Talking Nobel Prizes

I've always had an interest in the Nobel Prize, particularly in the field of Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry and Physics - probably due to my academic background. These awards have been made every year since 1901. Even polar explorer, Fridtjof Nansen (one of my favourite polar explorers), won a Nobel prize - Peace (in 1922).

The one thing that really gets me about the people who win the Nobel Prize, especially in the sciences (medicine/physiology, physics &chemistry; I'm conveniently ignoring literature and peace), is their commitment, dedication and single-minded focus to their subject - for decades!

Take this year's Medicine winners (Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak) for their work on the little bits of DNA (telomeres), that protects the ends of chromosomes, and the associated enzyme (telomerase).  Previous prize winners (1930 and 1984) had observed telomeres and theorised that they had a protective function.

Enter Blackburn, in the 1970's. She worked on mapping these DNA sequences, presenting her findings at a conference in 1980. And she continued from there (Greider was her graduate student; Szostak worked in a similar area - he and Blackburn collaborated).

Now, way more than 25 years after she got started in this field (she got her PhD in 1975), Blackburn's work, and that of her colleagues, is publically (in the most scientifically public way possible) acknowledged.

The Nobel Prize Chemistry winners (Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath) have had their PhDs for 35 - 45 years and you can be assured that for much of this time they've focused on the molecule that got them this award.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2009 awards studies of one of life's core processes: the ribosome's translation of DNA information into life. Ribosomes produce proteins, which in turn control the chemistry in all living organisms. As ribosomes are crucial to life, they are also a major target for new antibiotics.

Although the ribosome seems to fit more under medicine than chemistry, their work is more chemical in nature.

I can remember sitting in post-grad and departmental focus group meetings where profs would discuss things they've been studying and analysing for 20 or 30 years! I just knew that I couldn't do it. I like change and variety and instant gratification. To work on something for 30 years and MAYBE get results...

I think that's what I like about writing; I write an article, send it off and a month or two later it is out in full-colour print. Online event reporting (or blogging) is almost better - what I write is published immediately.

Some people like long races, others like short; some people like yellow, others like blue. Our preferences and focuses - personal, work, play - are different. And while I had little inclination, nor aptitude, to labour for 30 years in a lab, I'm glad that there are people who are not like me because their contributions to science, and to the World, are important and impactful.

A little bloody nose

Trawling the web today, looking for something specific, I found this quote. It comes from an episode of Star Trek  (Q who?) and the quote was said by the character Q. I think it is a pretty cool quote.

"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you oughtta go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it's not for the timid."

Sometimes you have to risk that bloody nose for all the other rewards that life offers.

TV games - big playground on set

I have had the most awesome week on the set of a new Gladiator-style tv programme, which will be shot in January 2010 and aired pre-FIFA2010.

I've been part of the Dream Team, which tests some of the games for the show. The producion team uses us as guinea pigs to test the lighting on set, the camera angles and also duration, difficulty and rules of the games. They'll make a test episode, which will never be aired, from the week's action as a demo of the show.

One thing I can say is that this show will make for awesome viewing. The games are way more physically challenging than Gladiators (I was a contender in the first South African Gladiator series in 1999 so this comparison is fair). It takes just over a minute to complete one of the big obstacle courses and when you're finished you can hardly talk from the effort. And you may have to go around again. And then there's the second half and another challenging obstacle course. Upper body strength is a big element especially on the cargo nets, which are a killer! And then there's the team thing; the show features teams, not individuals, so the team combinations are going to be key.

The show includes a soccer shooting component. My team, which wasn't as fast as the other, won 3-2 purely on our soccer goals. They were faster and had more scoring opportunities, but we scored the needed goals. I even scored a goal - Woohhooo!

Francois, one of my teammates for Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, was on set with me so we got to spend the week together. It was a great opportunity to get to know him better in this fun, playful and relaxed environment.

The secon round of selections takes place this next weekend and there are a number of adventure racers in the running for a place on one of the eight teams that will make it on to the show. I'm rooting for them!

'O' so special!

This morning I stopped at my local blood donation clinic to do my thing. My last donation was in mid-June and after being overseas in August, I've been due for my next donation. SANBS has issued appeals on radio for donors to come through, as their stocks are very, very low.

South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is appealing to all regular blood donors, especially the group ‘O’ blood type to urgently come forward in their numbers to donate blood.

As an O Negative lass, my blood is in high demand.

So, why Group O in partiular? SANBS says,

1. Group O blood can usually be given to patients of other ABO blood groups

Regardless of their blood type, as the red cells in type O blood have neither antigen A nor antigen B. In medical emergencies, when urgent blood transfusions are required, there may be little time to determine a patient’s blood type.

Group O negative blood then comes to the rescue, as it can safely be transfused to patients of other blood groups.

2. Group O blood saves the lives of newborns

Babies born with blood disorders may also require immediate blood transfusions in order to save their lives. In some cases difficulties may occur in determining the blood groups of these infants. Group O blood is therefore important in supplying this ongoing need.

Babies also need "fresher" blood than other patients. While red blood cells stored for up to 42 days can be transfused to most adult patients. Only blood less than five days old may be used for transfusion to newborn infants, or in exceptional cases when babies require transfusions wile still in the womb (intra-uterine transfusion).

Why is Group O so special?

Patients in need of a blood transfusion as part of their medical treatment rely on blood donors of all blood groups to donate safe blood regularly. Therefore, your blood is vital to those in dire need of blood.

Group O blood is often in greater demand than other blood groups, which is why South African National Blood Service (SANBS) encourages Group O blood donors to donate regularly.

As I posted in May and June, I used to be a regular donor and then lapsed when I travelled frequently into malaria areas (this exclude you from donating). To be classified as a regular donor, with trusted blood, you have to donate three or more times a year. This is now my second and in mid-December I'll do my third.

It is VERY important to become a regular donor. Once-off donations cannot be used effectively. "The more regularly you donate, the better the chance of your donated unit getting used for all components," says a FAQ response on the SANBS website (http://www.sanbs.org.za/). Regular donors are the safest donors because they understand the donation process and factors that exclude them from donating within defined window periods, like medication, risky sexual behaviour and illness.

SANBS explains that if you are donating blood for the first time, your red blood cells won’t get used. Your plasma gets quarantined until your next donation. If all tests come back negative after your second donation, the quarantined plasma from your first donation will be used. This also applies if you haven’t donated blood for a while. Once you have made three donations and your blood still tests negative for sexually transmissible diseases, all the components of your blood gets used. You have to donate blood regularly!

SANBS has superb permanent clinics scattered throughout South Africa; and they also hold mobile clinics at schools, offices and shopping malls. My clinic is in Bruma (JHB). The staff are friendly and the gifts are really cool - and useful. I got a first aid kit (some goodies in a zippered bag) this morning (see picture). I'm going to add some stuff to it and keep it in my car.

Whether you're Group O, A or B, pop along to your nearest clinic (see fixed and mobile clinic listings on SANBS website) during the next few days. They're even open late most evenings to accommodate after-work donors. The process takes 20-40 minutes (10-mins for forms, iron & BP testing and 6-15mins for donation and 5-mins to drink juice and eat cookies). And if you don't know your blood type, they'll let you know then and there. What fun! Take a photo on your phone and email it to me (reduce the size of it first, please).