Toronto students become scientists published after sending worms in space

Toronto students become scientists published after sending worms into space

ADINA BRESGE, THE CANADIAN PRESS | posted on Monday July 30, 2018

Some researchers spend years working to conduct an experiment in space, but for a group of young Toronto scientists, just a school project.

The four students were from Grades 8 to 12 In 1965, young women were all published scientists – half before graduating from high school – after the unexpected results of their experience has been highlighted in the literature. "I would never have thought in grade 8 that I would do something so meaningful with science," said Annabel Gravely, 16, in a recent interview. "The nature of science, everything is about the obstacles.What is really cool in the process, is learning different ways to get around these obstacles."

It all started four years ago when a teacher from the University of Toronto Schools issued a call for tenders to send an experience to Outdated by space studies opportunities, Gravely said that she wanted her proposal to be "significant", so she decided to study the neural disease that led to her grandfather's death a few years ago.] 19659004] ALS, also known as Lou's disease Gehrig, attacks the cells that control the muscles, gradually deteriorating them until they lose the ability to move, swallow and finally breathe.

Loss of muscle mbad suffered by astronauts after spending long periods of time in space, where they weaken because their body does not work against gravity.

If an enzyme linked to ALS was to increase According to Gravely's theory, this could help researchers understand the mechanism that causes muscular atrophy, which would have implications for a set of degenerative diseases.

"My family … (was) super attached to the project" Gravely. "Instead of being a research project, it was a big part of my life."

Grade 8 student Alice Vlasov teamed with her mentors Amy Freeman and Kay Wu to refine their experimental methodology. When the scientific scope of the project far exceeded the high school curriculum, Gravely called on leading researchers in Canada and the United Kingdom, who were touched by the dedication of girls and

Jane Batt, a scientist from St. Michael's Hospital, has lent space to Keenan's biomedical research laboratory, which has guided him in the testing and testing process. 39 mistakes necessary to achieve such an ambitious project. [TRADUCTION] "It's a gigantic undertaking for a young student," Batt said. "We have university students who can not do that, and Annie did it all voluntarily."

Vlasov, 17, said that she and Gravely "literally jumped out of joy" and laughed at the hallways after hearing that their experience was one of the few to have been chosen to take off in the # 39; space.

In the summer of 2016, student-researchers were standing on the firing point of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to wish good luck. like a SpaceX rocket carried them into orbit.

"It is permanently engraved in my memory," said Vlasov, a smile sweeping his face. "We could not believe this was really happening."

During the approximately 10 weeks the worms were in space or returned to shore, the team was conducting the same experiment in the Toronto lab

. Wu is 19 years old.

She said that she found that worms that had been exposed to microgravity had lower levels of ALS-related enzyme than the control group. 19659004] The researchers also found that "space worms" were longer and thicker than their terrestrial counterparts.

But one of the biggest surprises was that the worms survived for 69 days with a limited amount of oxygen and nutrients. a new discovery, according to the article of the group.

"(Gravely) 's question posed three other questions that deserve further examination, and that is how science works," said Batt

. this could be important enough to looki With Gravely and Vlasov in grade 12, Freeman and Wu are studying at the medical school, young scientists do not know what to expect after their summer vacation

. But Freeman, 21, hopes that a new cohort of young scientists is already busy at work with their next cosmic discoveries.

"At any age, you can do science, and you can participate in the scientific process." "If you have an idea, do not ignore it just because you think you are too young to do it."