Russell H Easy, PhD, MSc
Professor
2025 (twenty twenty five). The year of (perhaps) our greatest challenges. As the world devolves into uncertainty we hold our breath to see what the months ahead will bring in political strife. At a loss to know how we got to this point as we watch history repeat itself in the most ugly way. Stay safe and well and keep an open mind because there are some twists in the roads ahead.
Highlights and Updates
Science Atlantic Biology and Aquatic Sciences (BAAS) 2025 was a huge success with collaborations made and research reviewed. Held at Acadia this year we had the opportunity to really show off our biology department. See https://scienceatlantic.ca/divisions/biology/ for updates.
Congratulation to Francesca Turner for winning the Soggy Boot Award at the Atlantic Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting (AFS) in Sunapee, New Hampshire that was held from November 3rd-5th. It was a success in that novel ideas on fisheries and fisheries research were discussed and debated.
Congratulations to Emma-Jean Freeman for successfully defending her Masters research.
*New course development: My new 4th year course - Biology of Cancer - featured several guest speakers and a very engaged group of students. Discussion ranged from the latest cancer care treatments (CAR-T, CAR-NK, Rituximab, R-DA-EPOCH) to the social elements of cancer to the biochemistry of cancer. Cell replication is inarguably the most essential biological process of living organisms. All living organisms. Cancer messes with that process and as such is an outstanding paradigm for exploring organismal growth, replication, evolution and pathology. The course description is as follows: " This course will explore the cellular and molecular basis of human cancers. Topics will include the various forms of cancer, genetics of cancer, and historical and modern treatment strategies. The goal was to remove the mystery behind cancer and understand the biological processes behind development, diagnoses and treatment of cancer." I am confident the objectives were achieved.
Always more to post but all in good time.
Embrace life. All you need is health. Hope to hear from you in the future.
Russell and The Easy Lab
In the lab
Masters Students
Sam Nunn
Sam is exploring the effects of environmental contaminants on the expression of target genes involved in the Major Histocompatibility Complex of striped bass. Success of this project will result in biomarkers for future studies as well as some answers as to what is causing the declining health of striped bass.
See https://easylab.acadiau.ca/stress-response-team.html for more details.
Honours Students
Francesca Turner
Francesca will be investigating differential gene expression in Cancer irroratus (Atlantic rock crab) in response to environmental pollution. Cancer irroratus is a benthic invertebrate native to the shores of Nova Scotia. In my research, we will be investigating how this species is affected by historical effluent pollution from Lunenberg Harbour and how gene expression changes further from the source of pollution by sampling from a series of locations between Lunenberg Harbour and Blue Rocks. If there is a significant difference in gene expression, Cancer irroratus could be used as a bioindicator of coastal regions.
Gossi Nandi
Gossi will be exploring the molecular characterization of a digestive enzyme in masked shrews (Sorex cinereus) on Bon Portage Island (BPI), Nova Scotia. Masked shrews on BPI are notable for their unique diet, primarily consisting of amphipod crustaceans found in decaying seaweed beds along the shore. This distinct diet has led to higher population densities and unique genetic and epigenetic profiles compared to mainland shrew populations. Our research aims to sequence the gene for cytosol non-specific dipeptidase (PEP A), an enzyme crucial for their digestion, using novel PCR primers designed from publicly available whole genome data of various Sorex species. By comparing PEP A sequences from BPI shrews and other Sorex species, we aim to test the hypothesis that the PEP A gene is evolving under positive Darwinian selection. This project will provide insights into molecular adaptations associated with the unique diet of BPI shrews.
And we are always looking for collaborations and welcome the opportunity to work with students and researchers across the globe. If you have a project that you think would work in our lab drop me an email. Always happy to chat.
Mackenzie Wheaton
Mackenzie is pursuing a major in Biology (Honours), as well as a minor in History! She is currently working on a project to help possibly identify alternative stress biomarkers for the Leach’s Storm-Petrel. This project was first started a few years ag and the current work will hopefully expand on the research they previously conducted. There is a very large colony of Leach’s Storm-Petrels found on Bon Portage Island not far off of Shag Harbour, Yarmouth. Their population has been decreasing and hopefully by possibly identifying alternative biomarkers, we can then try to figure out why it is that they are declining and how can we work to reverse this!