更新一下。小道消息。

好耐都沒有更新，因為實在太繁忙。
記一則聽回來的科學研究，話說Harvard有一破天荒癌症研究，如果成功就真喺好得，但喺奇在冇藥商有興趣喎，咦，有錢都唔賺？原來喺用bicarbonate（梳打粉之類）嚟中和酸性，可以抑制癌細胞生長，咁平嘅嘢藥商梗喺唔會投資啦。

Give credit where credit is due-溫哥華明報科學新聞。

首先請看以下溫哥華版日月報報導：

2010年5月17日
研究突破有望根治癌症
卑大華生：臨床應用路仍漫漫
【明報記者方潔瑩報道】卑詩大學博士生梁子宇(圖)發現有望根治癌症的ESET蛋白，並在國際權威期刊《自然》發表突破性研究成果後，一夜之間備受矚目。他坦言對基因研究是「一見鍾情」，而研究治癌細胞實驗仍有漫長的路。對於放棄英國名校劍橋，選擇回到卑大進行實驗，主要是目前「這裏最適合自己」。

[.....]

鍾情基因研究 棄劍橋返卑大攻博

本報早前報道梁子宇在《自然》期刊發表抗癌研究成果後，他在一夜之間備受矚目，有香港的周刊想找他做訪問，他對此既感開心亦有幾分無奈，「人們並未真正聽我在說什麼」，他再三強調，「我是基礎科學家，不是醫生。從我的研究到臨床應用還有很長的路要走。」

梁子宇提到，近來收到許多諮詢癌症療法的郵件，但他其實愛莫能助。他發現的ESET蛋白可殲滅致癌幹細胞而不影響正常細胞，對癌症治療只能說是一線曙光、一個值得努力的方向。而目前僅是用老鼠細胞實驗證實設想就花了兩年，接下來分別須在人類細胞、疾病細胞上進行實驗，再加上製藥研究，「只能說希望10年後能攻克癌症，這個時間段比較合理。」

[.....]

（刪了不少情節感人父慈子孝孝感動天光宗耀祖N字，與我將要寫的無關。）


嘩真不得了囉大發現啊嘩十年後攻克癌症真好嘢!!。。。等一等先，記者小姐，您是不是要查一查pubmed（您知道是什麼嗎?）看一看Nature原文呢？

Proviral silencing in embryonic stem cells requires the histone methyltransferase ESET.

Matsui T, Leung D, Miyashita H, Maksakova IA, Miyachi H, Kimura H, Tachibana M, Lorincz MC, Shinkai Y.

Nature. 2010 Apr 8;464(7290):927-31. Epub 2010 Feb 17.

咦，哈，日月神報完全沒有提到原來這研究是日本科學家也有份的（雖然喺co-first authorship，但喺明眼人一睇就知邊個喺主邊個喺次啦），您似乎也應該訪問Matsui-san，日本科學家們也有份發現ESET，您這一句「卑詩大學博士生梁子宇(圖)發現有望根治癌症的ESET蛋白」和內文真的完全沒有提及其餘七個日本科學家喎。就算唔訪問（我知，這一篇只是華人社團消息版之類)，都俾下credit人哋好喎。

我相信梁先生會很清楚，如果在國際性會議這樣說，其他科學研究員會暗中搖頭甚至暗中警惕的。

科學家吹水新聞一則。

蘋果日報翻譯英國《每日郵報》/路透社的新聞。

復活島（ Easter Island）上藏有「不老之泉」嗎？美國科學家周一宣稱，他們已找到抗衰老和延壽的聖杯。他們以老鼠實驗發現，一種由地球最神秘地帶之一的復活島微生物研製的抗器官排斥霉素，可令老鼠延壽達 14%，這是首次發現可用藥物抗老化延壽。科學家相信 10年內可開發一種抗老化藥，令人類壽命延長 10年。

抗衰老和延壽的聖杯？ 什麼意思？我想是holy grail的直接翻譯吧。可能譯者不知道，holy grail在這裡是比喻，意思是一些很難達到的而又很重要的目標。在這裡不是指聖杯。

神奇的雷帕霉素（ rapamycin），又稱西羅莫司（ sirolimus），原本是開發給器官移植病人使用的抗排斥藥物，惠氏藥廠以「雷帕鳴」（ Rapamune）藥名售賣。雷帕霉素能壓抑免疫系統，但同時可抗發炎，發炎是部份癌症、心臟病、老人癡呆症的成因，科學家於是研究其延壽作用，結果有驚人發現。
美國研究員向近 2,000隻老鼠施用雷帕霉素，由牠們 600日大開始，即相當於人類 60歲，結果雌鼠壽命由 1,094日延長至 1,245日，增長了 14%，雄鼠壽命由 1,078日延長至 1,179日，增長了 9%。若由開始施藥日計算，雌鼠長命了 38%，雄鼠長命了 28%。

哦原來是rapamycin，上星期做實驗才用過。嘩哈哈，快啲打番劑先。不過呢，rapamycin喺抑制mTOR嘅（下文亦有提及），而mTOR控制好多的細胞運作，一野壓住mTOR，我就唔喺咁相信會對健康有好處。我做嘅實驗，就喺用rapamycin令到細胞在某情況下死快啲！

目前，科學家只研究出兩種方法延長哺乳類動物壽命，一是改造基因，二是限制飲食攝取熱量。由於雷帕霉素對一種控制新陳代謝和壓力反應的細胞蛋白質 mTOR有作用，科學家相信雷帕霉素因而能令身體以為減少攝取卡路里，所以起延壽作用。
領導研究的德州大學教授理查森說：「我從未想過在自己有生之年，科學界會找到人類用的抗老化藥，現在雷帕霉素展示了很大潛質。」
但英國牛津大學研究員考克斯警告勿亂服雷帕霉素，因為雷帕霉素壓抑免疫系統，可令人更易受病毒細菌感染，隨時會令命長了但體弱多病，除非一直活在無菌帳篷內。再者，即使能減少發炎引致的癌症，但壓抑免疫系統也同時壓抑身體抗癌活動，增加患癌風險，因此要剔除這些副作用才能給人試用。
但考克斯相信今次發現等於找到抗衰老和延壽的聖杯，有助研究員開發不會破壞免疫系統的抗衰老和延壽藥。若以老鼠實驗延壽結果推算，人類可多活 10年，輕易活到 100歲，科學家相信 10年內會開發出這種藥物。

「科學家相信 10年內會開發出這種藥物」這種吹水唔抹嘴的論調，信佢一成就真喺雙目失明。好多科學員都鍾意假大空來引人注意，令多啲人投資捐獻。那有可能這麼快！首先要找到適合的gene target（mTOR唔算，因為之前講過控制太多細胞運作），然後要screen drug library，好采嘅話，俾你搵到，又要劑量夠少，又要毒性夠低，又要容易吸收，搞一大輪關於化學嘅老鼠嘅野，值得做，先至開始用人嚟做試驗嘅phase 1至3。好多時就喺過唔到果三個phase，好多喺老鼠好掂嘅藥都要放棄。

想長命？做多啲運動，食得健康啲，時時檢查，開車的話小心駕駛，才是正途。

錢錢錢。

另一個有趣的研究。

金錢能否帶來快樂？根據一個中美合作的心理學研究指出，單純的數鈔票能夠減輕受其他人排擠時所帶來的壓力。甚至能夠減輕肉體上的苦楚。

參加這項研究的學生首先隨機分成兩組；A組在數完鈔票後將手浸泡在熱水中，B組在浸泡熱水前則只是數白紙。結果是A組比B組更能抵抗熱水所帶來的疼痛。

另一個測試是利用一個不合作的電腦遊戲來引起被拋棄疏離的感覺。同樣的A組比B組更能抵受被疏離引致的不安。

是否所有關於金錢的都能減少痛楚？研究人員將學生重新分為兩組：C組將最近的支出寫下來，而D組只是寫下當天的天氣; 然後再做上述兩項測試。有趣的是，D組比C組更能抵受精神及心理上的壓力。

研究人員認為，心理上的痛苦，很可能是由比較原始的生理上的痛苦進化（evolve)而來。因為兩者有極相似的系統。

Ref:Zhou et al. Pyschological Science 2009

***

看完之後，我的反應是，在銀行櫃台數鈔票的豈不是變超人？數自己的錢和數別人的有何不同？寫下交租交水電的支出，和寫下買衫買名錶的消費，又會否不同？

舞動奇跡。

又一個有趣的科學研究。

稱得上為萬物之靈的人類，當然比其他生物有特別之處；例如節奏感。一般認為只有人類才可以隨着拍子起舞或演奏音樂。最近在Current Biology有兩篇報告，打破了這個理論：原來鸚鵡也有節奏感的。

在影片中，這叫作snowball的鳳頭鸚鵡能夠跟隨歌曲的快慢而調整「舞步」。（歌曲是backstreet boys的everybody...相信是主人的至愛吧）。雖然snowball有時會停下來或走了拍子，但大部分時間是非常準確。

第二篇則利用了youtube，將所有有關動物和跳舞的影片集中起來，再研究片中動物是否真的能跟隨拍子。結果是只有鸚鵡科的（例外是一隻大象）才會。其他的大熱門例如狗及靈長類例如黑猩猩竟然不能。當然用youtube來收集資料會有不足，但也可能是因為只有能摹擬聲音的動物才能夠有節奏感。最重要的是，這些動物能夠用來研究節奏感是如何進化而來，以及腦神經怎樣控制節奏感。
Ref:
Patel et al. Current Biology 19, 827-30 (2009)
Schachner et al. Current Biology 19, 831-36 (2009)
Fitch Current Biology 19, R403 (2009)

人之初。

Photo: H Jensen/University of Tubingen (NJ Conrad Nature 2009 doi:10.1038/nature07995)

一則有趣的考古研究。

在德國南部一個洞穴內，考古學者發現了一個六厘米長的古老雕像。雖然細小，但意義重大。發現這雕像的考古學者在「自然」（Nature)科學期刊內撰文指出，這個有三萬五千年歷史的長毛象牙雕像，是最早期智人（Homo sapien)剛剛抵達歐洲時所製; 也正是尼安德特人（Neanderthals)消失之時。是訖今為止最古老的女性雕像。

除了歷史悠久，這雕像的一大特色就是一眼就能看出女性的性徵：誇張的雙乳，豐碩的臀部，及陰部的大特寫。其他不那麼重要的部分，例如頭，及手腳，就明顯的縮小。據估計，那細小如豆的頭，是用來繫於繩上的。另外一個奇特之處就是在腹部和手臂刻滿了意義不明的符號。可能是古代巫術的儀式，也可能是衣服的摺痕。這是符號／文字／抽象思維之始。

三萬五千年前的男子日思夜想的，和現代人並無二致。

少數族裔在實驗室。

很久也沒有更新這處。忽然之間想起了，一個比較敏感的話題，就是實驗室各色人種相處之道。以我以前讀博士的實驗室來說，因為除了小弟之外，全是當地白人（全是根正苗紅的加拿大人。連美國人英國人都沒有），所以大家相處時，是比其他聯合國般的實驗室來得簡單。這當然是極端；多數其他的實驗室，是來自五湖四海之能人異士。由於實驗室地方淺窄，加上習俗言語不同，衝突便隨之而來。

有一些美加的實驗室，也很有趣，是全由外國人當博士後，尤其是來自中國或中東的。教授通常都是來自中國或中東，但也不一定，也有當地白人的。或者有人會認為這很好啊，他們也會欣賞少數族裔的才能。但是我可以很老實的說，這些通常代表那教授是很會剝削壓搾。因為他們知道，這些歷經千辛萬苦拿到工作簽證的外國少數族裔，是不會對任何不公平而發聲的。如果教授也屬同一族裔便尤甚。這些博士後會有一種異常的感恩心態，認為能來到外國已屬萬幸。"少許"苦頭是沒所謂的。也因為人生地不熟的關係，在當地沒朋友沒娛樂，當然便日以繼夜的守在實驗室.....

因為我的舊老闆是整個學系的vice dean，所以這類個案我是時有所聞。舊老闆甚至很疑惑的問我，為何也是來自中國（正確來說是香港）的教授，會特別壓搾中國來的博士後（走法律罅削薪資）。她說：I would expect him to give them special treatment。我只有苦笑回道：well, it is surely special indeed。

Applying for postdocs: does size matter?

And of course it does! Not because I am a guy (haha), but the size of a lab is one of the major factors determining the atmosphere of lab. While bigger (and usually more famous) labs usually indicate good funding in general, it does not guarantee that you are swimming in money and have unlimited resources. In a lab that has 20+ postdocs, very often one project is done by more than three or four people. Hence the resources are divided and you may have to fight for it. Even worse, when it comes to publications, you may have to share co-authorship among two or even three people, and there may be a bitter fight of who comes first in the list. In a way, you are not only competing against other labs who are working on your subject, but also the people in your own environment! Also, your supervisor will not have time at all for guidance, you are pretty much on your own. Imagine the lab meeting schedule in a 20+ postdoc lab! You won't have one for every six months probably!

It basically all boils down to what type of person you are in a working environment. If you are a natural "fighter", then a bigger lab will be good for you. If not, and you need more help from your supervisor, perhaps a smaller lab with 3 or 4 postdocs (plus some students) will suit you the most.

A good link for postdoc interview questions

Here is the link from Nature magazine

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2008/080515/full/nj7193-424b.html

Interviewing for postdoc position (2)

So here are some of the questions that I think are important and often missed (special thanks to my colleague Kelly who gave me lots of advice):

1. (To the PI) Will I be able to work on what I have been doing in your lab when I start my new lab? Need to ask this because some PIs are not as generous as you have thought, esp. for the new ones because they are usually more insecure. That's why working for a really big/famous lab could be great in this sense, because usually the PI doesn't really care if you take away some of his/her stuff.

2. (To the people working in the lab) What kind of adjectives would you describe your PI/lab environment? Would you say collegial, competitive, supportive, fun, serious, generous, ... ? The trick is to give them some adjectives to choose, and throw in some negative ones among the good ones, so they won't feel alarmed when they give you the bad ones. If you don't give them any words, more likely they won't say much, or will give you the standard empty phrases like "it is okay, it is good..etc"

3. (To the PI) Will I get maternity/paternity leave? Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone (not me for sure!) but believe it or not in this age there are still assholes out there who is totally against female scientists who want to have a family/babies!

4. (To the PI) Do you support people going to conferences? For this, it is not just about monetary support (chances are you will have your own travel allowance), but also whether he/she will let you take some time off to go to a conference. I know some PIs are not really keen on sending the trainees out to a conference, but would rather go him or herself!

事君數，斯辱矣；朋友數，斯疏矣。

其一。
我的老細（博士導師）也算是奇人一個。我每次email新主意，她也當透明，或者更甚，當面即踩。但妙在過了一段時間之後，又會好似發現新大陸般將我的主意據為己有。雖則理論上博士生的所有資料都歸實驗室，但係口頭上俾番些少credit我，俾我開心一日都好丫。

其二。
入太廟，當然是每事問；同理，入實驗室，也應每事問。但幾位新來的博士後，懶得問，或者他們認為冇問題，自己能解決。好心提意見，又當耳邊風。
幸好我很快便會離開，不然我會發癲。

Interviewing for postdoc position (1)

Usually when you are applying for postdoc, you will be asked to give a talk at the institute/university. This is pretty standard so I won't dwell on this point.

What I would like to point out is that it is not just they interviewing you, but also you interviewing them. In a way, once they have invited you for a talk, they pretty much want to have you in their labs. The interview is more like a chance for you to see if you like their research environment/city/etc.

So do spend more time/effort to ask questions about the lab, and their research philosophy. Equally important is the people that will be working with you..are they nice? supportive? or competitive? Do you think you will click with those guys? There is no right or wrong in this kinda stuff..everyone is different. So go with your gut feelings..if you don't feel right, it probably isn't right for you, even if the lab is world-renowned.

If you have the chance, it is actually a very good idea to ask the people who has just worked in the lab previously. They are in a better position to say whatever they want, esp. bad things about the lab.

And of course it goes without saying that you should be familiar with the work of the lab....that means you should have read all the new papers from the lab, and the relevant background information....

On selecting paper for journal club

Three words: Nature or Science.

Another three words: Papers with Previews.

Corollary:

If you want to torture your audience, pick Cell, etc.

If you want to put your colleagues to sleep, pick papers with western blots only.

If you want to put your colleagues to sleep for eternity, pick papers with electrophysiology only.

On the importance of a paper

The importance of a scientific paper can be best quantified by the number of the dublicated copies of that particular paper on your desk.

corollary:

The importance of a scientific paper can be further quantified by the number of times that you have re-read it, often without knowing that you have read it ten thousand times before until you saw another highlighted copy of the same paper lying somewhere on your desk.

Applying for postdoc: the letter

Most of the time the PIs that you want to work for don't really know you that well, even if you have talked to him or her a couple of times before. So how do you write the first email to him saying that you want to work in his or her lab? What I have done is simple, it is so simple that maybe it is not really worth mentioning: I just tell him/her what I am asking for in this email (two lines), my PhD project (a short paragraph), why I am interested in his/her work (a couple of lines), and then conclude by saying something like visiting his/her lab. I kept it really short and simple, because these people probably have tons of emails everyday and they don't really want the story of your life. Most importantly, attach your CV. That's probably the first thing they want to see anyway.

A language problem

So I have been thinking, should I continue to write in Chinese or what. It takes a longer time since I don't have a proper software to write in Chinese. So I guess for now I will write mostly in English, although I do like to um swear in Cantonese! haha.

That's it for today. I think I may continue my ranting soon since a lot has happened in the lab! So stay tuned! (I am assuming someone is reading this..probably I am wrong! haha)

Milestone

I have just finished my thesis intro! yay!
Well, it is too long (according to my boss), but at least it is done!
About freaking time!
Now it is the fun game of referencing....ugh.

好人有衰報

最近下大雪，所以沒有回實驗室。
收到琪妹兩封電郵，又向我大吐苦水，老細又要佢加班，但是一o黎冇人幫，二o黎又唔係佢既project，三o黎又要好似幼稚園咁教人地，完全當佢o既時間表係透明。
琪妹既情況，在我讀博士的六年生涯中，都算是可歌可泣。你可能認為，沒有什麼大不了。佢梗係廢柴，先至被老細啄。
琪妹是我認識的人當中，最能幹又最沒有架子，有求必應的。但是當老細知道她打算讀法律之後，便變本加厲的向她過份要求，事事挑剔，令琪妹不勝其煩。對其他飯桶學生／博士後／助理，卻捧到天上去，或處處維護。令人髮指。
老板既態度係，如果你畢業後，選擇科學研究以外的工作，而她又認為你有能力繼續做科學研究的話，你就是將靈魂賣了給魔鬼。就算你是打算去非洲做義工，她仍然會認為你是癡線，完全沒有想到人各有志。這還罷了，她可以自此以後當你隱形，或將你搾乾淨盡。琪妹以經不是第一個受害者。
又有甚麼可以做呢，我們已經嘗試過向她直接坦白，換來的卻是冷戰多日，自以為是。拿到了研究經費，便以為自己的行政策略沒有問題。
老細這種態度，已經慢慢張揚開去，很快便沒有學生願意找她當導師, 到時有錢又有屁用。
令人吃驚的是，像我老細的博士導師，大有人在。所以搵博士導師，真係要眉精眼企！

搵博士後o既經驗(1)

講開博士後，不如略略講下我點搵同點揀博士後。
第一件另我有少少驚奇既事，係差唔多所有既PI都有邀請我去interview。我申請既差唔多都係大粒佬。個個都係我呢行數一數二既大人物。我當時有D玩野，諗住試下冇壞，唔得咪唔得。點知個個一個禮拜內就有回覆。我心諗，乜佢地原來咁得閒ga。
所以，我認為申請博士後可以大膽D。冇乜所謂。最好係整個表，好似中一派位咁，DB，喇渣，華仁，英華，先email頭四個，唔得，再下四個，餘此類推。一次唔好email太多, 頂嚨四個, 以免攪到你要同十個人say no。咁人地好冇癮架。搞到你好似運桔咁，就唔好啦。
下次再傾下點去推銷自己。

你攪邊科架？

我相信第一個問題你會問係：你研究D乜架。你讀左幾耐架。你第時諗住做乜架咁。o係度就一次性咁答覆啦。小弟乃第五年博士生。分子生物學。係楓葉國東部（好能凍呀陰公）。好快（希望啦）就會去大英帝國讀博士後。現在多數時間在寫畢業論文。一面寫一面諗番以前D野，寫到悶悶地咪寫下blog囉。