted, they
have been significant.
According to the
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change’s most
recent Assessment Report,
“the rate of warming over the
last 50 years is almost
double that over the last 100
years (0.13°C ± 0.03°C vs.
0.07°C ± 0.02°C per
decade).”
HUMAN BODY IS NINETY PERCENT BACTERIA
It might be hard to swallow, but the human body is made up of approximately 1014 bacteria and only
1013 human cells. Most of these bacteria reside in the gastrointestinal tract, where they are estimated
to represent between 500 and 1,000 different species and are responsible for several beneficial effects
for their human host. The gut’s microflora is involved in everything from the development of the immune
system and protection against pathogens, to the metabolism of dietary nutrients and regulation of
signalling molecules such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and norepinephrine. Interestingly, these
bacteria are also implicated in several diseases and disorders including cancer, obesity (recently
labelled by the American Medical Association as a disease), allergies, and diabetes. Diseases may
occur when the microbial balance is upset, as can happen when taking antibiotics.
3 CATALYST
http://wolvesonceroamed.com/2011/08/05/global-warming-and-sharks/

4. WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES
Annalise Mathers, 3rd Year BIM
Maybe you were the golden child – one of the best and brightest at your high school, ready to be hired as Canada’s
next top doctor. Or maybe you were right square in the middle of your class but thought science was pretty cool and
wanted to continue on with it. Or maybe you simply harbour a secret passion for science. Whatever the reason, and
wherever you come from, congrats! You made it to university and will soon learn what the real world of science entails.
University is the chance to discover yourself and what you really love, and the place where you can be who you want
to be. What matters more here is what you’ll bring to the classroom and lab and the connections you’ll make. To
succeed, it’s all you, kid.
As a first year student, especially one living away from home, the demands suddenly thrust upon you are immense.
Don’t worry though, ‘cause it promises to be one of the best times of your life. You’re king or queen of your domain,
and decisions are all up to you: when to go out and when to study, when to exercise (if at all), what to eat, who to hang
out with, toutes les choses! You’ll make some bad decisions (probably at least one in Hull – it’s a given) but will come
to realize the type of person you want to be. For those of us in science, that’s an important thing. Science is a field
that’s demanding and the pressure to succeed can sometimes feel out of this electron orbital. You will be among peers
as you compare midterm grades, gasp over unfairly marked lab reports, catch up on sleep in useless tutorials, and sit
through those painful Monday morning lectures. But really, it’s all about balance. Despite what you might think, even
with your daunting schedule there will be plenty of time to be active, eat well, and go out, while still having the time to
study and do well in your courses. Remember that your studies are important and the reason why you’re here, but they
aren’t everything. The people you meet and the things you do are worth just as much, if not more.
A few words of wisdom: get to know people. The people in your
classes are the students you will be at university with for the next
four years, and possibly longer, and ultimately they will help focus
you and shape you into the person you will become. The
connections you make at university surpass those made in high
school; you never know where someone or something could take
you, and everyone you meet has something unique to offer. Be
outgoing and introduce yourself to other students and professors
alike.
Next, get involved. While science is pretty dang cool, you will
quickly come to realize that there exists a whole realm outside of
the lab. Find another activity, volunteer position, job, or
organization that you love and that gives you a different outlook in
the world. University is great because of all the opportunities that
exist here – you can literally join anything you want to, and if it
doesn’t exist you can create it. Ottawa is also one of the coolest
places to live. It has all the amenities of a city, but there’s
something that makes it feel like a small town, too. When you start
running into people you know everywhere you go, you’ll know
ILLUSTRATION OF THE MONTH
Mariko Sumi, 3rd Year PHY
4 CATALYST

5. what I mean! There is something for everyone in this city and great opportunities to get involved off-campus. The world
today calls for individuals with a multitude of skills – simply acing every organic chemistry exam ain’t gonna cut it
(although it does call for mad respect). Finding a passion other than science is key, be it a sport, writing, art, music,
gaming, languages, international relations, or politics – and Ottawa has it all. The world is at your fingertips here, but it
is up to you to reach out.
That being said, 101week will be littered with more organizations, presentations, people, booths, and flyers than our
ecosystem can handle. My advice is to explore the possibilities and find something that peaks your interest. Make sure
it’s something you’re actually passionate about before you go signing your name on every list. It’s great to try a few
things with the new friends you’re making, but in the end it’s you who has to make the effort to participate in these
activities. Attend a couple of meetings or read up on the organization, but if something doesn’t click, commit yourself to
something else instead. There are so many opportunities out there that you’ll find something that fits – it might just take
a while. The great thing about joining something – anything – is the experiences you will have, the people you will
meet, and the opportunities that will arise. And so, you’ll find that when you truly love participating in something, you
won’t mind going at any time of day or night.
The same idea stands for research, too. Many science students are so immensely caught up in research that it might
seem to them that getting a job with a professor is everything. Guess what? It’s not. Research is a fantastic way to get
your nose in the door and explore other career paths, but it isn’t for everyone. Be careful; talk to profs and make sure
you understand their research before you approach them to join their lab. It’s a great connection to make, but if you get
in the lab and have no idea what you’re doing or find out you don’t like it, all that effort can feel like a waste. Surprise,
surprise, but science can lead you in a lot more directions than just becoming a doctor. Find your passion and the rest
will follow. ▲
“GROUND” BREAKINGSCIENTIFICDISCOVERY: ALCOHOLMADEFROMUSEDCOFFEEGRINDS
Sophie Fiset, 5th Year BIO
If there are two things university students know how to consume like nobody’s business, we all know it’s coffee and
booze. Now, a team of Spanish and Portuguese scientists at the University of Minho in Portugal has developed a
method of producing alcohol from used coffee grounds said to contain up to 40% ethanol, giving coffee addicts and
alcoholics alike yet another way to get their daily fix. This wonder concoction begins with heating
coffee grounds in water to a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. Next, sugar
and yeast are added and the mixture is allowed to ferment. Afterwards the sample is concentrated
to obtain a higher alcohol content. Science magazine notes that this process is not entirely
different from the one used to produce other distilled beverages such as whiskey and rum. But
really; coffee and alcohol together - what more could you ask for?
According to a group of eight trained taste testers brought in by the researchers, the drink was “pleasant” and smelled
like coffee, but left a “pungent and bitter taste.” Overall, the group decided that the beverage was drinkable, but
recommended aging the mixture to alter the taste. Unfortunately, if it’s a caffeine jolt you’re looking for, you’ll have to
get your kicks elsewhere, as the caffeine is lost during the brewing process.
So how do you like your coffee – black, double-double, or on the rocks? ▲
5 CATALYST
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/
SpecialtySoapRecipes/tp/Soap-And-Candle-Projects-Inspired-By-Beverages.htm

6. 1.Get involved. There are so many
options: clubs, sports teams, student
councils. You'll meet new people,
create awesome memories and live
university life to the max. Plus, it will
make your résumé extra impressive!
2.Attend class. Chemistry
might be the last thing you want to
think about at 8:30 on a Monday
morning – especially if weekend
shenanigans have kept you up
late – but it's well worth it. Studies
show that class attendance is the
most significant predictor of
academic success.
3.Be bold. Don't be afraid to say
hello to the person sitting next to
you in class or to that guy across
from you in your lab section. Big
classes can feel isolating, but it's
the perfect chance to make new
friends!
4.Stay on top of things.
This is one of the first things
older students say when
asked for advice. It's oh-so-
tempting to put work off until
later, but if you value your
mental health, keep ahead.
Nobody wants to experience
the panic of five deadlines at
once.
5.Start a skip jar. Challenge
your roommates to put a dollar in
the jar every time they skip class
– attaching a tangible price to
skipping is a great way to break
the habit. Then, at the end of the
year, donate the money to charity
and let someone benefit from your
wayward schooldays.
6.Try something fun. There's
tons to do in downtown Ottawa.
Check out $12 student tickets at the
NAC, shopping at the Rideau
Centre, food in the Byward Market,
or movies at the Bytown!
7.Volunteer. It's
rewarding and enriching,
improving both the community
and yourself. The Centre for
Global and Community
Engagement at uOttawa offers
a database of amazing
opportunities and will even
recognize your dedication
with an official Co-
Curricular Record.
8.Second­hand textbooks. During the first few
weeks of each semester, the halls around Marion
basement will become papered with lists of
secondhand textbooks for sale. Check out the
facebook page “USED TEXTBOOKS – uOttawa”.
9. Order online. If
you can't find the textbook you
need second-hand, save yourself hour-long
lines by ordering them online from
Agora or the uOttawa Bookstore.
They will let you know when
your order is ready and you'll
be able to pick up the
books in no time.
10. Have an adventure. You
can study abroad via uOttawa's
exchange program or do summer
volunteer trips across the globe.
The Ontario Universities Program
in Field Biology offers courses
taught everywhere from Taiwan to
Tanzania!
11.Plan your courses
early. When picking
classes for next year, don't
forget to check out the 3rd
and 4th year courses that
catch your eye. Chances
are, there are some
prerequisites you should
get out of the way early
on.
12.Facebook it.
Most first-year classes
will quickly have a
Facebook group
associated with them –
and if they don't, start
one yourself! They
allow you to easily
share resources,
discuss questions and
organize study groups.
13.Open your lab
manual. Laboratories can
be overwhelming; a lot of
instructions are thrown at
you, you may be working
with unfamiliar tools and you
will definitely have a lot of
questions. Carefully
prepping the lab ahead of
time – reading the manual,
creating value tables or
looking up unfamiliar terms –
will make you feel a lot less
lost.
14.Have more fun. Too
much school? Take a haunted
walk, have a picnic on
Parliament Hill, go skating on
the canal (don't forget the
beaver tails!) or visit one of
Ottawa's many museums.
15.Use your resources. There's an
invaluable Math Help Centre in Marion
021, a Physics Help Centre in 2nd floor
MacDonald, and a Chemistry Help Centre
off the teaching labs on Marion's third floor.
Get your questions answered by a qualified TA
and work on homework with your peers.
16.Free gym membership!
Feeling overworked? Go do some
laps in the pool or show up for a
weekly Zumba class – it's a great
way to relax and stay healthy!
Kelsey Huus, 3rd Year BIO
6 CATALYST6 CATALYST
apscms.net

7. 17. Visit your profs. They
don't bite - in fact, professors
are often far less intimidating
than they seem during the
lectures. They set aside office
hours specifically to answer
your questions, so go ahead
and ask 'em. Plus, it never
hurts to be on good terms with
your prof.
18.Roommate agreement.
It can be a good idea to deal
with problems before they
happen – sit down together and
come to an agreement about
cleanliness, noise, and/or party
etiquette.
19.Keep up with the readings. Desperately
reading 10 chapters the week before the final is
not the way to go. You'll better absorb the
material– and be much less stressed – if you read
in small, manageable chunks In Psychology, Dr.
Myers suggests reading a sub-chapter per sitting.
20.Free magazine
subscriptions. As a uOttawa
student, you have access to all
of the papers that our university
subscribes to, including
prestigious scientific journals
such as Nature. Simply log on
to the library website using your
uOttawa email and password
and get caught up on the latest
research!
21.Science buddies.
Look for this friendly
group of mentors and
faculty members in
Gendron 075. Have
questions about your
courses? Feeling
stressed or
overwhelmed? They're
here to help!
22.Try the research
experience. It can be
competitive, and it can be a
lot of work, but it can also be
a bucketload of fun wrapped
in amazing résumé potential.
Summer NSERC scholarships
or the uOttawa UROP
program are a great way to
get into a lab.
23.Procrastination,
begone. If you're always
stuck doing the last-
minute-cram, try a simple
trick; mark the dates
down a couple days
earlier than they really
are. You'll be ready with
time to spare.
24.Relax. It may seem like a lot of changes all at once, but you're not alone.
You've made it to university; be proud of your accomplishments and look
forward to a fantastic, fun-filled year!¬
A RESEARCH JOURNEY -
Julia Bayne, 4th Year CHM
In the fall of 2013, I applied to take part in the Inorganic Chemistry Exchange Program (ICE) and was
accepted to my first choice - McGill University. ICE is a nation-wide exchange program that provides undergraduate
students the opportunity to experience ground-breaking inorganic chemistry research at another university in
Canada. The program is for 16 weeks during the summer, where all the students participate in an end-of-term
conference and give a presentation in front of fellow professors and students. This year I am travelling to the
University of Calgary!
My research at McGill involved variable-temperature and high-pressure micro-
Raman spectroscopy of artists' pigments. I studied cadmium selenide (CdSe)
cadmium red; lead (II) molybdate (VI) (PbMoO4), one component of orange
molybdate; and cadmium telluride (CdTe). Temperature measurements were
obtained from -150 to 600 °C and pressures from ambient to ~ 5 GPa. Overall, the results I obtained illustrated their
stability upon extreme conditions, as the spectra all remained relatively stable. Evidently, the stability of these
pigments reinforces their continued use in art work and provides a basis for art restoration and the determination of
forgeries.
I encourage all science students to try research, whether you think you will enjoy it or not, and to apply for different
scholarships and programs - even if they take you out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to overstep your
boundaries and delve into something new, refreshing and a little bit scary. ▲
...Apply for different
scholarships and
programs - even if they
take you out of your
comfort zone!
7 CATALYST

8. THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
UNDERGRADUATE CHEMISTRY
SOCIETY (UOUCS),
also known as the 'Chem Club', serves as a
social framework for bringing students of
chemistry and other related fields together.
One of the Chem Club's core missions is
to host fun social activities which aim to
instill a sense of community for the
students, staff and faculty of science.
Trivia nights, study sessions and
pub outings are just some of the
annual events and parties we
organize . We also sell club
merchandise such as t-shirts and hoodies
and, during
our weekly
office hours,
serve as an
academic aid to
those studying
chemistry.
In addition, we
organize scientific
seminars throughout
the school year on a variety of current interesting
topics.
To become a member (free of charge!), simply visit
our webpage,
http://www.chem.uottawa.ca/ugradassoc and click on
the 'Join Us' tab. And be sure to look out for our 1st
year liaison elections later this Fall!
uottawachem@gmail.com
PRE-MEDICAL SOCIETY
The University of Ottawa Pre-Medical Society is a
student-based club that strives to help like-minded
students achieve a career in the medical field.
Every year the club hosts multiple events such as
Med 101, seminars, and MCAT sessions to prepare
students for medical school. We are proud to say many
of our members have managed to get into medical
schools in places all over the world, and
we are pleased to be part of their success
story. The club is open to all students, so
feel free to join the group. We would be
happy to help you achieve your goals.
uopremed@gmail.com
THE CATALYST
The Catalyst is a
student science
journal committed to
educating, entertaining and
enlightening students all over campus. Every
two months we share the latest discoveries in
everything from biomedicine to quantum mechanics,
chat about faculty events, and keep it light with some of
our favourite science-themed humour. Want to see your
name in print? editor.uocatalyst@gmail.com.
UNDERGRADUATEGEOSCIENCESASSOCIATION
The University of Ottawa Undergraduate Geosciences Association
(UGA) is a social framework for those students interested in or studying
Earth Sciences. Through social events and peer mentorship, our goal is
to make students aware of research, networking, and job opportunities
available within the geosciences community and department. Two major
events to look forward to this year are our participation in the annual Jeux de
la Géologie (this year hosted by l'Université Laval in Quebec City), and our
graduation Earth Ring Ceremony (show your pride and help build the uOttawa
legacy). Keep your eyes on your uOttawa e-mail inboxes and around the
department for information on how to get involved, and on our upcoming
fall elections. Make the best of your undergraduate experience and join
the UGA! uOttawaUGA@gmail.com.
BIO-X
Bio-X is a University of Ottawa club
dedicated to increasing awareness about
career/education opportunities in science
as well as increasing science
students’ involvement in the field of
science.
The Bio-X Club hosts career nights in the
fields of Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary
Sciences, to name a few. We are actively recruiting new
students to come and help out with the club!
SCIENCE EXTRACURRICULARS
IMMERSE
YOURSELF!
Still searching?
ARISE ROBOTICS
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (EVS) CLUB
iGEM (INTERNATIONAL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MACHINE)
CLUB
SCIENCE STUDENT’S ASSOCIATION
STUDENT BIOCHEMISTRY CURRICULUM
COMMITTEE
WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (WISE)
8 CATALYST

9. SCIENCE HUMOUR
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar...
...and doesn't.
• BERRIES: Add some blueberries or raspberries
to your morning smoothie! These sweet and colourful
fruits contain polyphenols (which plants use for self-
defense). This means that the berries you eat have
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in your body,
and your brain. A report by Shibu M. Poulouse states that
“polyphenols present in brightly colorful fruits like berries
may forestall the onset of dementia and improve memory
indices in humans.” Alternatively, you can try
pomegranates, sweet potatoes, green tea, red wine, or
best of all – dark chocolate!
• SEAFOOD: Try some coldwater fish with dinner
tonight – salmon and mackerel are good choices!
Seafood is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. In
particular DHA (one of the three groups of omega-3’s) is
abundant in seafood. According to a 2013 study by
Stonehouse et al., “DHA has been shown to accumulate
in areas of the brain involved in memory and attention
such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.” The
same study concluded that, “DHA supplementation
improved memory and reaction times of memory in
young adults whose habitual diet was low in DHA.” So
order up some sushi. Otherwise, you can get your daily
dose of DHA from lobster, oysters, eggs, or fortified milk.
Whether you are a freshmen living away from home and
cooking for yourself for the first time, or just a returning
student determined to bring up your cGPA, you might
want to try adding these simple foods to the menu. Your
brain will thank you! ▲
BRAIN FOOD: EATING LIKE A
SCIENTIST
Vanessa Nzeribe, 2nd Year BIM
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Do you
remember what you ate yesterday? Did you eat
breakfast at all? If your answer to any of these
questions is “Pop-Tart”, “coffee”, or “leftover pizza”,
you might want to reconsider your options as we
begin a new semester.
This month we welcome a crowd of impressionable
freshman, with rich young minds and hopeful aspirations for
their university careers. I wish them all the best, but let me
begin by imparting some valuable advice. If you want to get
the most out of the $6000+ of tuition you’ve paid, you need
to put your nutrition first. It doesn’t matter how smart you
were in high school, or how many hours you spend reading
and highlighting and staring at your laptop screen in the
library. It doesn’t matter if you study in groups or by yourself
or even if you don’t study at all (though for the record, you
should study). You will never be able to recall the atomic
mass of tungsten or remember the names of the arteries
and veins in the human body if you don’t feed the most
important organ in your body – the brain.
It’s true that many scientists have the bad habit of eating
fast food and scavenging vending machine treats during late
night research sessions. And I’m not even going to try and
pretend that I don’t eat more Skittles before my evening labs
than a child on Halloween night - we all have our weak
moments. But when we supercharge our brains with the
following nutritious and delicious foods, we’re taking a step
in the right direction. Try the following foods if you’d like to
maintain that great memory, bolster concentration, and
attain a truly superhuman immune system:
• LEAFY GREENS: Vegetables like spinach,
broccoli, and cabbage contain high levels of a form of
vitamin K called phylloquinone. Vitamin K plays an important
role in the metabolism of sphingolipids. Sphingolipids are
abundant in cell membranes of the central nervous system,
so vitamin K is essential for optimal cognitive functioning.
According to a 2012 article by Guylaine Ferland, “mean
phylloquinone intakes were significantly lower in participants
with Alzheimer’s Disease,” compared to controls. Add some
vitamin K to your meals! Some alternatives include spring
onions, curry, and asparagus.
9 CATALYST
www.sciencecartoonsplus.com/‎

10. Mireille Khacho and Pamela Khacho, a PhD student in
the Neuroscience Department. Presentations are
followed by a discussion session in which the audience
is encouraged to ask questions and offer new
perspectives. Meanwhile, students enjoy free pizza, a
much anticipated part of the program.
The top three presenters are announced
at the end of the summer.
The presentations feature a wide range
of cutting edge research. For example
Shruti Mallya’s project, supervised by Dr.
Ramirez, looked at ways of enhancing
the quality of Platelet Concenrates that
are manufactured by Canadian Blood
Services and used in hospitals to treat
patients in need of platelet transfusions. Elizabeth
Ross’s project, supervised by Dr. Tsilfidis, looked to see
whether adipose-isolated mesenchymal stem cells can
differentiate into the proper cell types in the retina, and
potentially integrate.
For me, it was the aura of pizza that first led me to the
conference room in which the program was held. Upon
attending a few sessions, I began to network with other
likeminded students who shared my interest in
scientific research. Ultimately, it was the encouraging
atmosphere along with the exciting research that drew
me to the event week after week. Overall, attendees
find the program fosters an interest in scientific
research that inspires them as the next generation of
scientists.
In order to build a brighter future, we need to
invest in training our next generation of scientists early
on in their education. FMSSP exemplifies the early
intervention approach as it serves to guide and mentor
undergraduates in the field of scientific research, with
the ultimate goal of advancing the future of science. ▲
LEARN, SHARE, GROW
THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE SUMMER
STUDENT PROGRAM: A GROWING INITIATIVE
Aida Ahrari, 1st Year BIM
From Newton’s discovery of the light bulb to Frederick
Banting’s discovery of insulin, scientific research has
advanced our modern world in ways previously
unimagined. As we continue on the path of discovery, it
is up to the next generation of scientists to take
scientific research to new heights. Fortunately, the
University of Ottawa is
determined to train young
scientists by offering several
excellent undergraduate
research opportunities.
However, while conducting
experiments is fundamental for
establishing a future in the
scientific world, there seems to
be a lack of opportunities for
undergraduates to present their research or engage in a
scientific discussion among their peers.
In an attempt to fill the gap between conducting and
presenting research for young scientists, Dr. Mireille
Khacho, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of
Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine, has taken the initiative to
establish the Faculty of Medicine Summer
Student Program (FMSSP). Mireille Khacho says “I
feel that students should be trained from the onset not
only with the technical aspects of performing
experiments, but also to develop and formulate
research questions, analyze data and present their
findings in a scientific format. These tools are essential
to becoming a successful scientist and require us to
foster creativity, logical reasoning, and a proper
foundation of presentation skills.”
In the spirit of attracting young scientists, undergraduate
summer students at the Faculty of Medicine are
encouraged to attend weekly meetings. Students
present their research to their peers and the evaluators,
"Students should be trained
from the onset not only with the
technical aspects of performing
experiments, but also to develop
and formulate research
questions, analyze data and
present their findings in a
scientific format."
FOR EXCLUSIVE ONLINE-ONLY
CONTENT VISIT:
UOCATALYST.TUMBLER.COM
10 CATALYST

11. THE FIRST STEP
Jason Kwan, 1st Year BIM
In June of this year, I participated in a five day
cumulative laboratory assessment at my high school where
everything learned since the beginning of grade 9 was
tested. Walking out of that assessment, I thought to myself
that I was finally prepared to work in a real laboratory.
When I showed up at the laboratory for work, I was
not formally shown where the equipment and materials were
located or where the projects occurred. Instead, I was led to
receive the first part of my two-step tuberculosis test and my
identification pass. Soon after, I was fitted with a lab coat,
given a lab book, and forty-five minutes after the start of my
first day, I was ushered directly into the lab. The most
impressive thing to me was all the equipment and supplies in
the laboratory. It was truly an upgrade from estimating how
many drops formed 1 millimetre to being able to use precise
pipettes. Within moments, I was hearing unfamiliar acronyms
like GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) and BLBP (Brain
Lipid-Binding Protein). Although this sidelined me for a
couple of minutes, I was inspired by watching the other
members of the team work together efficiently; it was like
entering the real professional world. As my supervisor Dr.
Eve Tsai said to me: “we get things done around here.”
The overall objective of the laboratory is to
regenerate the spinal cord in order to repair a severed or
damaged spinal cord. My summer involvement consisted of
the testing of a biomaterial known as polycaprolactone (PCL)
and its effects on the proliferation and differentiation of
neurospheres grown from rat brains and spines.
Polycaprolactone is a polyester that can degrade within the
body by hydrolysis. Naturally, it is important to know that if
PCL were to be used in spinal cord regeneration, it would not
cause any harm to the cells. I was involved with the staining
of neurospheres in order to collect data and aid in
determining whether or not there were adverse effects with
the use of PCL.
Every day, I would work in the lab for about eight
hours. However, the duration completely depended on which
part of the project was to be done. For example, staining for
cell proliferation with Bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU)
requires a 24-hour wait, so if the stain was put in at a
later time, I would stay an extra couple of hours longer
to complete the stain. It was fun discovering that I
wanted to stay later – I wanted to stay as long as it took
to discover the results. Learning to use the equipment
around the lab was one of the most exciting aspects of
my summer experience as well as constantly
researching new and interesting things in neuroscience
to understand the project better. My favourite piece of
equipment was the robotic microscope since it was
always a pleasure taking pictures by means of
immunofluorescense.
Although at times certain lab work was a little tedious, I
still found that it was very enjoyable going every day to
conduct research, and being in the frontiers of science
was mind-blowing. I greatly look forward to next year
when I hope I will have the opportunity of returning to
this laboratory to work again. ▲
ODE TO A YOUNG SCIENTIST*
Aleksandra Shalakhova, 4th year BIM
Icebox. Headphónes. Nitrile gloves.
Bench top's well lit. Pipette is ready.
Today is yet another day-
Your mind is set and hand is steady.
No band. You sigh and cry'n frustration.
Now neighbour lab can hear your moans.
Tomorrow's day repeats itself:
Ice box. Nitrile gloves. Headphónes.
*Inspired by Alexander Blok
11 CATALYST
sci-ence.org

12. THE STEM CELLS CONUNDRUM
Katherine Shan, 2nd Year BIM
If you’ve taken a biology course at any time in the past few years, you might be familiar with the term “stem cell”. In the
case of humans, when fertilization occurs, the single-celled zygote that is created will divide and differentiate,
eventually forming every cell in the human body. A stem cell is an undifferentiated (or pluripotent) cell that has the
potential of becoming any type of specialized cell, and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are abundant in the growing
embryo. The appeal of using stem cells in research and technology is clear—since they can literally become any cell,
they could ideally be used to replicate and replace any living cell as well. The advancements that they could bring to
medical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnological industries – to name a few – would be astronomical. However, there
has been controversy surrounding the ethical usage of ESCs for research ever since it was first involved in a study in
1998. Given that an embryo is considered a living being, using its cells for research – and robbing it of an opportunity
to further develop without its consent – can arguably be considered murder.
Since very little work could be done with ESCs themselves, scientists quickly turned their attention to uncovering
alternative sources of stem cells. And, after decades of persistence, a very recent breakthrough yielded cells known as
induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). While ESCs are naturally formed, iPSCs are created by taking a specialized
cell and reverting it to a pluripotent state. iPSCs are usually generated by transcription factor-based reprogramming.
As the name suggests, the reversion to a pluripotent state is achieved by introducing specific transcription factors into
the somatic cell. These factors interact with the cell’s DNA and, through the activation and silencing of genes, shape
the epigenome into that of a stem cell. Throughout the procedure, there are three phases: a stochastic phase at the
beginning (where the changes are random and have no known order), a deterministic phase at the end (where specific
changes occur in a specific order), and an intermediate phase in the middle (which represents the rate-limiting step).
An experiment, lasting twelve days in total, showed that the stochastic phase occurred mostly within the first three
days; and the deterministic, in the last three. In addition to the distinct structures of these phases, they are
distinguished by the genes that are activated or repressed. Immediately following factor induction, genes associated
with cell proliferation, metabolism, and cytoskeleton organization are upregulated. Histone marks are influenced and
begin to change. It is in the next phase - the intermediate phase - that pluripotency-related genes are activated. This
process is entirely stochastic, which contributes to its long duration, and is also the theorized cause for the
intermediate phase being the rate-limiting step. Finally, genes controlling cell development and maintenance are
upregulated in the last phase. This allows the modified stem cell to uphold a stable pluripotent state.
However, it is important to keep in mind that reprogramming may not always be successful. Not all cells introduced to
transcription factors will initiate into the first phase, nor is there any guarantee that a cell in the stochastic phase will
ever have its pluripotency-related genes enabled. Even if a somatic cell has been successfully reformed into a stem
cell, that stem cell might not be scientifically useful. There are many genes, and combinations of genes, that could
induce pluripotency. As a result, two phenotypically identical iPSCs could actually have distinct underlying genotypes;
the factors could have acted on different genes, and/or regulated similar genes differently, all to achieve the same end
product. Furthermore, it has been shown that the transcription factors used to create iPSCs also cause oncogenic
stress upon the cells, which could lead to additional genetic abnormalities. Other determinants that affect final iPSC
yield (in quality and quantity) are ratios of transcription factors, and in vitro conditions. This lack of homogeneity is
currently a major setback in analytical and clinical applications of iPSCs. For example: discrepancies between a
control-group iPSC and a disease-infected iPSC might be due to their respective genotypes, and not be relevant to the
disease. Such an incident would surely impact the credibility of results.
Despite these flaws, iPSCs have already been put to great use. They have been used to replicate cells of the cerebral
cortex, retina, and pituitary gland in vitro—not just as a mass in a Petri dish, but also as tissues with realistic 3D forms.
12 CATALYST

13. In 2010, Kobayashi et al. successfully reproduced functioning rat pancreatic tissue via iPSC injections into living rats
unable to naturally form their own pancreas. In the future, iPSCs are expected to replace lab animals as the primary
subject for disease testing and drug therapy. Medicines that are effective for other animals do not always function in
the human body, and using iPSCs in place of animals eliminates many ethics controversies. Disease-specific iPSC
lines – in other words, groups of iPSCs purposely infected with a given disease – have been involved in studies as
early on as 2008. Hypothetically, they could be used for drug screening as well. Scientists are not only hoping to
eventually regenerate entire organs using iPSCs, but to derive the iPSCs from patients themselves so that the
recreated organ would be entirely compatible with the patient. Yet perhaps the greatest advantage that iPSCs have
to offer is the abundance of somatic cell sources. In theory, any somatic cell, regardless of how specialized it is, can
be converted to a stem cell state. Presently, the favoured cells for reprogramming are found in human venous blood,
owing to the relative simplicity of blood cells (and thus a lower likelihood of genetic mutations).
Though it is far from perfect, iPSC technology also presents many exciting new opportunities. It is a first research
priority for many laboratories worldwide, and definitely deserves the interest and support of the global scientific
community.
OOPHAGA PUMILIO, THE STRAWBERRY POISON-DART FROG: A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVE
MATING STRATEGY
Danielle Walker, 4th Year BIM
When it comes time for a female to choose her mate, a wide variety of strategies exist in the animal kingdom: who has
the brightest colours, who sings the loudest, or who controls the herd. While these strategies may be preferred by
other animals, the female strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio) has a slightly different approach: the “grab-
whoever-is-closest” strategy.
The males of the strawberry poison-dart frog species will use a lek-style strategy to display to the females. In cases
where one gender vastly outnumbers the other, the choice of mate goes to the outnumbered gender. In this case, the
males outnumber the females, so it is up to the females to choose their mate. Lek-style displaying involves many
individuals of one gender being critiqued at once, by gathering and displaying together. In the case of the
strawberry poison-dart frogs, the males all gather in a lek and call to the female. The female may then
chose from the many males displaying to her.
The female strawberry poison-dart frog’s strategy varies slightly from other typical examples
of lek-style selection in that she shows no preference for any characteristic displayed
by the males, but simply selects the one that is closest. In studies where speakers
are set up playing calling sounds of different qualities, she simply shows
preference for the closest speaker. While this strategy may not seem
evolutionarily beneficial, it seems to work for the strawberry poison-dart
frog. It has been shown that if a female does not find a mate in time,
she will lay unfertilized eggs that will never hatch. In this case, it
seems it is best for her to find a lesser-quality mate and risk
having lesser-quality offspring than to have none at all.
13 CATALYST
en.wikipedia.org

14. THE DANGER OF DOGMATISM
Liam Peet-Pare, 3rd Year MAT
For hundreds of years, European thought was
dominated by the belief that the only source of
knowledge about the world was truth revealed by
scripture. This meant that learned members of the clergy
became guardians of truth, and opinions and hypotheses
which contradicted church and scripture were seen not
only as false, but also as dangerous and heretical.
Some famous intellectual consequences of this epoch
were the belief that the universe is only several thousand
years old, the belief in a geocentric universe, and of
course the belief that the Earth is flat.
Gradually this epistemological basis began to be
questioned, both by religious reformers such as Martin
Luther, and by thinkers whose theories appeared to
contradict the truth proclaimed by church and scripture.
The endeavors of individuals like Johannes Kepler,
Nicholas Copernicus, and Galileo Galilei called into
question the legitimacy of a scripture based
epistemology and heralded the beginning of what would
later be known as the “Scientific Revolution.”
Along with his support of the Copernican heliocentric
solar system, Galileo began to develop a method for
testing hypotheses through experimentation. Building
upon the writings of individuals such as Rene Descartes
and Roger Bacon, this method focused on criteria that
could be objectively measured and quantified and
experiments that could be reproduced in order to test
their validity. Galileo’s early formulation of this system of
inquiry gradually evolved over time to become what we
know today as the “Scientific Method.”
Over the years, as the application of this
scientific method proved to be a very effective means for
addressing questions regarding how the world works and
why it works the way it does, it replaced scripture as the
central means for providing ever-curious humans with
explanations about the world. Unfortunately, our belief in
the scientific method has taken on a similar religious
fervor as that which was once reserved for the Church
and Bible. Adherence to the scientific method has all too
often turned into blind faith.
A dogmatic adherence to the scientific method is not
merely a benign issue for philosophical pedants to
quibble over, but has consequences for both the way
science is practiced and our society in general. Treating
the scientific method as dogma and failing to educate
students of science in the historical development and
fallibility of the epistemological basis upon which their
discipline depends is dangerous. It often results in the
assumption that scientific discoveries are some sort of
fundamental truth about the world rather than merely being a
particular way to describe phenomena. The philosopher
Ludwig Wittgenstein’s remark helps to illustrate this point:
“How should we get into conflict with the truth, if our
footrules were made of very soft rubber instead of wood and
steel? – ‘Well, we shouldn’t get to know the correct
measurement of the table.’ –You mean: we should not get,
or could not be sure of getting, that measurement which we
get with our rigid rulers.”
Measuring a table with rigid rulers which give
consistent measurements is not truer or more correct than
using flexible rubber measuring instruments; it is just more
useful to us. This point can be extended to the scientific
method in general.
For example, the universe described by Newtonian
mechanics is quite different from that described by
Einsteinian mechanics, yet each has in its time been viewed
as a description of “reality”. It was only when it became clear
that Einstein’s theories provided more accurate predictions
and descriptions of observable phenomena (thus being
more useful) that the scientific community’s conception of
space and time changed. Yet neither of these theories are
fundamental truths nor mirrors of reality; they are
descriptions, metaphorical and mathematical, that have
proven to be useful.
If science is not striving towards truth but rather
utility, it needs to be evaluated according to this calculus. A
dogmatic belief in the scientific method blinds us to this
necessity and privileges scientific knowledge over other
forms of knowledge as it is seen as truer or more correct. If
scientific discoveries are viewed as discoveries of truth or
reality, it makes it difficult to evaluate the utility of the
discovery because it appears to be incontrovertible.
Furthermore, if we are not able to critically analyze the
scientific method, we will not be able to improve our
epistemology and science will be at risk of stagnation. If the
goals of science are the search for knowledge and the
overcoming of ignorance, the scientific method itself must be
subject to the critical examination that honest intellectual
rigor demands, or science may well replace medieval
Christianity in standing as an impediment to genuine
progress.
14 CATALYST

15. Works Cited
Welcome to the Big Leagues - Annalise Mathers, 3rd Year BIM
Immerse Yourself: Science Extracurriculars – submissions from UOUCS; Pre-Medical Society; The Catalyst; UGA;
Bio-X.
In the Lab: Student Stories
The First Step – Jason Kwan, 1st Year BIM
A Research Journey - Julia Bayne, 4th Year CHM
Lean, Share, Grow - Aida Ahrari, 1st Year BIM
Science Survival Guide 2013 – Kelsey Huus, 3rd Year BIO
“A healthy teenager is a happy teenager”. Understanding Society, March 2012. Web. 18 Aug 2013.
<http://www.understandingsociety.org.uk/news/healthy-teenager.aspx>.
Myers, David. Psychology. 9th edition. Worth Publishers, Michigan, 2012. 12. Print.
Schiming, Richard. “Class Attendance”. Minnesota State University, Jan 2013. Web. 28 July 2013.
<http://www.mnsu.edu/cetl/teachingresources/articles/classattendance.html>.
The Danger of Dogmatism – Liam Peet-Pare, 3rd Year MAT
Monk, Ray. Ludwig Wittgenstein the Duty of Genius. New York: Penguin Group, 1990. Print.
A ‘Ground’ Breaking Discovery – Sophie Fiset, 5th Year BIO
Sampaio, Armando et al. "Production, chemical characterization, and sensory profile of a novel
spirit elaborated from spent coffee ground." LWT­Food Science and Technology (2013).
Brain Food: Eating Like a Scientist – Vanessa Nzeribe, 2nd Year BIM
Ferland, Guylaine. "Vitamin K, an Emerging Nutrient in Brain Function." BioFactors 38.2
(2012): 151-7. Print.
Poulose, Shibu; Carey, Amanda Shukitt; Hale, Barbara. "Improving Brain Signaling in Aging: Could Berries be the Answer?"
Expert review of neurotherapeutics 12.8 (2012): 887-9. Print.
Stonehouse, Welma Conlon, Cathryn Podd, John Hill, Stephen Minihane, Anne Haskell, Crystal Kennedy, David. "DHA
Supplementation Improved both Memory and Reaction Time in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial." The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 97.5 (2013): 1134-43. Print.
The Stem Cells Conundrum – Katherine Shan, 2nd Year BIM
Buganim, Yosef, Dina A. Faddah, and Rudolf Jaenisch. “Mechanisms and Models of Somatic Cell
Reprogramming.” Nature Reviews Genetics 14 (2013): 427–439. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
Takahashi, Kazutoshi, and Shinya Yamanaka. “Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Medicine and
Biology.” Development 140 (2013): 2457–2461. Web. 1 Aug 2013.
QuickNews – Paula Adler, 4th Year BIM
Woman Drinks Coke Instead of Water for 16 Years
Nosowitz, Dan. “Woman Drinks Coke Instead of Water for 16 Years.” PopSci. 25 June 2013.
Website. Accessed 21 July 2013. <http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-06/woman-
drinks-coke-instead-water-16-years>.
Human Body is Ninety Percent Bacteria
Tancrède, C. (1992) Role of human microflora in health and disease. Eur J Clim Microbiol Infect
Dis, 11(11):1012-1015.
Sekirov, I., Russell S.L., Antunes, C.M., & Finlay, B.B. (2010) Gut microbiota in health and disease.
Physiol Rev, 90(3): 859-904.
Cocaine Use Related to Educational Achievement
Harder, V.S., and Chilcoat, H.D. (2007) “Cocaine Use and Educational Achievement:
Understanding a Changing Association Over the Past 2 Decades.” Am J Public Health, 97(10):1790-1793.
“What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States?” September 2010. Website. Accessed
21 July 2013. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine-abuse-
addiction/what-scope-cocaine-use-in-united-states>.
“Coke’s Original Recipe Reportedly Found: Was It More, Or Less, Healthy? And Was There
Really Cocaine In It?” The Huffington Post. 15 February 2011. Website. Accessed 21 July 2013.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/15/coke-recipe-found_n_823552.html>.
Weather Forecast for 2018: Cloudy With a Chance of Climate Change
Smith, D.M., Cusack, S., Colman, A.W., Folland, C.K., Garris, G.R., & Murphy, J.M. (2007)
Improved surface temperature prediction for the coming decade from a global climate model. Science, 317(5839):796-799.
“IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007.” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change. 2007. Website. Accessed 21 July 2013. <http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch3s3-es.html>.
Frog’s Mating Strategy is First­Come, First Serve - Danielle Walker, 4th Year BIM
Originally published on Enteroctopusdofleini.wordpress.com
BioMed Central Limited. “Lovelorn frogs bag closest crooner.” ScienceDaily. 20 May 2013.
Website. Accessed 21 May 2013. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130520095103.htm>.
15 CATALYST

16. Looking for an extracurricular?
Join the Team!
Send us an email at
editor.uocatalyst@gmail.com for
more information
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