Fast Growing Plants

We use catalysts to get faster chemical reactions, growth hormones to stimulate growth & cell reproduction and regeneration in humans or animals, and sometimes fertilisers are added to soil to improve its fertility.

How do we get plants to mature in the shortest possible time?

Pineapples for instance take about 2 years to grow before it could be eaten.  What if we could reduce its growth by a few months?  Can it be done?

Yes we can, and the answer is by tissue culture.  Nothing magical or sinister, it’s just science!

So, what is tissue culture anyway?

Basically it’s just growing tissue (or cells) outside an organism, i.e. in a laboratory container under controlled environment conditions.  Single cells, plant cells without cell walls, pieces of leaves, stems or roots are exposed to specific nutrients, hormones and light under sterile conditions to produce several new plants - each a clone of the original mother plant, over a very short period of time.

How is micropropagation carried out?

The offspring all come from a single plant and have identical genetic make-ups to each other and to the mother plant. They are called clones.

What are the advantages of micropropagation over the conventional method of growing plants?

1. It is fast and produces thousands of plantlets within months. 

2. Healthy plant material is ensured since soil and disease-causing organisms are excluded during the propagation cycle. 

3. The method is programmable as it is independent of seasonal changes and the weather. 

4. It saves an enormous amount of care usually required by cuttings and seedlings (watering, weeding, spraying etc.) 

5. Excess material produced can often be stored over long periods. 

6. Species and cultivars can be stored in small spaces.

Tissue culture is not really new technology as it owes its origin to the ideas of the German scientist, Haberlandt, at the beginning of the 20th century. It has now come to a stage that it is imperative we use more of this technology due to pressing environmental concerns. Changing climate, fast expanding world population and scarcity of food in many parts of the world are major concerns and many scientists believe this is one of the many ways to deal with it.  

So folks, we don’t have to wait too long to enjoy our favourite fruits.  It’s NOT MAGIC but it’s worth the short wait!

This article is written in conjunction with the Science Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 3-4 May 2014 with Nuclear Malaysia led by Dr. Rusli Ibrahim, Puan Norazlina Noordin & their team.

Shared by Azni
Learning Specialist, Petrosains

Polymers From Marine Bacteria?

HotScience│Petrosains

We see and use many types of polymers every day, it’s just that it’s known to us by different names.  The most common polymer is plastics and it comes in many forms – plastic bags, ATM and credit cards, our five ringgit notes and toys.  There’s also fabrics like rayon, nylon, and polyester.  These are synthetic polymers, i.e. they are man-made.

The other type of polymers, known as natural polymers, can be found in nature and within us.  They are also known as natural biopolymers, i.e. polymers produced by living organisms. DNA is a natural polymer found in all living things and it will be very difficult for us to survive without it.  There are also other natural polymers, e.g. cotton, silk, rubber, leather and cotton; that can be modified chemically to produce many of the consumer products we love and can’t do without!

So, what’s a polymer? 

It’s a compound formed from long chains of the same molecule group. These chains repeat over and over, just like paper clips of the same type and colour joined together.  Polymers can be made to be flexible, pliable and stretchy, yet strong and firm by linking the molecule chains in several places.  Depends on what we want.

Now that we know the difference between synthetic and natural polymers, how about marine biopolymers?  As the name goes, they are polymers produced by living organisms that live in the seas.  You may ask, how useful is it to us?  Aren’t all polymers similar?

Research has shown that marine biopolymers may serve as a potential base material for biodegradable plastics as well as applications in food additives, pharmaceutical and medical polymers, wound dressings, bio-adhesives, dental biomaterials, tissue regeneration and 3D tissue culture scaffolds. 

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Prof. Madya Dr. Charles S. Vairappan and his team has developed an innovative product called Profeed.  This is a probiotic fish feed which has been cleverly developed without costly sterilization by just using a concoction of probiotic microbes to do the job through fermentation. Another possible biopolymer that may be developed is by stressing certain bacteria to produce chemicals to make polymers.

Marine-derived biomaterials science is still relatively new and the marine environment is a relatively untapped resource for the discovery of new enzymes, biopolymers and biomaterials for industrial applications.

Special facilitation by Assoc. Prof.  Dr. Charles S. Vairappan -
Director, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

This article is written in conjunction with Science Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 7-8 September 2013 with scientists from, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) –

1. Assoc. Prof.  Dr. Charles S. Vairappan

• Director, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

• Marine Natural Products Chemistry researcher, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

2. Mr. Thulasiramanan Ramachandram, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

3. Mr. Kishneth Palaniveloo, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

Your Brain - Use it or Lose it!

HotScience │Petrosains

Cow's brain

The brain is the microprocessor of your body, controlling almost everything that you do.

It’s a complex organ with responsibilities that belies its weight, which is a mere 1.5kg!

The brain is the crown jewel of the human body - without it we cease to exist.

How it works  

The 3 basic units of the brain:

The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates the body's basic functions and activities. It is made up of two major divisions - central nervous system (consisting of the brain and spinal cord) & peripheral nervous system (consisting of all other neural elements).  

The Science Engagement at HotScience

Neurological disorders & treatment

There are over 600 known neurological disorders & conditions - treatment options for many of them are very limited.  A neurological disorder is a disease or injury of the central nervous system that causes paralysis of any part of the body.  It may be due to physical injury to the brain, spinal cord or nerves, or biochemical causes.  Sometimes the cause may be unknown and only the effects are seen.  Neurological disorders are common and can be life-threatening.

Some disorders:

Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease & other dementias, cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine & other headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neuroinfections, brain tumours, traumatic disorders of the nervous system such as brain trauma, and neurological disorders as a result of malnutrition.

Diseases that attack the nervous system: 

Infections (bacterial, viral or fungal), cancers (malignant or benign), degenerative conditions (such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease), and disorders of function (e.g. epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome).

Food which can make our brain healthier  

Many scientists the world over have done researches on ‘food for the brain’.  However studies on the effects of food on the brain are relatively young. Scientists know that certain foods and diets are better for the brain, but figuring out why is still in progress. 

Explore brains

Research suggests that four different types of chemicals and nutrients interact with the brain positively.

1. Glucose

The brain draws nearly all its energy from glucose. 

2. Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, aka omega-3 and omega-6 help strengthen the synapses in our brain related to memory.

3. Amino Acids

Amino acids come from protein-rich foods and help connect the neurotransmitters which are essential for keeping your brain sharp. 

4. Antioxidants

Antioxidants help regulate the oxidative stress that destroys brain cells. The stress is caused when our body is converting glucose to energy and extra oxygen is created called free radicals. Antioxidants block them so our brain doesn't have to work as hard.

The Science Engagement at HotScienc

Science Engagement Session at HotScience Petrosains

The two days session focused on brain basics – the different parts and how it works.  Some interesting interactive activities were also prepared by the University to help the public understand better this complex topic. On-going research on Alzheimer’s disease was also shared in the form of a mice which is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and how certain foods help alleviate the disease.  Those brave and not squeamish were invited to touch the cow, rabbit & rat brains – a rare opportunity for many! 

The Science Engagement at HotScience

This article is written in conjunction with Science Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 29-30 June 2013 with scientists from UiTM –

1. Prof. Dr. Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, pharmacist-cum-neuroscientist & Assistant Vice-chancellor (Research), UiTM

2. Prof. Dr. Kalavathy Ramasamy, head of the Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group at the Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM

3. Dr Lim Siong Meng, a senior researcher, UiTM

Versatile Bamboo!

HotScience │Petrosains

We’ve seen people rafting along a river on bamboo rafts, bamboo scaffolding at construction sites and of course the housing for Malaysia’s all-time favourite, lemang!  Now try to imagine clothes, bags, towels and soap made from bamboo.  Maybe computer casing too!  

One of the fascinating uses of bamboo is as scaffold in the construction industry.  China has been using it for the past 5000 years and today it’s still widely used in many Asian countries, not only for low rise buildings but the tallest skyscrapers imaginable!  So what’s special about bamboo?  Well basically it’s light, strong, portable, cheap and renewable! 

In 2012, researchers from the University’s BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials embarked in a collaboration with Coventry University and the University of Cambridge to explore the use of bamboo for the widespread construction of homes.  Studies are on-going.

Another interesting application is clothing.  We have cotton and woolen clothing, why not bamboo?  Bamboo fabric is impressive for the following reasons:

• Softer than cotton - its texture is similar to a blend of cashmere and silk.

• Better moisture absorption and ventilation.  

• Natural antibacterial elements.

• Ability to absorb and evaporate human sweat in a split of a second.  This makes it extremely cool and comfortable, even in hot weather. 

• 100% bamboo yarns show a great elasticity i.e. nearly 20%.

What’s available in the market now?  There’s sweaters, bath-suits, underwear, t-shirts, socks, sanitary napkins, masks, mattress, bags, bathroom products and decorating items.  All this from the humble bamboo.  Bamboo is indeed versatile!

Some Bamboo Malaysia merchandise are also available at our gift shop 'Xplorasi'.

This article is written in conjunction with an Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 20-21 September 2013 with Bamboo Malaysia.

Plastic feeding bottles and BPA

 
HotScience │Petrosains

Plastics comes in many forms and shape. We the laymen have no idea how dangerous some of these plastics can be.

The hue and cry over the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonates is very real. Dr. Mustafa was instrumental in having the chemical banned in baby feeding bottles in Malaysia due to his research on BPA. The ban took effect on March 1, 2012 and is in line with Regulation 27A (1) of the Food Regulations 1985. Several countries worldwide later followed suit.

With effect from the regulation, the wordings “BPA free” was allowed to be labelled on feeding bottles not containing BPA. Why is BPA such a necessity? People like things that are sturdy and clean-looking. BPA was the answer to these requirements! It makes the plastic baby feeding bottles translucent and stiffer, while those without BPA has a less clear and “dirtier” look.

Up close – let’s get to know the plastic products.

 

So what’s so dreadful about BPA? BPA is able to mimic the female hormone, estrogen, and pass through the placenta from mother to baby. It can cause reproductive abnormalities – defective sex organ, reduce sperm counts and cause early puberty. Human exposure to BPA comes particularly from direct food contact with polycarbonate materials that contain BPA. Scientists have found that BPA can leach out from old polycarbonate bottles and tableware used by babies and children.

Do you know what Phthalates is?

What can we do about it?
There’s a lot of hype about the dangers of BPA. What’s important is to get the real facts and not the sensationalist stuff!
1. You may have traces of BPA in you
• If you have eaten anything that comes out of a can or used anything made from hard plastic, you may have taken in some BPA.
• Not all hard plastics contain BPA. Look for the recycling codes on your plastic products. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle code 7 may be made with BPA.
• If you avoid heating the plastic, there's a good chance you won't get a substantial amount of BPA in your system.

2. BPA has a number of harmful side effects
• Doctors have found that BPA can cause your estrogen levels to rise dramatically – males & females.
• Only prolonged exposure to BPA has been shown to cause negative side effects. If you're simply using canned goods every now and then, there's a good chance the BPA levels in your body won't affect you at all.

3. Avoid taking BPA into your system• Don’t become reliant on canned goods and plastic products.
• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and only use canned goods when absolutely necessary.
• Check all of your plastic products to make sure they're not made using BPA.

4. Examine bottles and discardWorn or scratched bottles can harbour germs and in BPA-containing bottles, lead to greater release of BPA.
 

About the Scientist

Professor Dr. Mustafa Ali Mohd joined the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya as a lecturer in 1994 and was promoted to a full professor in 2005. He also holds the post of Deputy Dean at the same Faculty and is currently the Deputy Director (Development) of the University of Malaya Medical Centre.

He was instrumental in establishing the Shimadzu UMMC Centre for Xenobiotics Studies (SUCXes), a prominent and state of the art facilities for analysis of trace quantities of chemicals in the blood, environment, food & drugs. He helped the nation solve the melamine crisis by setting up a monitoring unit & analytical facilities in his lab. In 2010 Professor Dr. Mustafa was appointed as Expert panel for WHO on toxicity of BPA & melamine.

He has published more than 100 papers in international and national peer reviewed journals. He was awarded Excellent Scientist Award in 2005 and Top Research Scientist Malaysia in 2012.

The Science Engagement Session

Part 7/7: What Should We Do?

Part 6/7: What's Threatening Them?

Part 4/7: Green Turtles

Part 3/7: Hawksbill Turtles

Part 2/7: Leatherback Turtles

  

Sea Turtles: Getting Them Out Of 'The List' 1/7

Turtles: Guardians of the Ocean

HotScience | Petrosains

Did you know there are land and marine turtles? Tortoises are land turtles and due to its bulky shape, it can’t swim.  Unlike tortoises, marine turtles e.g. leatherback turtles, are able to swim without any difficulty due to its aerodynamic shape. The other feature that enables a marine turtle to swim is the presence of flippers. Both are reptiles. 

Meet the Hawksbill Turtle

Marine turtles are well-adapted to life in the marine environment and live in tropical and subtropical ocean waters throughout the world.  The main marine turtles that are found in the seas and coastal areas of Malaysia are:
•    Green turtles
•    Leatherback turtles
•    Hawksbill turtles
•    Olive Ridley turtles

Dr. Juanita Joseph - SEATRU Project Leader facilitating the public engagement session at Petrosains.

Why is it important to protect and conserve marine turtles? 
The main goal of marine turtle conservation is to prevent the different species from becoming extinct.  This is done through many different methods, including legislation and international agreements.  Marine turtles are also the important link to two ecosystems – beaches and oceans.  In terms as a source for food and food-related activities, we will be in a lot of trouble if something happens to both the turtles and the ecosystems. 

Starting young, a visitor making her first pledge to conserve turtles.

How do turtles contribute to the environment and our livelihood?

1.    Beaches and dune systems do not have many nutrients on it. When marine turtles use beaches and the lower dunes to nest and lay their eggs, eggs that are not hatched and hatchlings that do not make it out of the nest becomes good sources of nutrients for the dune vegetation. Even the left-over egg shells from hatched eggs provide nutrients.

2.    Dune plants use the nutrients from turtle eggs to grow and become stronger.  Healthy vegetation and strong root systems hold the sand in the dunes and protect the beach from erosion.
3.    Marine turtles eat jellyfish and prevent large “blooms” of jellyfish to cause havoc on fisheries, recreation and other maritime activities throughout the oceans.
4.    Research has shown that sea grass beds grazed by green turtles are more productive than those that aren’t. Hawksbill turtles eat sponges, preventing them from out-competing slow-growing corals. Both of these grazing activities maintain species diversity and the natural balance of fragile marine ecosystems.
5.    Marine turtles are an important attraction for marine tourism, a major source of income for many countries.

Identifying turtles through Photo ID technique.

This was found in the stomach of a shark. Can you guess what it is?

Trivia!
1.    Carapace is the top domed part of a turtle's shell and the bottom part is called the plastron.
2.    The carapace consists of approximately 50 bones.
3.    The largest is the Leatherback sea turtle which can reach up to 30 metre in length.
4.    A group of turtles is called a bale.
5.    Turtles have a sharp beak for eating.

Dr. Juanita Joseph in action at HotScience @ Petrosains.

'Saya berjanji' - visitors making pledges to protect turtles.

This article is written in conjunction with Petrosains' Public Engagement Session on 1-3 December 2012 with scientists from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, led by Assoc. Prof. Liew Hock Chark (Founder of Sea Turtle Research Unit - SEATRU) and Dr. Juanita Joseph (Project Leader of SEATRU).

 

 

 

Mengenali Tongkat Ali Bersama Awang Ahmad (UMS)

HotScience | Petrosains
 
Awang  Ahmad Bin Mohd Yunus adalah seorang saintis dan juga merupakan seorang pensyarah kanan di Sekolah Perhutanan Tropika Antarabangsa, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), telah membuat kajian mengenai Tongkat Ali bermula dari tahun 2003 hingga kini.  Di antara inovasi beliau adalah:

1.    Teknologi tanaman Tongkat Ali di dalam ladang hutan.
2.    Teknologi tanaman Eurypot: Kaedah penanaman Tongkat Ali dalam keadaan terkawal.
3.    A-yamli: Makanan untuk ternakan ayam.

Awang Ahmad, Pensyarah Kanan dari Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Apakah itu Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali merupakan spesies tumbuhan herba yang tergolong dalam keluarga Simaroubaceae. E. longifolia adalah salah satu dari empat spesies yang selalu digunakan.

Di Malaysia Tongkat Ali juga dikenali sebagai Penawar Pahit, Penawar Bisa, Bedara Merah, Bedara Putih, Ginseng Malaysia, Setunjang Bumi, Lempedu Pahit, Payung Ali, Tongkat Baginda, Muntah Bumi dan Petala Bumi. 

Secara amnya tumbuhan Tongkat Ali berasal dari Asia tenggara dan mempunyai taburan  majoriti semulajadi di Malaysia, Indonesia, Myammar dan Thailand. Namun sekarang, taburannya telah berkembang ke negara-negara Asia tenggara yang lain seperti Laos dan Filipina.  Ini mungkin disebabkan oleh faktor komersial dan potensi baru yang wujud serta faktor perkembangan teknologi dalam bidang pertanian dirantau Asia tenggara.


Kegunaan Tongkat Ali

Secara amnya tumbuhan Tongkat Ali mengandungi beberapa jenis komposisi kimia seperti Eurycomanol, Eurycomanone, dan Eurycomalactone yang mengandungi nilai perubatan yang begitu tinggi dan berharga. 

Dahulunya ia hanya digunapakai oleh orang-orang kampung atau luar bandar untuk tujuan perubatan tradisional sahaja dan bukan bertujuan untuk komersial - akar Tongkat Ali direbus dan dijadikan sebagai ubat sakit kepala, sengal-sengal tulang belakang dan sakit perut. Di Kemboja, Tongkat Ali berfungsi untuk meneutralkan bisa racun dalam badan, merawat demam kuning, dan kembung air manakala di Indonesia, ia digunakan untuk mengurangkan demam, melegakan mana-mana bahagian badan yang bengkak dan air rebusan Tongkat Ali ini juga sesuai dijadikan amalan sebagai minuman tonik kesihatan selepas bersalin mengikut kadar yang dibenarkan. Masyarakat di Vietnam pula menggunakan buah dan bunga daripada Tongkat Ali untuk merawat sembelit.

Kelebihan Tongkat Ali:

a.    Sebagai anti-oksidan (tujuh kali ganda lebih tinggi daripada Kacip Fatimah)
b.    Sebagai diet tambahan harian
c.    Berupaya mengurangkan kolesterol
d.    Berupaya menaikkan paras testosteron
e.    Berupaya mengurangkan paras gula dalam darah
(pastikan anda merujuk dengan doktor perubatan sebelum mengambil suplimentasi)
f.    Boleh ditanam sebagai pokok landskap


Sesi soal-jawab dengan En. Awang  Ahmad Bin Mohd Yunus

1.    Bolehkah air rebus daripada akar Tongkat Ali diminum terus?
Air rebusan boleh diiminum terus tetapi dos yang diberikan haruslah dipastikan sesuai. Contoh:
100 gram akar akan menghasilkan 3 gram ekstrak kering Tongkat Ali, dan penggunaan yang disyorkan adalah 50 mg sahaja.  Ini bermakna Cuma 1.5 gram akar kering diperlukan.

2.    Mana yang memberikan kesan sampingan yang minimum, air rebusan atau hasil ekstrak?
Hasil ekstrak lebih berkesan.  Ini kerana air rebusan amat pahit dan disamping itu kapsul lebih cepat tindakbalas dan kandungan adalah seragam.

3.    Apakah rekomendasi jenama/syarikat yang mengeluarkan Tongkat Ali untuk pengguna di Malaysia?
Jenama yang saya syorkan adalah Biotropics,  Ini kerana ianya dihasilkan dengan kaedah yang saintifik dan sumber yang digunakan adalah jelas.

4.    Bagaimana Tongkat Ali berbeza/sama daripada Viagra?
Tongkat Ali bertindak sebagai makanan tambahan dan lebih kepada meningkatkan tahap testoterone dan melancarkan pengaliran darah.  Ia juga adalah dari sumber tumbuhan. Viagra pula adalah dadah yang sintetik atau direkacipta.


Inovasi En. Awang  Ahmad Bin Mohd Yunus

1.    Teknologi tanaman EuryPot
EuryPot berasal daripada Eury= Eurycoma (Tongkat Ali) dan Pot (pasu) dan diperbuat daripada paip PVC dan bahan lain. Ia terdiri daripada tiga bahagian:
a.    bahagian utama (luar)
b.    bahagian kedua (bertindak sebagai system pengumpulan akar)
c.    bahagian bawah (penutup) - ditebuk dengan lubang-lubang kecil supaya air boleh mengalir keluar yang seterusnya akan menggalakkan penumbuhan akar yang lurus.

EuryPot juga mempunyai bahagian untuk tujuan pemotongan akar dan bahagian untuk rawatan pokok. Hasil inovasi ini boleh didapati dalam pelbagai saiz mengikut kesesuaian. Hasil kajian menggunakan EuryPot juga telah menunjukkan bahawa pokok Tongkat Ali yang ditanam semula setelah dipotong akarnya akan tumbuh dengan lebih baik dan sihat dari segi ketinggian, diameter, akar dan daunnya.

Kelebihan penggunaan EuryPot:
a.    Tidak memerlukan kawasan yang luas untuk penanaman.
b.    Sesuai untuk penanaman terkawal.
c.    Membolehkan penuaian akar Tongkat Ali dilakukan tanpa perlu memusnahkan dan mencacatkan pokoknya.
d.    Berjaya menghasilkan akar Tongkat Ali yang lebih lurus dan panjang.
e.    Lebih ekonomikal untuk kegunaan jangka masa yang panjang.

2.    Tongkat Ali dan Ayam = A-yamli
Menurut kajian beliau, ayam ternakan yang diberi makan dengan daun pokok Tongkat Ali yang telah diproses menghasilkan kandungan protein yang lebih tinggi dan lemak yang jauh lebih rendah. Selain itu, ayam-ayam hasil kajian tersebut adalah lebih sihat, mempunyai rasa yang lebih lazat dan tidak perlu diberikan suntikan hormon.


Tahukah anda?

a.    Dos ekstrak Tongkat Ali yang sesuai untuk pengguna lelaki Asia ialah 75 mg per kapsul. Elakkan daripada mengambil sebarangan produk Tongkat Ali kerana dikhuatiri mengandungi elemen merbahaya seperti plumbum!

b.    Lebah adalah “kawan baik” kepada tumbuhan Tongkat Ali.  Ini kerana ia memakan ulat harimau yang boleh menyebabkan kematian mengejut pada pokok Tongkat Ali.

Soalan untuk pembaca:

1.    Berapakah purata dos ekstrak Tongkat Ali yang sesuai untuk pengguna lelaki di Asia?
2.    Apakah nama saintifik Tongkat Ali?
3.    Adakah Tongkat Ali sejenis ginseng?
4.    Adakah Tongkat Ali dituai berdasarkan pokok atau akar?