A Peek on “Lenses on Biology”

A Review By Doaa Tawfik

I would like to talk about the newest edition from "Nature Outlook" that was published under the Title "Lenses on Biology". This special edition is particularly interesting to young scientists thinking of pursuing a career in Biology. This issue features five prominent biology specialists, who remind us of the importance and the great impact of biology on our lives. What is most interesting about this edition is how it engages readers whether they are scientists or non-scientists interested in reading about scientific advances. "Lenses on Biology" discusses five important biology topics through both a series of essays and a very interesting Q&A.

As a physician, I always preferred to work in a laboratory. I am currently starting my PhD studies in cancer research (Molecular Oncology). My reason for choosing this specialty stemmed from one particular moment in my medical internship year. Back then, I told a young couple that their only son had been diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer). At that moment, I really felt that I had to do something more, that I had a responsibility to help end this disease. I am not surprised that CANCER is the first topic covered in this edition of Nature outlook, as cancer is one of today's most deeply investigated illnesses.

The Outlook article on cancer discusses the ancient history of cancer, who was the first one to name it and why. In the introduction, the article takes the reader into debates between scientists surrounding the accurate reasons behind cancer's recent dramatic surge. Furthermore, the author discusses various important cancer topics including:

• How were various types of cancer discovered? How do they develop?
• What factors aid or hinder cancer development?
• How do various fields of biological science help to elucidate this disease? How does research on marine life or insects help us better understand human cancer?
• Why is cancer more common in old age?
• The effectiveness and individual responsiveness to different cancer treatment modalities.
• What is meant by "targeted therapy" or "cancer stem cells"?
• What are the challenges facing cancer research?

The second topic in this Nature Outlook is SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY. The author explains what is meant by synthetic biology and how the combination of biology and engineering are beneficial to biology. The essay explains the importance of the field and how it was developed. Moreover, the article discusses many interesting points such as:

• What is meant by "Biological Circuits" and "Genetic Toggle Switch"?
• How can a plant give a danger signal when it senses explosive chemicals?
• How a student team in 2005 created living biological photography.
• How the newly devised genetically synthesized malarial drug is made how it could impact the price of treatment.
• How we can modify bacteria to perform activities beneficial to us, for example digesting oil in oil spills.
• How was the first synthetic DNA created?
• How can synthetic DNA provide solutions to severe problems like disease, famine and energy shortage?
• How synthetic DNA can help provide humans with ‘extra-human' abilities like producing light or sonar to be able to see in the dark.

The author also raises questions regarding the ethics behind such experimentations and the possible impact on human population and overall biodiversity. Also discussed are potential promising applications, the difference between genetic engineering and synthetic biology and the hurdles that synthetic biology faces.

The third topic is CLIMATE CHANGE, a topic that I personally find extremely important. In 2011, the United Nations climate change convention in South Africa and the concurrent Cairo Climate talks in Egypt discussed the extent of climate change impacts, ranging from the loss of plant and animal species, to changes in agricultural norms, to unprecedented fresh water challenges and famine.

The author in this lens discusses a very intriguing question: "How is life on earth reacting to climate changes and how will earth look in the year 2100?" In this essay, the author explains his team's ecological studies since the 1980s. He gives the reader an insight on his team's lifetime of observations and the unexpected environmental changes that they have encountered along the way. Furthermore, he raises a rather attention-grabbing argument regarding the main reason behind global temperature rise. He discusses terms including "proxy records", "Acid-albedo", "Pizzly or Grolar bears", and how ice melting and beetle overgrowth could further increase the Earth's temperature. If you are interested in the subject of global climate change, I would very much recommend reading this lens. It shows how our heath could be affected by these changes and how are we supposed to react to it.

The fourth lens is OCEAN SCIENCE. This lens also deals with the same topic of climate change, but from a whole new perspective. It discusses how tiny ocean phytoplankton control the overall planet climate. In this article, the author explains what phytoplankton are and how they share in the carbon cycle and determine the carbon level in our atmosphere hand in hand with trees and plants. Moreover, he also discusses how these microorganisms helped to create our Oxygen-rich atmosphere. Also, he clarifies terms including "Vulcanization" and "shotgun sequencing of DNA". The article discusses topics including:

• How can NASA satellites help monitor phytoplankton in the oceans?
• The effect of phytoplankton and land plants on the carbon cycle.
• How can phytoplankton turn to fuel?
• How modern advances in molecular biology techniques have enriched ocean-related research.
• How many other microorganisms live in the oceans and what are their possible functions and benefits?

The fifth lens is STEM CELLS. This field of research is always in the spotlight as a result of the many moral dilemmas it provokes. In this article, the author explains how a failed heart can repair itself and how a blind eye restores its retina. The author discusses the importance of stem cell research, its possible benefits and how exciting and yet challenging this line of research is. She explains the basics of stem cell research in a very simple way. How can a stem cell be differentiated into a particular cell type, and how can it be returned back to a stem cell state? The author sheds light on:

• The difference between "differentiation" and "trans-differentiation".
• What are the types of stem cells and where are they found?
• Why do normal cells die after few cell divisions whereas stem cells can divide forever?
• Can stem cells turn cancerous? Why?
• Do cells have memory of their differentiation?
• What are the objections and hurdles facing this line of research?
• How can stem cell research advance the drug testing process and make it safer?
• How the Morgridge institute became a major center for training stem-cell scientists.

As an early-stage researcher, I find these short essays very fruitful. When you look at these sciences from the unique perspective provided by this Nature Outlook, you will gain a new depth of understanding. The five well-established researchers who contributed to this Outlook help put our feet on solid ground. These articles can help to guide you through your own research decisions, or remind you of the marvelous impacts that these sciences have on our daily lives.

Nature.com Community Blog Of Schemes and Memes also covered "Lenses on Biology". Please read more here. Follow Twitter comments on this Nature Outlook via #LensesonBiology.