September 7, ZOl11 > Over the Edge UNBC OVER THE SUMMER ae es * a es What Was UNBC Up to During Those Rainy Months? HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR UNBC Researchers make a Technical Breakthrough in Genetics In mid-July researchers at UNBC made a technical break- through in gene splicing that has potential long-term implications for the struggle to understand genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and certain types of dwarfism. The results of their research were presented at the Western Can- ada RNA Conference hosted by UNBC on July 18 and 19. The work was part of the Master’s project of UNBC grad Amy Hay- duk. Gene splicing is a naturally occurring process that involves cutting out useless portions of a gene and joining the remaining parts together. “We have discovered that a region of an RNA mol- ecule that was preciously thought to play no role in gene splicing is in fact essential for assembling the splicing machinery,” says UNBC chemistry professor, Stephen Rader. Geneticists can mimic the process to repair genes or stop the process all together. The research has been submitted to a promi- nent biochemistry journal for publication later this year. UNBC Faculty Publishes First Canadian Weather Textbook There is no denying that Canadian universities often rely on American textbooks for their course materials. However, Amer- ican focused material does not always apply seamlessly into Canadian courses, which can be frustrating when there are no Canadian alternatives. UNBC Environmental Sciences profes- sor Peter Jackson and spouse Christine Jackson who is a Geog- raphy Senior Lab Instructor have produced the first-ever weather textbook aimed specifically at Canadian Students. The pair has adapted a popular US textbook to address concerns regarding Canadian weather systems. “Students are becoming increasingly frustrated with not hav- ing Canadian weather phenomena and methods represented and faculty are tired of saying ‘what your text says is true, but in Canada we do things differently.” The Canadian edition of Donald Ahrens’ Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment, is published by Canadian educational publisher Nelson. The book also features contributions from many researchers, educators, and meteorologists from across Canada. Environment Canada works differently than the U.S. National Weather Service, so this adaptation is much more than just “the US measures in miles and Canada uses kilometers” says Peter Jackson. The book has been adopted by university classrooms through- out Canada and will be used by UNBC students beginning in the January semester. UNBC MEDIA UNBC Field School Researches Ancient Village Early this August a group of UNBC students worked on the excavation of a possible ancient village on BC’s coast. The an- cient village is located in the Hakai Luxvbails Conservancy on Calvert Island off of BC’s central coast. The project was part of an archeological field school lead by UNBC’s Anthropology Program in partnership with the Heil- tsuk and Wuikinuxv First Nations, the Hakai Beach Institute and BC Parks. The students recovered thousands of shells, fish, and sea mam- mal bones, and fishing and hunting tools. Anthropology profes- sor, Farid Rahemtulla, directed the project. “The overall size and depth of the site would suggest that this was a prominent village,” says Rahemtulla. “However, further scientific analyses and consultation with the First Nations communities will shed more light on this.” The central coast has some of the oldest archaeological sites in British Columbia. Students participating in the field school worked alongside members of the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv com- munities. “Community members shared traditional stories and songs around the beach campfire, further enriching the group ex- perience. Students also had an amazing experience observing land and ocean wildlife such as bears, wolves, deer, humpback whales, porpoises, and more.”