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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 18 July 2012 14:39 |
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 A scientific article whose authors include DB alumni and faculty was bestowed the honor of being a recipient of the Outstanding Paper Awards for 2012. The award was given by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in a ceremony at the Manila Hotel on July 12, 2012, as part of its 34th Annual Scientific Meeting. The NAST is the premiere scientific organization of the country.
The paper, entitled "Proto-ubiquitin: A Bayesian prediction of an ancient protein during the prokaryotic-eukaryotic transition,” published in the Philippine Journal of Science in June 2011, is authored by Custer Deocaris, Lovette Cunanan, Richelda Galapia and Marla Endriga. Ms. Cunanan and Ms. Galapia are products of the Department of Biology (DB) of UP Manila; they graduated in 2009. The publication was based on their undergraduate thesis, which they did under the tutelage of Ms. Endriga and Dr. Deocaris. Ms. Endriga is an assistant professor at the DB. Dr. Deocaris, though not officially affiliated with the DB, has served as co-adviser to numerous thesis students at the department.
The work proffers insight on the planetary biology and molecular evolution of ancient eukaryotes, and is thus a channel for “time travel” of sorts. Computational methods were applied to address a fundamental question and make more sense of specific aspects of one of the most conserved proteins known, ubiquitin. Also of significance in a practical sense, the study is concrete evidence that quality scientific research is possible even on an austere budget.
When asked about their experience at the awarding ceremony, Ms. Galapia commented on the relaxed atmosphere and the friendliness of the people in attendance. Ms. Cunanan, meanwhile, was thrilled to actually meet national scientists and academicians she had only learned about in books while she was in grade school. She was particularly happy to meet National Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz, who has inspired her in her budding scientific career. Interestingly, Dr. Cruz was the thesis adviser of Ms. Endriga and of Dr. Deocaris when they were undergraduates.
Currently, Ms. Galapia is involved in a tarsier conservation project initiated by Endangered Species International. She intends to pursue graduate studies very soon. Ms. Cunanan is affiliated with the Philippine Genome Center – Bioinformatics Core Facility and is pursuing a master of science degree in marine science at UP Diliman. Ms. Endriga is pursuing post-graduate studies in the United Kingdom. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 09 August 2012 11:37 |
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Written by Ron Michael Castillo & Alyssa Fermin
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Tuesday, 03 April 2012 12:29 |
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 Themed “Thesis. More fun in the Philippines”, the senior students of the BS Biology Program culminated their year-long thesis efforts and presented their undergraduate researches in an exhibit held March 14, 3rd Floor Corridor, Rizal Hall.
Thirty-eight posters were on display showing the products of the students' blood, sweat, and tears. The posters summarized the pertinent points of their yearlong labor which included topic selection, thesis proposal, actual experimentation, writing of the paper, poster design, and thesis defense. The studies covered a wide array of topics ranging from biodiversity and metagenomics to physiology.
A pun on the Department of Tourism campaign advertisement, the theme was evident in the exhibit as the Department of Biology hallway had been decked out in festive banderitas, iconic images from Filipino pop culture, and of course, the posters.
The program, hosted by junior students Roan Eireen Buenaventura and Paulo Ruiz, opened with an invocation and national anthem from the UP Manila Biorhythm followed by the welcome remarks from Department Chair Samuel Go. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Reynaldo Imperial delivered an inspirational message, congratulating the research proponents as well as their respective theses advisers.
Moreover, Ms. Meg Bang-asan, a senior student, gave insights regarding the seniors' experiences and lessons learned while conducting the researches. Dr. Miriam De Vera, head of the thesis committee likewise delivered a message.
Afterwards, Dean Imperial together with Prof. Go and Dr. De Vera facilitated the ribbon-cutting to formally open the exhibit.
The exhibit lasted for three days and five posters were shortlisted for the Best Poster award, the winner of which will be announced on April 2. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 July 2012 14:57 |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 18 April 2012 16:15 |
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 The Thesis Committee of the Department of Biology is pleased to announce the new batch of best undergraduate theses for the school year 2011-2012. Last March 29, the committee of thesis advisers had evaluated four submitted research papers from the current graduating class of B.S. Biology students based on the following criteria: the novelty and the significance or impact of the study, the quality of the research methodology and the analysis, and the overall quality of the written paper.
After careful deliberation by the thesis committee, the study entitled “Fluctuating Asymmetry of Wing Vein Traits in Fruit Flies (Drosophila melanogaster) Exposed to Sidestream Cigarette Smoke,” by Ma. Renelyn D. Chingcuangco and Regina Isabel L. Estrada, advisees of Dr. Miriam de Vera, was chosen as the Best Thesis Paper of the year. This thesis was finally selected following a long tie-breaking process with the first runner-up, namely, “Comparison of Bacterial Community Diversity in Aquaculture and Non-aquaculture Sediments of Taal Lake Through PCR-DODGE of 16S rDNA.” This research was conducted by Ma. Victoria T. Cailao and Ma. Cecilia D. Tria under the advisorship of Prof. Marilen P. Balolong.
One of the shortlisted best thesis papers was “Influence of Probiotics on Colonic Bacterial Flora of Mice (Mus musculus L.) Fed with Standard or High-Fat Diet,” by Kevin A. Loma and Andrew Rufino M. Villafuerte who were also advised by Prof. Parungao-Balolong. Also included in the short list was the thesis entitled, “Influence of Lake Aquaculture on the Kidney and Gill Histology of Orecochromis niloticus L.” by John Aldwin U. Co and Ana Larissa H. Guerrero.
The study of Mr. Co and Ms. Guerrero, advisees of Dr. Arnold V. Hallare, was also named as the Best Thesis Poster Presentation of the year. Using the major criteria of poster content and appearance, seven junior faculty of the department served as the team of judges for the poster competition. Led by Ms. Melody Ocampo, the team had tackled tbe heavy task of judging all 38 undergraduate thesis posters presented in a three-day exhibit from March 14 to 16 at the Department of Biology. The judges also rated the thesis, "Ethonotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Aeta in Barangay Inararo, Porac, Pampanga” by Shaira Ann C. Macahilas and Leonie Mae P. Mangila, who were advised by Prof. Jasper John A. Obico, as the first runner-up for best poster presentation. |
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Written by Arnold Hallare
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Saturday, 04 February 2012 12:43 |
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Mary Rose Mañas Maballo, a BS Biology graduate from UP Manila, garnered the second place during the August 2011 Medical Board Exam. Ms. Mabalo obtained her BS Biology in 2006 and pursued her medical degree at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. The passing rate this year, according to the Professional Regulation Commission, is 75.32% with 1,605 out of 2,131 examinees passing the hurdle.
In a related report from the GMA news network, amidst the fact that many Filipinos go abroad for better pastures, Dr. Mary Rose Maballo, pledges to stay http://t.co/tzuTyPvt#PanataKo).
May this serve as inspiration to every BS Biology graduate of UP Manila! |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 17:05 |
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