Fun Quiz Corner 3 (Biodiversity)

1. Lobster, crab and shrimp all belong to which phylum of animals?
a) Chordata
b) Arthropoda
c) Icthyata
d) Paella

2. What is the scientific name for ‘cold-blooded’ animals?
a) Lawyers
b) Homeotherm
c) Poikilotherm
d) Cryotherm

3. Where are you more likely to find the largest number of living organisms (including microbes) in one gallon of water?
a) Arctic Ocean
b) Caribbean Ocean
c) Caspian Ocean
d) NUS swimming pool

4. The Jellyfish has a body pan that is described by biologist as?
a) Disgusting
b) Annelid
c) Tubular
d) coelenterate

5. Why do fish swim in schools?
a) To surround prey
b) To confuse predator
c) To chase away bigger fish
d) To go to school together

Answers: 1. B   2. C   3. A   4. D   5. B

Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz8881107800.html

 

Fun Quiz Corner 2 (optical)

Black Dots
How many black dots do you see in the below image?

Hidden Faces
How many faces can you see in the below picture?

Answers:  Altogether 7 people including the baby. There are no black dots in reality, it’s just an optical illusion.

Source: www.freegifthome.co.uk/blog/

Fun Quiz Corner 1(Chemistry)

1.     One important source of Vitamin C is citrus fruit. Vitamin C is:

a)     Ascorbic acid

b)     Citric acid

c)     Salicylic acid

d)     Tricarboxylic acid

2.     Soft drinks may contain many different acids. The acid that produces fizz or bubbles is:

a)     Ascorbic acid

b)     Carbonic acid

C)    Citric acid
d)    Phosphoric acid

 

3.     Chocolate and cocoa naturally contain relatively high levels of which two metals:

a)     Cadmium and lead

b)     Aluminium and iron

c)     Cadmium and mercury

d)     Lead and cobalt

4.     You open your medicine cabinet to get some aspirin for your aching head. What is another name for this drug?

a)     Acetominophen

b)     Acetylsalicylic acid

c)     Ibuprofen

d)     Naproxen

5.     Two household chemicals you should never mix include:

a)     Vinegar and baking soda. Those bubbles could be toxic!

b)     Bleach and water. Diluting bleach only makes it more dangerous.

c)     Oil and water. They don’t mix and aren’t meant to!

d)      Bleach and ammonia. Chloramine vapors can be deadly!

 

 

Answers:

1.     A   2. B   3. A   4. B   5. D

Source: http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/bl070103a.htm

Message from the Publication Director

Last year I had the honour of becoming the Publication Director of BSS’s annual magazine The Mudskipper and it is certainly no exaggeration for me to say that I am really overjoyed to see the revival of our society magazine. The Mudskipper has a long and reputable history which dates back to early 1970s but the goal of our magazine has not changed at all – to provide a platform for staff and fellow students from the Life Science Major to interact with each other as well as to exchange exciting ideas. I sincerely hope that The Mudskipper can provide you with relaxing yet informative readings.  When you are feeling really stressed from studies, take a minute or two to flip through the pages over a cup of warm coffee. I hope you will feel refreshed after this short break.

The conception of this issue of Mudskipper could not have been possible without the help of my dear friends and teammates from the Publication Subcommittee: Preetha, Ranmali, Shweta and Saba. Also, Jia Yee, our cheerful Marketing Director, has also helped greatly in making the publication of Mudskipper a reality. It is you guys that made the months of working on Mudskipper efficient and enjoyable. The articles in this magazine are all penned after careful research to ensure its accuracy and usefulness for our readers. In addition, all students from the Science Faculty are encouraged to send in their articles for selection to be published in the magazine too. To hear your voices better, we had also launched an electronic version of The Mudskipper at www.themudskipperonline.wordpress.com. Do visit it for more information and give us some feedback so that we can all benefit. Last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank Mr Jason Tan and Miss Cynthia Lee from DBS for providing us with valuable advices when we needed them most. Lastly, we also want to thank Young ChangMakers for their generous funding and support.

Wish everyone happiness and health  =D

Cheers,

Zhang Jing Yang
Publication Director
BSS 37^th Executive Committee

Message from the BSS President

First of all, I am so glad to see Mudskipper to be published again as it has been stopped since 2005. All these have my dear Publication and Marketing team to thank for as they have indeed done a good job! Not to forget is the sponsorship of SGD750 from Department of Biological Sciences as an act of supporting the revival of the Mudskipper. Looking back last year, we managed to organize a Farewell Party for our seniors at Supper House, PGPR. But scare not, there are many up-coming events for this year and we promise this will be a fruitful year for NUS Biological Sciences Society.

Firstly, we have successfully organized our annual bazaar in January 2009 at Science Foyer to raise fund for our society. Next, we had conducted a local trip to Pulau Ubin in February. It was a successful one as our members got the chance to visit Chek Jawa, renowned for the variety of flora and fauna in Singapore. In February, there was a company visit to Biopolis. The response was overwhelming as the participants get to tour the world-class biomedical science research and development (R&D) hub in Asia.

 

A Career Talk and a BBQ gathering will be organized in March as well. The most exciting event on schedule would be our annual Overseas Trip which had gained the most popularity among all our events. This year, we will be going to Pulau Tioman, famous for its coral reserves and being the best snorkelling place in Malaysia. Interested? Welcome to join us. We have also planned to organize a Freshmen Workshop for the incoming freshies to have a taste of what Life Sciences is really like. All members are welcome to join us as seniors! Through these various activities, we hope to create higher awareness for all Life Sciences undergraduates in having a better grasp of their future careers, as well as to link current undergraduates with our Alumnus through bonding sessions.

 

Last but not least, I would like to take this chance to thank all my dear fellow committee members for giving their full support along the way.

 

Best wish to all. =)

Regards,

 

Lee Kim Yee

President

BSS 37^th Executive Committee

Antibacterial Soaps, Are We Really Cleaner Than Before?

Lately, it seems like everything on a shelf at the supermarket boasts of being “antibacterial”. About 75 percent of liquid soaps and other regularly used household cleaners on American grocery store shelves display this word on their labels (How Stuff Works, Health). There are also antibacterial dishwasher, wet issue and even water bottles! But does this mean we are cleaner than before? Extensive researches show that not only is that unlikely, we may instead be enabling the creation and development of antibiotic resistant bacteria- “super bugs” as they are commonly referred to.

What is it that makes these soaps “antibacterial”? The action of an ordinary soap is fairly straightforward – by reducing surface tension of water as well detaching dirt and oil from the surface of the skin, so that it may then be easily rinsed away by water. While antibacterial soaps work on the same principle, they contain additional substances such as triclosan (or less commonly triclocarbon). These specifically target the bacterial population present on the body, either by killing it (bactericidal) or by hampering its ability to grow and reproduce (bacteriostatic). Such an advantage does seem possible, but the simultaneous risks that antibacterial soaps pose may result in greater harm than good.

Lesser known statistics suggest that for triclosan to work, it must be left on the skin surface for at least two minutes. Few people wait this long before washing off the soap. Triclosan may also result in harming bacteria that are actually beneficial and sometimes even essential for humans (for example, the population of bacteria that works to eat our sweat). Besides many common diseases, such as flu and common cold, are viral in nature anyway, and can therefore not be prevented by antibacterial products. The creation of “super bugs” is, in fact, closely related to this.

Bacteria can develop resistance to such antibacterial substances due to over-prescription or general misuse (Collins, 2003).  For example, if you don’t complete the course for antibiotics prescribed for an infection, or use leftover medicines for new and different infections, bacteria tend to develop their own immunity. The weaker bacteria are destroyed successfully, but the stronger, resistant bacteria are able to survive and thrive, making them virtually resistant to those antibiotics. Such results are near catastrophic, because bacteria developing resistance to an antibiotic substance would mean that all its progeny would also inherit these resistive genes. Experts are beginning to believe that overuse of antibacterial soaps may also lead to development of resistant bacteria in a similar manner. Such bacteria would not only be indestructible by the usual hand soaps (antibacterial or not), they might also be better equipped to develop resistance against new antibacterial substances.

Though these somewhat controversial claims may not be accurate, it’s easy to argue that since there is no evidence to suggest that triclosan-based soaps are more effective than plain soaps, they may not be worth the potential risk. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instead says that the most effective (as well as the safest) way to protect oneself against infection is to simply wash one’s hands with ordinary soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds (How Stuff Works, Health)^. Alcohol based soaps may be more effective since alcohol is considered a broad spectrum antibiotic which works by physically rupturing the cell wall and other components of bacteria; a practice against which it is nearly impossible for bacteria to develop resistance (Farino, 2008).

Tempting as it is to pick up one of the several products that are now marked “antibacterial”; it is difficult to realize exactly how devastating bacteria with heightened resistance may prove to be. Comparing the possible benefits with the probable hazards of antibacterial soaps hint that choosing them over the ordinary variety may, in fact, make us unhealthier and ironically more prone to bacteria. Although some experts maintain that antibacterial soaps may be useful in certain circumstances (for example, if someone in your house is suffering from an illness caused by bacteria) (AyushVeda, 2008), ordinary alcohol based soaps and cleaners seem to be the safer way to go.

To UROPS or not to UROPS?

Cometh second year, cometh another onslaught of electives designed to turn the brains of the average life science student into mush. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program in Science (UROPS) is one elective that accounts for much head-wringing.  Promoted by the faculty as a first step in research, this module is entirely research-based, with students working on a research project under the direct supervision of their lecturers. Extending over a semester or a year, students are graded by their supervisors and by external professors from the department in which research in conducted on the basis of a report and a presentation. How does one approach the decision? Here’s a look at some points you might want to consider before deciding to devote (or not) a semester to the sanctum sanctorum of life science: Lab.

If you have stepped into the hallowed corridors of the Faculty of Science knowing that your future lies in a laboratory, this should be a no-brainer. UROPS is a great step towards becoming a researcher, with hands-on research opportunities in your field of interest. Exposure to the latest advances in science and technology at such an early stage certainly is a huge incentive. Needless to say, working with a researcher trains students to think like one, and the earlier one starts, the better! Moreover, if you plan on doing your honours, the prior experience of having handled an individual project certainly helps with the final year project (FYP). Neither is it uncommon for students who’ve enjoyed their UROPS to extend their project into their final year; in such cases, the familiarity with the lab and other researchers in it can ease you into the year-long endeavour. That said, UROPS could also be a good option if you’re undecided on research; you’ll know where you want to go once you’ve toiled away in the lab long enough.

An added bonus of UROPS is a close interaction with your UROPS professor. With huge cohorts, lecturer-student interaction in the life science department is rather limited. While doing UROPS, one realizes that professors are usually only too willing to guide their students along, not just in their UROPS work, but also concerning future plans.

Again, if life science will mean nothing to you after graduation, this shouldn’t require much thought. There is no dearth of interesting modules to fill up your faculty requirement slot, and the long lab hours are not worth the effort if you know that research is not for you. Hard work can get you a decent grade in your UROPS; however, the long hours in the lab are taxing, and the perpetual stressing over incorrect results and running behind schedule can mean you compromise on other modules. So unless you want to try out something new, it would be wiser to give it a pass. However, it is interesting to point out here that according to pass year surveys 100% of the students did feel that they benefited from UROPS.

Another reason students skip UROPS is the lack of space in their timetables. Most of us, at some stage, have drooled over modules that are obscenely interesting, but another core module always seems to come in the way. Well, if you’re certain that you’d prefer another module; you could always look for vacation projects or internships that would boost your research experience (and therefore your resume) instead. These are as beneficial, except that they’re for a shorter period of time, and might not be enough for a full-fledged project to be completed from start to end.

So what did students who have completed UROPS have to say about the program? According to the survey conducted in 2005, 86.4% found the workload manageable while the other 13.6% vehemently disagreed. About the average amount of time spent on UROPS per week, 34.7% claimed that they spent 5-10 hours per week while 65.3% said that they spent more than 10 hours on their projects weekly.

When asked about the reason for choosing the UROPS project, 40.8% stated Interest as their primary reason, 23.4% chose their projects because of availability of vacancy while 32.1% explained that they made their decision because they preferred the professors who was conducting the project and felt that they can benefit by learning under them. Only a very small fraction of 3.7% said that they chose their projects because they were influenced by their seniors or friends.

Ultimately, the decision depends on what your priorities are, and rests entirely on you. As the CORS website puts it, the entire modular system is intended to teach students to make choices, and live with them. The decision won’t make or break your life, but it is important that whatever choice you take is well-informed, and that there are no regrets. UROPS or not, the life science faculty has a lot to offer, and we hope you make the best of it!

Which Life Science Concentration should I take?

If you’re in your first or second year and you still can’t decide, fret not. Not everybody starts out knowing exactly what they want to do. This section will briefly look at the 3 Life Science concentrations that you can specialize in.

About the Program

In the Life Science Program, the first two years consists of a common foundation, which includes topics from Molecular, Cell and Organismal Biology, Organic Chemistry, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. From Level 3000 onward, however, students diverge into 3 areas of concentration: Biomedical Science (BMS), Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) or Biology (BIO). To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree major in Life Science, students are require to complete 4 modules within their chosen specialization, in addition to 2 modules from outside their chosen specialization. If you choose to do a double-concentration, then you are required to do 10 modules – 4 from each chosen concentration, and 2 from the third. The 4 extra modules you do will fulfil the Unrestricted Electives category. To qualify for honours project (LSM4199), students must have a CAP of at least 3.50, and a fulfilment of at least 100 MC or more and major requirements under Bachelor of Science program.

BIO, MCB or BMS?

So which concentration should you take, BMS, MCB or BIO? Biomedical Science focuses more on the human body, its processes and medical related issues and research. Molecular Cell Biology has its focus on cell biology and research in a lab, whereas Biology is the study of plants and animals. Another important question in every Life Science student is how will the concentration they ultimately decide on affect their future career prospects?

According to the lasted survey conducted among current life science students, 70% intends to specialize in BMS and 37.5% prefers MCB while the remaining 17.5% is interested in pure BIO. As for the reason of their choice of concentration(each student allowed to tick 2 options), 87% stated “Interest” as their ultimate decision shaper while 50% ticked “Perceived better career prospects”.  Probing deeper, 12.5% chose their concentration because of “Effective and interesting Lecturers in that concentration” while some admitted that they chose their concentration because they wanted to be with friends.

“As far as MCB is concerned I took that up as going forward any research in Science involves mainly MCB work no matter what bigger field you work on” says one graduate. “I went on to do my PhD in Oncology but basically a whole lot of MCB work. So for an undergraduate degree I think it is really useful.  Job opportunities would mainly be in the field of research, but you will have to study further if you want to move up the food chain. Otherwise a lot of people go into sales for commercial companies”, Says Janice Lee, a teaching Assistant in the department of Science.

 “Many people think that what you study will determine what you will be or work in the future. That may or may not be true. It’s more of the skills that you have picked up along the way of your education that will be most useful in your working life”

When asked about the job scope for Biology degree: “There are available positions in nature/environment-related government statutory boards such as Nature Parks, National Environment Agency and Public Utilities Board. Some move on to become teachers in MOE. Some decide to pursue an academic career and go for a MSc. or PhD. Others may go into the private sector where companies perform environmental impact assessments (EIA) or are tapping in to the ‘green’ industry. And there are those who are in non-governmental organisations such as World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), working towards nature conservation at the ground level”

“I am not too sure about Biomedical and Micro-bio fields” She said, when asked about career prospects for the other 2 concentrations. “But many of my fellow classmates have moved on to jobs which do not require a background in that field. There are many bio-tech related industries which one can go into, or for those who are keen on research, I believe Singapore provides good opportunities for graduate students. Another graduate mentioned that some BMS degree holders in her batch went to work in hospitals, or on to procure employment at Biotechnology companies such as A*star Research institute.  What many people seemed to agree on, however, was that the most important thing was following your interest, because you doing well in your chosen specialization are what your future employer will be looking for. And no one puts it better than one second year undergraduate: “When you do what you love, no matter how dark it gets you will always see the light at the end of the tunnel”.

The Sweet Truth about Chocolate

For decades, chocolate has been considered an indulgence, featured in ‘sinful’ and ‘decadent’ desserts such as ‘Death by Chocolate’.  But recent studies show that the ‘Devilish’ chocolate – in moderation, of course, may actually be good for us! The world consumption of chocolate, the leading comfort food, is estimated at 2,800,000 tonnes per year with European countries emerging as the largest consumers. Chocolate is usually available in three forms: dark, milk and white. Dark chocolate is made with cocoa paste, sugar and no milk additives. Milk chocolate contains cocoa paste, cocoa butter, sugar and substantial quantities of powdered milk; white chocolate does not contain cocoa paste at all. While not many can argue against the calorie count of a chocolate bar, recent studies suggest that many health concerns are actually based on myths.

Chocolate is high in caffeine.
MYTH! While eating chocolate often perks you up, chocolate does not contain high levels of caffeine. The amount of caffeine in an ounce of milk chocolate (the kind present in most chocolate bars) or an 8-ounce glass of chocolate milk is about 6mg which is a lot lower than the amount in a cup of regular coffee (65-135mg), or roughly equivalent to the amount in a cup of ‘decaf’.

Dark chocolate is healthier than the other varieties.
FACT! Dark chocolate is known to contain anti-oxidants which some researchers claim reduce the risk of heart problems. According to Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany, it actually reduces blood pressure. What is it about dark chocolate that makes it healthier? Plant phenols (or cocoa phenols to be exact). These neutralize potentially cell damaging substances known as oxygen free radicals (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition). Flavonoids present in dark chocolate may also have a positive effect on insulin resistance (prevention of diabetes). Dark chocolate is comparatively “uncontaminated”, hence preserving more benefits of cocoa than the milky varieties.

Chocolate causes acne.
MYTH! Regardless of what your parents say, studies in the past twenty years have nearly eliminated chocolate as a cause of acne. While many dermatologists say that the onset of acne isn’t significantly influenced by diet at all but instead results from oil and bacteria on the skin, other researchers say that the kind of milk mixed in chocolate may cause the occasional pimple. In general, real chocolate is known to have anti-oxidants which are beneficial for the skin; it is the additives in a candy bar that may or may not be unhealthy.

Chocolate is bad for your cholesterol.
MYTH! While it is true that chocolate does contain saturated fat, mostly stearic acid with small quantities of palmitic acid; it isn’t harmful if consumed in moderation. It is proven that stearic acid does not raise cholesterol levels the same way that other types of saturated fats do. While the contention that chocolate is actually good for your heart may be exaggerated, it is evident that the hydrogenated oils and corn syrup in processed chocolate are the real culprits.

Eating chocolate will cause cavities and weight gain.
MYTH! This is a generalization. Yes, cavities are formed when bacteria in the mouth metabolize sugars and starches from any type of food (including chocolate and candy) to produce acid, which then eats through the enamel of the tooth. But it is unlikely that chocolate alone would cause cavities unless accompanied by poor oral hygiene. Fact is regular fluoride use can easily help prevent the formation of cavities; and lack of such care will result in cavity formation – whether you avoid chocolate or not. As far as weight gain is concerned, any food can be a part of a balanced diet if consumed in moderation. An average bar of chocolate contains 220 calories which is low enough to be occasionally accommodated in a weight control diet. While these findings give us no reason to believe that a couple of bars of chocolate can replace a salad, chocolate lovers can take heart in the fact that chocolate really isn’t as bad as it’s often made out to be. No single food can cause or cure health problems, and chocolate still primarily remains a pleasure food. The trick is simply to eat the right amount of the right kind of chocolate.

BSS Field Trip to Chek Jawa 2009

A trip to Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin certainly felt like a trip back in time, to a place where the natural habitats and way of life remained more or less unchanged since the early days of Singapore. That was probably what was on everyone’s mind as our group of 32 life science undergraduates stepped down from our bumboats onto the shores of Pulau bin on this unusual Sunday(22 February 09). Everyone was in good spirit despite the long journey and even the rain didn’t dampen our desires to see what this beautiful and vibrant island has to offer.

Chek Jawa, located on the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, is definitely a place that every Singaporean could be proud of. Not only is it home to nearly a thousand species of plants and animals (many of them in danger of extinction), it is also a place where 6 different and unique ecosystems can be found packed within the confines of one square kilometre. As we trekked deeper into Chek Jawa, we were constantly awed by the splendour of nature as the habitats changed from mangrove to rocky shore to coastal forest to sandy beach to sea grass lagoon and finally to coral rubble area. You may think that you have seen the scenic views of Chek Jawa on postcards but seeing the place first-hand is truly an irreplaceable experience. The visual impact of seeing the colourful flora and fauna dotted against a backdrop of lush greenery was incomparable and this combined with the slightly saline smell of the sea and the sound of waves gently lapping on the rocks will fill your heart with wonder and ease at the same time.

To enable our participants to learn more about the amazing habitats, we were split into 2 smaller groups and each was accompanied by a friendly guide who is very familiar with the environments. Mr Robert, our good-humoured guide, took us on a 2-hour informative and enjoyable journey around Chek Jawa. We began our trip by first acquiring a panoramic view of the whole of Chek Jawa from on top of the 21 metres high Jejawi Tower before moving on to see the various ecosystems in more details. We started by a walk through the mangroves and it happened to be low-tide in the mid-afternoon so it was easier for us to observe the aerial roots of the mangrove trees as well as the mudskippers and tree-dwelling crabs. We walked through various other habitats before we arrived at the intersection of the rocky shore and sea grass lagoon which was teeming with life. We saw hundreds of tiny Fiddler crabs waving their bright red pincers, colonies of barnacles and oysters on the surface of the rocks, the snowy migratory birds named Little Egret and many more interesting creatures. It was indeed a beautiful scene to behold and a most lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.      

At the end of the 180-metre trek, we were rather reluctant to leave this place where time seemed to have stopped and all your worries temporarily forgotten. I enjoyed this trip immensely and I hope to visit there again soon. To summarize using the words of Mr Robert, “you can always pick up something new each time you return to Chek Jawa.”