黑料不打烊

Four 黑料不打烊 discoveries make Qu茅bec Science's top ten list for 2004

Four discoveries by 黑料不打烊 University scientists have been listed in Qu茅bec Science magazine's Top Ten Discoveries of 2004. The February issue of the publication describes the pioneering work of biologist Graham Bell and doctoral student Sinead Collins, 黑料不打烊 University Health Centre (MUHC) clinician Qutayba Hamid, postdoctoral researcher Scott Ransom and geneticist Erwin Schurr. The magazine characterizes these discoveries as having the potential to "change the world."

Here's a look at the 黑料不打烊 discoveries:

Will plants save us from greenhouse gases?

Biologist Graham Bell and his doctoral student Sinead Collins discovered that we have been overestimating the ability of plants to counteract the greenhouse effect. They found that increased carbon dioxide levels decreased the efficiency of algae growth.

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Finding new treatments for asthma

Qutayba Hamid, leader of respiratory research at the 黑料不打烊 University Health Centre, identified a new target for control of early-stage asthma. As part of an international research team, he showed that acidic mammalian chitinases play a role in airway inflammation associated with allergic asthma.

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Star gazing

Scott Ransom, a postdoctoral researcher in physics, and California Institute of Technology researcher Frederick Jenet characterized the first double pulsar system, which contains two radio-emitting neutron stars. Their "stellar" findings revealed a mechanism explaining why one pulsar switches on and off as it zips around its companion.

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Working to eradicate leprosy

Molecular geneticist Erwin Schurr brought the eradication of leprosy one step closer. Leading an international research collaboration, he showed that small changes in two genes, the Parkin 2 gene and its neighbour, PACRG, result in an increased susceptibility to leprosy.

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