N °13 quarterly april 2009

150 years on, The World According to DARWIN

on location GOCE Mission Determining the advancing the frontiers Real Shape of Earth

contentscontentsCONTENTS 3 COVER STORY CNRS International Magazine FRENCH RESEARCH NEWS 4 Trimestriel - Avril 2009 The Abel prize and other awards. 18 1 place Aristide Briand F-92195 Meudon Cedex 150 YEARS ON, Telephone: +33 (0)1 45 07 53 75 Fax: +33 (0)1 45 07 56 68 LIVE FROM THE LABS Email: [email protected] THE WORLD Website: www.cnrs.fr CNRS (headquarters) 6 3 rue Michel Ange According to F-75794 Paris cedex 16

Publisher: Arnold Migus (CNRS) DARWIN Editorial Director: Arnaud Benedetti (CNRS) > The origins of a theory > 19 Deputy Editorial Director: Fabrice Impériali (CNRS) > Research in evolution > 23 Managing Editor: > When controversy rages > 26 Isabelle Tratner (CNRS) Editorial Advisor: Françoise Harrois-Monin

Production Manager: Laurence Winter

S taff Writers: Fabrice Demarthon Matthieu Ravaud Charline Zeitoun

F reelance Writers: Jean-Philippe Braly Jason Brown

Fabien Buliard ebedinsky/CNRS Photothèque Patricia Chairopoulos Caroline Dangléant 32 Karen Dente © C. L Juliette Gray Lucille Hagège AROUND THE WORLD Jean-François Haït Photothèque Vrignaud/CNRS

Joshua Jampol © P. > FOREIGN PARTNER 31 Azar Khalatbari First Joint Unit in Africa Fui Lee Luk > SPOTLIGHT 6 Séverine Lemaire-Duparcq Keeping an Eye on the Sky Tackling industrialization and its Samantha Maguire impact on health. Stéphane Malhomme The Service d’aéronomie’s Aude Olivier Mark Reynolds relentless quest for knowledge. > THEY CHOSE FRANCE 32 Philippe Testard-Vaillant Marcello Solinas > NEWS 8 Clémentine Wallace Research into addiction. Translation Manager: Neanderthal extinction, Fighting Aimée Bartosik (CNRS) red tides, Core-multishell > HORIZONS 34

Copy Editor: Photothèque rin/CNRS

Saman Musacchio nanoparticles, Parkinson’s iron er Argentina Graphic Design: factor, Cool THz lasers, Ancient Scientific revival.

Céline Hein © E. P Iconography: forests and CO2, Mechanical Marie Mabrouk (CNRS) pressure as gene regulator, IN IMAGES 28 INNOVATION 36 Marie Gandois (CNRS) Cover Illustration: Mantle conductivity, GOCE Claude Lévi-Strauss Second-generation biofuels, Celine Hein for CNRS magazine; reshapes Earth. Celebrating the founding father of meat-cutting technology, making Clivia - J. Samsonov - DX - structuralism. tumors fluorescent. StarJumper/Fotolia.com; PROFILE 16 The Bridgeman Art Library; ESA > Photoengraving: Claire Voisin PLB Communication - CNRS NEWSWIRE 38 F- 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre 2008 Clay Research award. Printing: Europe’s ambitious space Imprimerie Didier Mary program, Paris city of maths, 6, rue de la Ferté-sous-Jouarre F-77440 Mary-sur-Marne International collaborations.

ISSN 1778-1442 AIP 0001308 CNRS Photos are available at: [email protected] http://phototheque.cnrs.fr

All rights reserved. Partial or full reproduction CNRS Photo and Video databases now in English of articles or illustrations is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from CNRS. The CNRS photo and video libraries provide open Photos and DVDs can be ordered online. access to a wide range of scientific pictures (18,000) PHOTO LIBRARY and films* (1400). Guests and registered users can access http://phototheque.cnrs.fr/indexL02.html a search engine in English, or browse through the thematic selections on the home page. VIDEO LIBRARY *over 200 in English. http://videotheque.cnrs.fr/index.php?langue=EN

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

4 FRENCHRESEARCHNEWS EDITORIAL 5

AWARDS France on the Move editorialeditorial Abel prize Anne Houdusse1 has been awarded the “FEBS/EMBO Women in Science” prize, given every year to a woman who Françoise Gaill has made an exceptional contribution to the life sciences. The French-Russian mathematician Mikhail Scientific Director, Gérard Férey, from the Institut Lavoisier2 has won the ENI Leonidovich Gromov, aged 65, was awarded the Institute of Ecology and prize for the protection of the environment, awarded by the Abel Prize 2009 for “his revolutionary Environment (INEE). eponymous Italian petroleum company, for his work on contributions to geometry.” A French citizen since 1992, Gromov was born in Boksitogorsk in the large-scale sequestration of CO2. And Michel Dyakonov from changing environment–like that resulting from global warming. LPTA3 received the American Physical Society’s “Beller Soviet Union. Since 1982, he is a permanent And these similar mechanisms will also help us analyze how professor at the Institute of Advanced Scientific Lectureship Award.” populations and species respond to the countless pollutants Sébastien Candel, from the EMC2 Laboratory,4 has been Studies (IHES), near Paris. The third French mathematician to win this award since its produced by human activity. elected as a foreign associate of the US National Academy of Photothèque . Dasher/CNRS

© P Evolutionary processes act at every level, from genomes to Engineering, while George Calas, from IMPMC5 has been creation in 2003, Gromov “has produced deep made a Fellow of the Geochemical Society and of the and original work throughout his career and ecosystems, via individuals, populations, and species. Such European Association for Geochemistry. remains remarkably creative,” commented the processes are varied in nature: they may Last but not least, Gérard Mourou, head of LOA6 and Abel Committee. 150 Years of be molecular, physiological, morphological, professor at the Physics Department of the Ecole behavioral, etc. Furthermore, they are Polytechnique, has been elected to the physics section of the usually slow, and must be studied over long prestigious Academy of Russian Sciences. Mourou has made Darwin’s Evolution periods of time–spanning anything from a major contributions to the invention of the laser few generations to hundreds or thousands amplification technique, which has paved the way for new fields in optics and physics. he year 2009 marks the bicentennial anniversary of of years, or even on geological time scales. Attempting to under- 1. Motilité structurale (CNRS / Institut Curie). Charles Darwin’s birth. This great English naturalist, stand the origin of evolutionary novelties and reconstruct the tree 2. CNRS / Université Pierre et Marie Curie. the father of the theories of evolution and natural of life is no easy task. Meeting such challenges is a genuine 3. Laboratoire de physique théorique et astroparticules (CNRS / Université Montpellier-II). 4. Energétique moléculaire et macroscopique, combustion (CNRS / Ecole Centrale Paris). selection, has forever changed our understanding of obsession for many researchers at CNRS and elsewhere. But 5. Institut de minéralogie et de physique des milieux condensés (CNRS / Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin). how life unfolded. There can be no doubt that Darwin despite considerable progress, much remains to be done. CNRS 6. Laboratoire d’optique appliquée (CNRS / Ecole polytechnique / ENSTA / Université Tlies at the origin of modern biology’s most important conceptual and its dedicated institute (INEE) are very active in the field of Paris-XI). framework, which is based on the incredible variety of life forms paleoenvironment and paleontology. Recent findings have led to on Earth. Evolution is key to our understanding of the world we considerable progress in the history of human origins, pushing live in, and is indeed one of the great puzzles of modern science. the dawn of human lineage much further back into the past, from . Dars/CNRS Photothèque . Dars/CNRS Why do so many species coexist? How are they shaped? Why do 3.5 to 7 million years ago. Recently, to make further progress in © J.-F they come in such a variety of forms, structures, patterns, and this area, CNRS initiated an international research network in complexity? How did they come about? All these questions are at paleontology, bringing together France, Chad, and the US. ERC ADVANCED GRANT the heart of extensive research carried out at CNRS. CNRS and the INEE have placed the evolutionary sciences th Any attempt at understanding the origin, organization, and at the heart of much of their research. For the Institute, the study 4 CNRS Takes First Place is CNRS’ global position in the Webometrics ranking of the most visible research and higher education institutions on the internet. preservation of biodiversity necessarily means studying the of current and past biodiversity cannot be dissociated from Drawn up by the Cybermetrics Lab (Consejo Superior de Sixteen CNRS researchers were chosen as recipients of the mechanisms of evolution. Ever since the 1992 Rio de Janeiro actions in the areas of conservation, environmental management, Investigaciones Cientificas) in Spain, the ranking is based on first “Advanced Grant” competition put out by the European conference, biodiversity–because it is a key component of the and development. Its other priorities are human-environment popularity indicators of sites as well as on the number of Research Council (ERC).1 Twelve of them are hosted at stability of ecosystems–has also become a social issue and one relations and ecological analysis, which take into account the publications available online. CNRS takes top place among CNRS and four in other institutions in France or abroad. European research organizations. CNRS thus takes top place among host organisations in of the major challenges for sustainable development. This is why relations between life and its environment, and require detailed Europe. The objective of these grants is to give backing to the study of the history and dynamics of biodiversity is a priority knowledge of the functional aspects and dynamics of ecosystems. A New Director for Humanities and internationally-recognized and experienced researchers of for the Institute of Ecology and Environment (INEE) at CNRS.1 In this way, CNRS is taking a firm stand against the return to Social Sciences all nationalities hosted in laboratories in the European Union In this field, CNRS has helped set up several international Europe and France of currents of thought that oppose evolution, or associated countries. Three major fields were covered: research networks focused on various regions of the world, like creationism and Intelligent Design. Evolution is a scientific Bruno Laurioux has been appointed physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, and especially French Guiana, the French Overseas Departments and scientific director of Humanities and Social humanities and social sciences. Interdisciplinary projects theory that has been extensively supported by indisputable Sciences at CNRS as of February 1st, 2009. were also selected. The winners can be funded to the tune Territories, southern Africa, and Asia. evidence, and many CNRS labs are working hard to fully He had been acting director since September It is also towards the mechanisms of evolution that we turn understand its mechanisms and its full breadth. 1st, 2008. He will be entrusted with setting of as much as €3.5 million over a period of five years. when we try to understand the adaptive responses of living up CNRS’ new Institute of Humanities and 1. http://erc.europa.eu/ 1. Which evolved from the Environment and Sustainable Development (EDD) . Haberbusch/AEFC T organisms affected by extreme conditions or by a rapidly department created in 2006. © Social Sciences.

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

6 LIVEFROMTHELABS Spotlight LIVEFROMTHELABS 7

Verrières-le-Buisson1

AERONOMY Keeping a Close Eye on the Sky

Though its scientists are busy studying the atmospheres of celestial bodies or tracking the laser’s path.” Lidars from this lab now not only down extraterrestrial life, the Service d’aéronomie (SA)1 has its feet firmly on the equip observatories all over the world,4 but also a number of planes, like the one used for the Polarcat5 ground. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, we get an exclusive peek at what mission in the Arctic in 2008. The main goal is to goes on behind the doors of this prestigious lab. monitor global stratospheric and tropospheric ozone, and the lab is coordinating the French contribution to this mission. “By combining these results with meas- urements made by spectrometers on the ground and

in various types of balloons, we measured a 3% fall in DR DR the global quantity of ozone between 1991 and 2001,” Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the forthcoming Left: At the Haute Provence observatory, two lidars from the says Philippe Keckhut, in charge of coordinating ground- predictions in the “chemistry” section. This program has lab are used to study the ozone based lidar measurements. “The figure even fell by as even been adapted to the atmospheres of Mars and content of the atmosphere (blue much as 50% at the poles during some winters!” Venus. beam) and the components of These data also help validate the measurements the wind (three green beams). provided by observation satellites, such as Envisat and Right: In 2000, inflating an SA EVER FURTHER OUT balloon equipped with a its GOMOS instrument. In his office, layered with But SA isn’t restricting itself to planetary atmospheres. spectrometer to measure the hich planet shall I take you to?” is the gloves, Pierre-Olivier Mine, is busy assembling the stacks of files bearing evocative names like Mars Express, Its research extends to the atmosphere of comets, ozone and nitrogen dioxide first question we’re asked by Christian prototype of PHEBUS, an ultraviolet spectrometer for Venus, or NASA, Jean-Loup Bertaux tells us how it through participation in missions onboard the European content of the stratosphere. Malique, in charge of the technical a spacecraft that will be launched in 2013 and reach works. “GOMOS measures the spectrum of light emit- Rosetta spacecraft and through experiments in the lab, department at SA’s site in Verrières- Mercury seven years later, in 2020. “This instrument ted by a star. By comparing it with the spectrum of the and even to the Sun’s atmosphere through “on site” CONTACTS le-Buisson (Essonne), near Paris. will enable us to describe the composition and processes same star as it sets behind the horizon, when its light research. Service d’aéronomie. We’re standing at the entrance to a maze of underground of Mercury’s exosphere, the outermost layer of its travels through the Earth’s atmosphere, we can infer the For this, the lab has provided the International Christian Malique [email protected] corridors that house experimental labs with mysterious- atmosphere,3” Mine explains. Excited by solar radiation, light absorption characteristic of the constituents of Space Station with a triple spectrometer, and is also Guy Cernogora Above and below: researchers sounding names, like “PHEBUS,” “PAMPRE,” or the atoms in the exosphere emit photons, whose the Earth’s atmosphere, among which is ozone.” It’s as taking part in the PICARD mission, which will be [email protected] reconstruct Titan’s atmosphere “MOMA.” The site itself is surprising enough–an old characteristic wavelength will be picked up by the easy as that. Using this “star occultation” technique, as taken up on a satellite in 2009. Going even further, the Pierre-Olivier Mine in a plasma chamber to study the military fort dating back to 1875 nested in a deep spectrometer. it is called, GOMOS has carried out no fewer than 400 team has started investigating the interplanetary and [email protected] fine organic particles which forest–but now we’re off to an even more exotic We’ve hardly left the lab when we come face to profiles per day since 2002, and this work is set to interstellar media. “Based on measurements provided David Coscia, [email protected] form there. These may provide destination: Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. Behind the face with the nose cone of a Soviet M 100 rocket from continue until 2011. The aim is to map the concentration by the SOHO satellite, we were the first to reveal a Franck Montmessin some clues about the origin of [email protected] life on Earth. door, the silhouettes of three young researchers–of the the Second World War. But our real destination is the of ozone and other constituents of the Earth’s distortion of the heliosphere around the Sun,” explains MOMA lab. Here, David Coscia and his colleagues are atmosphere at an altitude of between 15 and 100 researcher Rosine Lallement. “The discovery was sub- Alain Hauchecorne [email protected] developing a gas chromatograph. “This device will be kilometers, to obtain a 10-year trend. “Another two of sequently validated by the American Voyager space Philippe Keckhut looking for traces of life on Mars. It’ll do this by analyzing our instruments are currently in orbit studying the probes, which were the first to cross the frontier between [email protected] samples of soil taken by the European Exomars atmospheres of Mars and Venus. We’re also making use the heliosphere and the interstellar medium.” This Jean-Loup Bertaux spacecraft, whose launch has just been pushed back of the second instrument by pointing it towards Earth interstellar medium is now the subject of Lallement’s [email protected] from 2014 to 2016,” Coscia explains before taking us and acquiring practice at measuring bioindicators, like research, as she maps it using observations not only Éric Villard, [email protected] into the clean room. The air in the room, whose walls ozone and chlorophyll, to search for life on exoplanets,” from ground-based telescopes, but also from satellites. Slimane Bekki, [email protected] are entirely made of glass, is permanently filtered to enthuses Éric Villard, as he shows us a spare model of Time to bid farewell to this place full of wonders. Rosine Lallement prevent any contamination. On a table in the middle of the instrument. A place that SA’s researchers will be leaving in 2010 to [email protected] the room are five small coils. “If needed, these join up with some of their colleagues from CETP,6 in chromatographs can replace the ones we provided MEASURING OR MODELING? Guyancourt (Yvelines), forming the new LATMOS lab.7 NASA with for the American MSL mission, a mission The major strength of the SA obviously lies in its know- There, they will be gathering forces to elucidate more Vrignaud/CNRS Photothèque Vrignaud/CNRS . similar to Exomars which will reach Mars in 2011,” how for developing ever more sophisticated and of our sky’s mysteries. OES Medialab)

says Coscia. During these missions, the challenge will miniaturized measuring instruments. “Whereas its Jean-Philippe Braly A y

© Photos : P lie in the analysis of real samples, “which is trickier to mathematical modeling will evolve, a well performed 140 or so people currently working at SA–can be made do than taking measurements by remote sensing from measurement will endure!” used to say SA founder 1. CNRS / Université Paris-VI / Université Versailles St-Quentin. Above right: assembling the The laboratory was headed by Gérard Mégie, CNRS president from A (image b prototype of PHEBUS, an out in the dim light. In the center of the lab lies a a satellite,” adds Franck Montmessin, the young Jacques Blamont, whose photos line the walls of the 2000 to 2004. ultraviolet spectrometer mesmeric pink glow. “This color is caused by a plasma, researcher in charge of one of the Exomars instruments. building. But even if measurements are the “lifeblood 2. A plasma is a fourth state of matter: an ionized gas which is in © ES designed to study Mercury’s particular a very good conductor and which emits electromagnetic an ionized gas.2 It simulates the physical chemistry of science,” as Montmessin likes to put it, Slimane atmosphere. It will equip a radiation (well-known phenomena like lighting or the aurora satellite due to reach the found on Titan,” explains Guy Cernogora, the researcher KEEPING AN EYE ON OZONE Bekki, one of the lab’s modelers, is more cautious: borealis). planet’s orbit in 2020. in charge of the PAMPRE project. “This reaction leads “Remote sensing” is the term that best sums up what “You can’t launch a measurement campaign today 3. Mercury’s atmosphere is so tenuous that it is usually referred to as an exosphere. to the formation of fine organic particles, like the ones has made SA’s international reputation, bolstered by its without knowing ahead of time how the results will be 4. Haute Provence (France), Dumont d’Urville (Antarctica), Alomar observed by the Huygens spacecraft. We’re studying famous “lidars.” “A lidar is a pulsed laser,” explains used,” he says. To avoid the accumulation of results in (Norway), and the Réunion island (France). them closely, since they might give us clues about the SA Director Alain Hauchecorne. “When it comes into under-utilized databases, his team has developed models 5. Polar Study using Aircraft, Remote Sensing, Surface Measurements and Models, of Climate, Chemistry, Aerosols, and origin of life on Earth.” contact with the various atmospheric constituents, it is that assimilate all these data to simulate the transport Transport. www.polarcat.no/polarcat But we are already being rushed off to our next sent back at wavelengths that are characteristic of these and chemistry of major gases in the Earth’s stratosphere 6. Centre d’étude des environnements terrestres et planétaires The Venus Express probe (CNRS / Université Versailles St-Quentin / Université Paris-VI). is currently in orbit around destination, which turns out to be Mercury. Other lab, constituents. By analyzing these wavelengths, we can (ozone, methane, nitrogen oxides, etc.). One of these 7. Laboratoire Atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales Venus with an SA other atmosphere: A young engineer wearing white determine and quantify the constituents present along models, REPROBUS, will be used by the International (CNRS/ Universités Paris-VI and Versailles-Saint-Quentin). spectrometer on board.

CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009

8 LIVEFROMTHELABS news LIVEFROMTHELABS 9

PALEONTHOLOGY NANOTECHNOLOGY ama, y

How Neanderthals 08 Magnetic Nanoparticle Networks Orsay1 Became Extinct Electronics, computers, communications, optical and biomedical engineering... these crucial areas

aving inhabited Europe for the impact of climate change on M. Kage wnsend Peterson, of research and many more stand to gain from core-multishell structures for nanoparticles. CNRS To over 200,000 years, Nean- biodiversity, the team showed that A. has actively been exploring this novel avenue of research. Hderthals became extinct about Neanderthals and AMH were rico,

35,000 years ago, and the reasons exploiting almost identical ecological . d’Er behind their disappearance have niches before and during the cold ore-multishell structures can act as build- simply by adjusting the solution content added Indeed a huge step ahead for the tiny nanopar- anks, F

been the source of considerable debate. period. “The algorithm uses a host . B ing blocks of high technology, whereby to cores. In short, any type of shell can be grafted ticle, as the accumulation of properties opens W © The scientific community has of data–carbon dating, geographic ONE, Dec. 20 / PLoS Sánchez-Goñi A. Sima, M.-F. desirable properties can be blended on a onto any desired core, at whatever thickness up a new world of possibilities for devices requir- long been split between those information, and climate history The distribution of Neanderthals (A,C) co-author of the study, “GARP mix-and-match basis. This innovation needed. ing versatile and compact components. and anatomically modern humans C blaming Neanderthals’ inability to across Europe–and matches it to combines archeological, chrono- stems from the pooled expertise of three CNRS- Most remarkably, when different shell types More specifically, the team foresees producing (B, D) before (A, B) and after (C, D) 1 cope with dramatic climatic change– the paleoenvironmental features Heinrich event 4 (approx. 39,000 years logical, and climatic data in a unique partnered laboratories. Previous experimenta- are combined, the various physical properties nanoparticles with magnetic or conductive in particular a cold period about shared by known archeological sites ago), during the last glacial period. computational architecture.” tions with Prussian Blue pigment and its analogs present then act in synergy. The lure of PBAs lies properties, for example, that will respond to 39,000 years ago called Heinrich (belonging to either Neanderthals Fabien Bulliard (PBAs), characterized by transition metal2 cores in their strikingly diverse physical properties, electric, magnetic, temperature, light, or pressure Event 4 (H4)–and those who or AMH) to predict where these Spain,” Banks adds. The algorithm 1. W. E. Banks et al., “Neanderthal bridged to other atoms by cyanide ligands, had such as magnetism, photomagnetism,4 piezo- stimuli, and can serve as models for information consider competition with anatom- populations might have lived at any results also showed that AMH’ extinction by competitive led to the discovery that PBA-based nanoparticles magnetism,5 electrochromism,6 and spin storage, signal processing, or signal transfor- exclusion.” PLoS ONE, 7 ically modern humans (AMH) as a given time,” explains archeologist niche had expanded during GI8, 2008. 3(12): e3972. could spontaneously stabilize and regroup into crossover. Mallah points out that assorted prop- mation. Electrochrome nano-objects may more likely cause. Yet a recent study1 William Banks from the PACEA thus making competition between 2. De la Préhistoire coordination networks where components were erties can be har- further be exploited by a multidisciplinary Franco- laboratory,2 who led the research. the two groups–and AMH’ supe- à l’Actuel: Culture, magnetically bound into ordered arrays. nessed for the in biological detec- Environnement et American research team, featuring According to GARP’s calcula- rior adaptation–the likely drivers Subsequent tests on PBAs spawned the first production of tion tags or captors. Anthropologie (CNRS / Bordeaux experts in archeology, ecology, and tions, Neanderthals should have behind Neanderthal extinction. Université Bordeaux-I). 1 successful synthesis, in 2008, of core-multishell one–or possibly When on the other paleoclimatology should put the continued to occupy the majority of While several past studies have particles. several functions. hand core-multishell debate to rest. It demonstrates that Europe during Greenland Interstadial 8 attempted to gauge the impact of CONTACTS The technique consists in stabilizing charged nanoparticles that High resolution competitive exclusion, not climate (GI8), the warmer period that climate change on human popula- PACEA, Bordeaux. cores in water so that particle surfaces are more unite disparate change, is indeed responsible for followed H4. “But when we look at tions, the multidisciplinary approach apt for coordination networking, before solutions electron- metallic cores are William Banks microscopy Neanderthal extinction. the actual sites dated to GI8, we see made possible by GARP constitutes [email protected] are added to grow shell networks around the images of a core- decomposed, metal- Using an algorithm called that the regions occupied by Nean- a significant breakthrough. As Federico d’Errico cores.3 Its great boon is that the core of a given multishell lic alloys otherwise GARP, initially developed to predict derthals had shrunk to southern stressed by Francesco d’Errico, [email protected] network can be surrounded by shells of differing nanoparticle (left), impossible to syn- chemical compositions. Moreover, the stacking showing the thesize may be iso- perfect alignment of shells can be monitored “at the nanometer of the networks lated, something . Mallah/ICMMO scale,” specifies Talal Mallah from ICMMO,1 T highly valuable for assembled (right). © the development of MICROBIOLOGY catalysts or high-density computer memories. The new technique’s potential is yet to be fully Curbing Red Tides, Naturally exhausted. Mallah indicates that the team is now looking to create core-multishell structures from esearchers have discovered a parasite had a parasite that was genetically very specific. virulence of a parasite. “Host and parasite particles other than PBAs in the hope of Non-toxic red tide in Elorn Bay in that can fight the toxic red tides caused The use of new molecular tracing constantly try to outdo each other, and when producing “new metallic particles containing Brittany (France, Rby the dinoflagellate Alexandrium methods has shed light on how this type of parasites lag behind, biocontrols are absent metals which, in standard conditions, do not 2004). minutum, a micro-alga capable of prolifer- infection occurs. These new generation trac- which results in an unabated proliferation associate with one another.” ating uncontrollably, to the point where it can ers are strings of DNA coupled to fluorescent of host algae,” Guillou explains. Fui Lee Luk So far, the human introduction of A dinoflagellate taint coastal seawater to a characteristic markers. When they latch onto the target 1. Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d’Orsay (blue) infected by murky-red. These algae produce toxins that cell’s ribosomic RNA, they turn its whole parasites in bloom situations is not on the (ICCMO: CNRS / Université Paris-Sud), Laboratoire de its specific accumulate in shellfish, making the latter cytoplasm fluorescent. “We found that each agenda. “We need to learn much more about Physique des Solides (CNRS / Université de Strasbourg), parasite (nucleus and Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de hazardous for human consumption. micro-alga host has a corresponding strain upstream processes, and whether or not Strasbourg (CNRS / Université de Strasbourg). in red, and By the late 1980s, the emergence of red of parasite that can infect, proliferate, and other host algae could be impacted. We will 2. Metallic elements with an incomplete inner electron shell. cytoplasm in tides in the coastal waters of France’s destroy its host in just a few days,” says rather focus on studying the parasites’ 3. L. Catala et al., “Core-multishell magnetic coordination green). nanoparticles: toward multifunctionality on the nanoscale,” Britanny region led to the frequent closure Guillou, adding that this rapid decline then molecular mechanisms, know more about Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2009. 48: 183-7. of aquacultural farms. Yet, without apparent benefits another species of dinoflagellates them and their capacity to act as biocon- 4. Where magnetism is modified by light. 5. Where magnetism is modified by strain. reason, no single “bloom” has been which can proliferate until attacked in turn trols against red tides,” concludes Guillou. 6. The capacity to change color reversibly when energy is observed since 2003. The subject of her by its own specific parasite. Stéphane Malhomme applied. doctoral thesis at the SBR,1 Aurélie Red tides seem to result from an imbal- 7. Whereby light irradiation modifies a compound’s 1. Station biologique de Roscoff. Adaptation et electronic spin state. Chambouvet, under the supervision of Dr. ance between the host alga and its natural diversité en milieu marin. (CNRS / Université Paris- Laure Guillou has demonstrated the parasite. This balance can be upset by human VI). et

v regulating action of a marine parasite that activity like ships carrying a strain of dinofla- CONTACT CONTACTS specifically infected Alexandrium minutum, gellate to a new environment, or environ- 1Roscoff Laure Guillou Tallal Mallah but not only. In fact, each species of mental factors such as global warming, since SBR, Roscoff. ICMMO, Orsay.

A. Chambou [email protected] [email protected] © L. Guillou © dinoflagellate observed in this ecosystem abnormal temperatures may lower the

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 10 LIVEFROMTHELABS news LIVEFROMTHELABS 11 Paris1

NEUROBIOLOGY After a chemical lesion of the NEUROBIOLOGY olfactory epithelium in mice, stem cells from the subventricular zone Then, they used a mice strain Parkinson’s disease, that consists Glial Cells Get Center Stage (left, red) migrate through the Iron and its Transporter in called “microcytic” where the DMT1 in restoring the missing dopamine, rostral migratory stream (right) to iron transporter was impaired, the we have no treatment to slow down reach the olfactive bulb. For a long time, glial cells were overshadowed by Parkinson’s Disease result of a spontaneous mutation. the progression of neurodegenera-

08 When injected with a toxic chemi- tion which evolves over decades,” neurons. Originally viewed as ordinary caretakers, cal specific to dopaminergic cells, says Hirsch. “We found that we their importance is now slowly emerging. In this imiting the level of iron in therapeutic target for neuroprotec- these mice showed a 20% neuronal could protect half of the dopamin- context, two recent studies show how they dopaminergic neurons could tion, Hirsch and his co-workers used cell death rate compared to the 40% ergic neurons from degeneration Lhelp fight Parkinson’s disease rodent animal models. in wild-type animals. A functional by decreasing iron in the cells.” participate in the brain’s self-repair and (PD). This is what CNRS researcher First, they observed that the DMT1, with the resulting iron His main concern with targeting communication systems. Etienne Hirsch1 together with a induction of the disease in mice was increase inside cells, thus seems to this transporter therapeutically is ournal of Neuroscience, 10/23/20 team at INSERM-UPMC2 have correlated with a doubling of the contribute to neuronal cell death, that it could prevent required levels © J recently demonstrated.3 Iron plays level of expression of DMT1, leading whereas a dysfunctional iron trans- of iron from entering the cells. “It lial cells play crucial roles in the central also transform into neurons. discover if this inherent self-repair mechanism an integral role inside neurons as a to an increase of iron within porter confers protection from is therefore important to achieve nervous system, where they outnumber As described in their study,2 the researchers could be extended to other parts of the brain, co-factor for enzymes that produce dopaminergic neurons, and the degeneration. the right balance and prevent neurons 10 to 1. In mature organisms, spent two years creating a fluorescent viral-vector when subject to lesions, trauma, or strokes.” dopamine–the neurotransmitter expected ensuing oxidative stress “While there is now relatively dysregulation,” he concludes. Gthey provide physical support and aimed at the neuron-producing cells–a particular At a more fundamental level, another inter- found lacking in a specific region of and cell death. good symptomatic treatment for Karen Dente transfer energy from the blood circulation to the type of glial cells called “astrocytes” (star-shaped esting finding concerns the mechanism by which the brain in PD patients. But while 1. Unité 975 (Inserm / CNRS / UPMC). nerves. They are also known to have a protective cells that make up the “cement” between the astrocytes communicate among themselves and some iron is needed for dopamine 2. Université Pierre et Marie Curie. role by enabling the clearance of leftover ions neurons). The vector enabled them to locate with neurons. According to CNRS researcher production, too much results in 3. E. Hirsch et al., “Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) contributes to 3 and neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft. astrocytes on mouse olfactory bulb slices. Using Christian Giaume, when neurons are active, oxidative stress and cell death. To neurodegeneration in animal models of More surprisingly, glial cells have also been electrophysiology, they observed that fluorescent their need for energy is passed on to neighbor- elucidate the role of the iron Parkinson’s disease,” PNAS, 2008. 105, 47: shown to actively participate in synaptic astrocytes developed the hallmarks of neurons. ing astrocytes, which stimulate an entire network transporter DMT1 in the develop- 18578-83. transmission. When the scientists damaged parts of the tissue, of astrocytes to route nutrients from the blood ment and evolution of Parkinson’s As if this wasn’t enough, another major role they witnessed a six or seven-fold increase in circulation towards these nerves. In a recent disease, and to see whether the has emerged in the last decade: Glial cells inside neuron production from astrocytes in that region, study,4 Giaume and colleagues demonstrate that mechanism may represent a 1 Paris a specific brain region–the subventricular demonstrating that a lesion triggers neurogen- the network organization is key to an interac- Microglial cells, labelled for a zone–have the ability to transform into neurons. esis. “It’s interesting to tive loop between neurons and astrocytes. specific marker (green) and DNA This finding contradicted a long-established Astrocytes and neurons note that the two brain Working on mouse hippocampus slices, the CONTACT are organized in (blue), show an increased expression dogma, which stipulated that the adult brain regions where this phe- scientists injected fluorescent glucose inside an of the metal transporter DMT1 (red) in Etienne Hirsch parallel networks UPMC, Paris.

could not produce new neurons. whose mutual nomenon takes place astrocyte, and visualized its transmission to the brain of a patient with Parkinson’s CRicm . Salazar/CNRS-UPMC-INSERM [email protected] Now, a team led by CNRS researcher Pierre- interaction is essential are involved in memory neighboring astrocytes. When the junctions disease. © J Marie Lledo1 has demonstrated that glial cells for functional synaptic formation,” says Lledo. linking astrocytes were pharmacologically communication within inside another area–the olfactory bulb–could the brain. “We are now trying to blocked, nutrients could no longer travel to the nerves, whose activity weakened, according to electrophysiology recordings. Vice versa, the size PARTICLE PHYSICS of the astrocyte network decreased when ASTROCYTE researchers blocked neuronal activity; when neurons were over-stimulated, the size of the Calculating the Mass of a Proton network increased. “When studying interactions PRE-SYNAPTIC between astrocytes and neurons, whether it be in cientists have known how exchange of gluons. Yet the masses behavior in four-dimensional space- These results also helped estab- NEURON a metabolic context or in a context of synaptic much a proton weighs for the of the individual constituents do time requires an infinite number lish techniques that can be used in communication, researchers should realize that better part of a century. But it not add up to the mass of a proton, of variables. This is where a tech- other important endeavors, such as NEURO- S TRANSMITTERS it is probably not just a single astrocyte that is took a pan-European team of theo- a disparity which had been known nique known as lattice QCD comes the search for new fundamental involved, but an entire network, just like retical physicists, building upon for a long time. A full quantitative in. It allows a numerical simulation phenomena surrounding the weak SYNAPSE neurons,” concludes Giaume. decades of research by scientists understanding of this disparity had in which continuous space-time is interactions of quarks. Clémentine Wallace from around the world, to work out to wait until last year. “We realized viewed as a succession of increas- Mark Reynolds 1 1. Perception et mémoire (CNRS / Institut Pasteur). precisely how its mass comes about. that the different techniques needed ingly finer four-dimensional lattices, 1. S. Dürr et al., “Ab-initio determination of RECEPTOR 2. M. Alonso et al., “Turning astrocytes from the rostral Led by Zoltan Fodor from the Uni- were coming together, and that the each composed of sites spaced along light hadron masses,” Science, 2008. 322: migratory stream into neurons: a role for the olfactory versity of Wuppertal and Laurent necessary computing power was rows and columns. After roughly 1224-7. POST-SYNAPTIC sensory organ,” J. Neurosci., 2008. 28: 11089-102. 2. Centre de physique théorique (CNRS / } Lellouch from the CPT in Marseille,2 now available,” explains Lellouch. 1020 computer operations, the the- NEURON 3. CNRS / Inserm / Collège de France. Universités d’Aix-Marseille-I and -II / DENDRITE S 4. N. Rouach et al., “Astroglial metabolic networks sustain the team’s results confirm that The researchers used IBM Blue orists determined the mass of the Université du Sud Toulon-Var). hippocampal synaptic transmission,” Science, 2008. 322: Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), Gene supercomputers from the proton and of other light hadrons 3. Institut du Développement et des 1551-5. Ressources en Informatique Scientifique. the fundamental theory of quarks Forschungszentrum Jülich in Ger- with a precision of a few percent, and gluons, correctly describes the many and CNRS’ IDRIS,3 applying finding excellent agreement with SYNAPSE CONTACTS interactions which bind these ele- their ability to perform over 100 laboratory measurements and thus Marseille 1 Pierre-Marie Lledo mentary particles together to form trillion calculations/sec. confirming that most of it comes Institut Pasteur, Paris. RECEPTOR [email protected] hadrons. As Lellouch explains, a Though the only parameters of not from the masses of the hadron’s CONTACT Christian Giaume proton’s main components are two the calculation are the quark masses quark and gluon constituents, but Laurent Lellouch Collège de France, Paris. “up” quarks and one “down” quark, and the overall strength of the inter- rather from the energy generated CPT, Marseille. [email protected] [email protected]

SophieJacopin.com pour le Journal du CNR pour le Journal © SophieJacopin.com which are held together through the action, describing quark and gluon by the interactions between them.

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 12 LIVEFROMTHELABS news LIVEFROMTHELABS 13

PHYSICS MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 1 Orsay THz Lasers Are Cool Mechanical Pressure as Gene Regulator

Hz quantum cascade lasers potential applications, from envi- on the 2002 discoveries, IEF1 perature is compatible with today’s are a relatively new family of ronmental detection of pollutants researcher Raffaele Colombelli and commercially available coolers. Any- A central question in Tsemiconductor lasers which to medical imaging, as well as uses PhD student Yannick Chassagneux thing cooler than 240K demands a developmental biology is how emit in the terahertz frequency for security, given that THz radiation have combined small photonic cryogenic system. “Today, when non-genetic phenomena such as range (1012 Hertz). Because of the could detect hidden drugs or crystal structures with the laser industrialists call and ask ‘what tem- lack of compact radiation sources weapons at airports. creating a system that not only emits perature are you at?’ and I say ‘still mechanical forces regulate between 1 and 10 THz, scientists Before 2002, lasers in the THz THz waves, but also enables con- 178K,’ they just answer ‘we’ll call growth. Here are the most recent gap were big, bulky, gas-based (CO 2 back later.’ We still have 62K to go.” call it the “THz gap.” Since the first 2 trol of the output beam. “It now findings on the role of such forces development of the quantum and methanol), and inefficient. But diverges very little,” Colombelli says. Joshua Jampol cascade laser family–in 1994 at the in 2002, an Italian-British collabo- The researchers are still trying 1. Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale in the development of US’ Bell Labs–physicists and ration began shrinking their size, to boost the lasers’ temperature and (CNRS / Université Paris-XI). diametrically different tissues: Modeling of the engineers have been trying to and with it, the THz gap. And if power. One obstacle is that THz 2. Y. Chassagneux et al., “Electrically pumped photonic-crystal terahertz lasers human tumors, and plants. mechanical narrow this gap. today’s lasers are as small as a tie quantum cascade lasers operate at controlled by boundary conditions.” Nature, stress (white If they succeed, THz lasers clip, or a typical silicon chip (200 a maximum temperature of 178K 2009. 457: 174-8. lines) induced by promise distinct advantages. Since microns x 2 mm), they have two (-95°C). The researchers believe they or almost half a century, scientists believed cell ablation in the epiderm of a THz waves can penetrate through main weaknesses: the relative diver- can reach 240K (-33°C) by redesign- CONTACT that all the events that occured during the plant meristem. skin (but are non-ionizing, unlike x- gence of their beam, and the diffi- ing the laser’s active regions. This Raffaele Colombelli development of an rays), clothing, paper, wood, card- culty of extracting radiation from will make it viable for a range of IEF, Orsay. organism were the sole [email protected] F Lund, Suède U. © Jönsson & Krupinski, board and plastic, they offer wide the chip’s surface. Following up applications, since this warmer tem- product of what was written in its genes. The postulate activates the transcription cells.4 “Before that, we knew growing cells exert began loosening up only a of oncogenes–which are pressure on their neighbors, but we didn’t know decade ago, as biologists often identical to the devel- how this pressure was integrated as a message,” started demonstrating that opmental genes involved says lead author Olivier Hamant. ENVIRONMENT

non-genetic phenomena also Curie Whitehead, E. Farge/Institut in embryogenesis. “This Working on tissues of plant meristem–a pool . 1Gif-sur-Yvette

affected development. © J Myc oncogene expression (green similarity is what led us of undifferentiated cells found in zones where In this context, researchers fluorescence) is induced in colon cells to investigate whether growth takes place–the team showed that intra- Ancient Forests Do Trap Carbon submitted to mechanical pressure (right) in 1 mechanical forces might Inside a primary forest in Gabon. led by Emmanuel Farge at an APC mutated background. cellular components called microtubules react to ld-growth forest–with its made, compiled, and analyzed meas- the Curie Institute in Paris also come into play in the external forces. Microtubules are known to control multiple layers of vegetation urements in old forests throughout have been studying the influence of mechanical development of some cancers,” says Farge. the direction of cell expansion. Using fluorescent Oand great biodiversity–traps the world, from the Siberian taiga all pressure on genetic expression and cell prolif- In recent experiments,2 the team applied live imaging, the team followed the organiza- between 0.8 and 1.8 billion tons of the way to the Amazon rainforests. eration during embryonic development, and controlled mechanical pressure on tissues of tion of microtubules inside these tissues. In carbon a year. This is the surprising Their results countered Odum’s more recently during tumor formation. healthy mice colon cells, and on tissues of mice some cells, the microtubules appeared oriented result of a study dispelling the belief theory: Ancient forests do continue Working on embryos of fruit flies, the team colon lacking one copy of the APC gene. Using in one direction. In other cells, they were disor- that old-growth, pristine forests to store carbon. This entails that the first demonstrated that the forces generated by fluorescence, they observed that pressure on ganized. When the researchers applied differ- could not store carbon after a certain previously ignored 15% of total forest migrating cells during early embryonic devel- healthy tissues did not induce the relocation of ent pressures on the tissue, they observed that the age. The discovery makes for more area is in fact responsible for opment influence the expression of genes in ß-catenin. However, in APC-deficient tissues, microtubules oriented themselves parallel to accurate “full carbon accounting” trapping 10% of overall carbon sink. neighboring cells. “The growing tissues and the this protein did travel to the nucleus. “Mechan- these forces, reorganizing themselves accord- and smarter incentive programs to “In theory, Odum’s hypothesis genes responsible for the body’s architecture are ical pressure can thus contribute to the activation ing to the maximum constraint. “This proves curb carbon emissions. made sense. After a while, a tree in close communication,” says Farge. “It’s a sort of oncogenes in cells genetically pre-disposed to that mechanical constraints contribute to deter- Ecologist Eugene Odum hypoth- had grown so much that it simply of feedback loop indicating where genetic acti- cancer,” says Farge. “In these cells, one copy of mining the direction of growth,” says Hamant. esized in the 1960s that forests over could not add biomass. From vation should be launched.” At the molecular the APC gene is not sufficient to counter the The team now hopes to study the interac- 150 years old reached a neutral 10,000 saplings of the young forest, level, they discovered that such mechanical mechanically-induced ß-catenin relocalization.” tions between mechanical forces influencing balance between storage and mortality over 150 years had left pressure triggers the relocation, inside cells, of The team also noticed that the relocation direction and other parameters such as growth

emissions of CO2. A majority of 300-400 huge trees that harvested a protein called ß-catenin (involved in both cell occurred when the pressure applied equaled at speed and genetic pre-disposition.

scientists initially accepted this most sunlight, but could not carry Photothèque ez/CNRS adhesion and gene activation) from the external least that of bowel movements inside the colon. Clémentine Wallace v paradigm, even though it had not water up their branches–limiting membrane to the nucleus, where it activates the “We still have to elucidate whether the pressure

A. De 1. Inserm UMR 168 (CNRS / Institut Curie / Inserm).

been backed by scientific evidence. their maximum size. Yet on closer © transcription of developmental genes. This generated by bowel movements can initiate tumor 2. J. Whitehead et al., “Mechanical factors activate ß-catenin- “Odum’s rationale was that forests inspection, our biometric meas- is that a country can clear-cut an 1. Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de protein thus acts as a messenger transferring genesis in APC deficient cells, or if pressure is only dependent oncogene expression in APC1638N/+ mouse colon,” HFSP J., 2008. 2: 286. could not grow eternally, and had urements of roots, trunks, branches, ancient forest with no penalty, sell l’Environnement (CNRS / CEA / Université mechanical information to the genes. involved in the amplification process–cells of a de Versaille). 3. Reproduction et développement des plantes (Université to reach an equilibrium between and leaves showed that they the wood, then re-plant and cash in 2. S. Luyssaert et al., “Old-growth forests as In humans, it is only during tumor formation growing tumor pressuring a pre-disposed neigh- de Lyon / CNRS / ENS / INRA). storage and emissions,” says continued to add biomass, and the carbon credits for a younger global carbon sink,” Nature, 2008. 455: that ß-catenin can be found inside the nucleus boring cell, thereby feeding a chain reaction.” 4. O. Hamant et al., “Developmental patterning by mechanical signals in arabidopsis,” Science, 2008. 322: 1650-5. Philippe Ciais, senior researcher at therefore, store carbon,” says Ciais. forest which does not contain as 213-5. of adult cells. This phenomenon can occur when On the other side of the realm of develop- LSCE1 who contributed to this recent One possible explanation is that much carbon because it is regularly cells lack one or two copies of a gene called mental biology, researchers have discovered the CONTACTS study published in Nature.2 Because rising CO levels or global warming managed by foresters,” says Ciais. adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), whose phys- role of mechanical forces in plant development. Emmanuel Farge 2 Institut Curie, Paris. of this, old-growth forests have so far induce longer growing seasons and “We should therefore also give a CONTACT iological role includes clearing the excess of intra- An international team of researchers including 1 Paris [email protected] 3 been ignored by the Kyoto protocol. foster carbon uptake beyond bonus to countries that protect their Philippe Ciais cellular ß-catenin. APC mutations are known to CNRS scientists showed that the mechanical Olivier Hamant A team of international researchers, Odum’s expectations. ancient forests,” he concludes. LSCE, Gif-sur-Yvette. pre-dispose to certain cancers such as colon constraints generated by growing tissues deter- ENS, Lyon. [email protected] [email protected] with the participation of LSCE, have “One perverse effect of Kyoto 1 Stéphane Malhomme cancer. When ß-catenin enters the nucleus, it mine the orientation of growth in neighboring Lyon1

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 14 LIVEFROMTHELABS news LIVEFROMTHELABS 15

GEOLOGY CANCER Molten Carbonates Fill the Gap Fighting Leukemia at the Root IN BRIEF 1Orléans cute promyelocytic leukemia to uncouple the effects of the two All Roads Lead to BRCA1 Scientists have discovered that carbonatite melts are responsible for the mantle’s (APL) is a rare disease that drugs. Retinoic acid alone brings about conductive properties. And this research has far-reaching implications in environmental Aaffects 100 people each year in differentiation of APL cells but not BRCA1, one of the proteins whose mutation is responsible sciences, from mapping out volcano carbon emissions to developing clean energy. France. Concerned patients have a stem cells clearance or disease remis- for hereditary breast cancer, might also be involved in the chromosomal translocation giving rise sion, which requires the synergic other type of breast cancers, non-hereditary, called to a fusion between the promyelocytic action of both drugs. sporadic. These represent 85 to 90% of all cases of breast odged between the Earth’s crust and core conductivity had formerly been attributed: three used as electrolytes in high-temperature fuel leukemia (PML) gene, normally encod- These findings have “very exciting cancers and are actually less understood than their is the mantle, where solid nether regions and five orders of magnitude higher than molten cells. “Having found the correlation between ing a transcription factor and tumor implications for cancer therapy,” de hereditary counterpart. Because the protein kinase AKT1 is are topped by molten magma- and lava- silicate and hydrated olivine, respectively. This conductivity and carbonatites, we can now also suppressor, and the retinoic acid recep- Thé explains, not only for improving overexpressed in half of sporadic breast cancers, a team of producing areas. For the past 30 years, we explains why varying concentration of carbonates ‘map out’ carbon levels in magma source regions tor α gene. The resulting protein APL treatment, but also because “the researchers1 investigated whether AKT1 might act through L 2 have known that natural electrical currents occur throughout the mantle can cause divergences to quantify the carbon footprint of terrestrial known as PML-RARA blocks differ- concept of destroying a disease-causing regulation of BRCA1 activity. Their results indeed show that in the Earth’s upper mantle at depths of 70 to 350 in conductivity. volcanism,” says Gaillard. In other words, by entiation of blood precursor cells, lead- protein in cells that have acquired this is the case. In tumor cells, overexpression of AKT1 km–this despite the fact that olivine, the iron- and While geologists have lacked proof for their detecting conductivity in the mantle roots of ing to the accumulation of malignant stem-cell characteristics might help results in BRCA1 retention in the cell cytoplasm. This magnesium-rich mineral silicate that makes up longtime suspicions on the mantle’s significant volcanic areas, carbon content can be ascertained cells in the bone marrow and blood of treat other cancers in the future.” protein, normally involved in DNA repair and in regulation of most of the layer, is nonconductive. So what is it carbon content due to its scarcity in samples, and the contribution made by volcanoes to the affected patients. The efficiency of the combined gene expression in the cell nucleus, is thus unable to that causes the mantle’s conductivity? And the team’s findings have allowed an initial greenhouse effect pinpointed at various locations. For the past decade, Professor use of these drugs in humans has now perform its functions. In particular, BRCA1 can no longer play 1 furthermore, why does this conductivity vary estimate on this figure: an average of 0.03% CO2 Lastly, these carbonatites are not only a source Hugues de Thé and his team have been demonstrated through a clinical its role in homologous recombination, a mechanism that from one part of the mantle to another? by weight–a seemingly small proportion, yet of conductivity, but also believed to play a role in been searching for drugs that would trial led by the group of Zhu Chen at helps maintain DNA stability. This same function is the one 1 Led by Fabrice Gaillard from the ISTO, an enough to account for 80% of the CO2 emitted the asthenosphere’s viscosity, enabling the shifting interact with the PML-RARA protein the Rui Jin Hospital in China. De Thé that is impaired in hereditary breast cancer, through BRCA1 Orléans-based research team–also representing by volcanoes. Figures are to be confirmed in an of tectonic plates. This hypothesis paves the way and destroy patients’ cancer cells. Two now wants to investigate the pathways mutations. These results show that both hereditary and non- the CEMHTI laboratory2–has succeeded in iden- upcoming project, Electrolith, also led by Fabrice for studies on the behavior of liquid carbonates drugs, retinoic acid and arsenic triox- involved in the loss of the leukemia hereditary cancers result from the impairment of the same tifying the source of the mantle’s conductivity: Gaillard, in which measurements will be taken in solids, and possible effects on viscosity. ide, have been shown to be clinically stem cells in greater detail. Such molecular mechanism, homologous recombination, essential small quantities of molten carbonates–also called at Ol Doinyo Lengai, in Tanzania, the only volcano Fui Lee Luk effective, sometimes sending APL in advances in the field of cancer research

” to maintain DNA integrity. carbonatites–that are found between loose rocks.3 in the world to produce lava containing liquid complete remission. So far, it was hold great promise for the develop- 1. Institut des Sciences de la Terre d’Orléans (CNRS / 1. From CNRS, CEA, and Hôpital Saint-Louis. The researchers link the conductivity of the carbonates. Elsewhere, the mantle also holds Université d’Orléans / Université François-Rabelais). believed that the eradication of the ment of improved and more specific 2. I. Plo et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68: 9404-12. oceanic asthenosphere, or upper ductile mantle, carbonates, but they are dissolved in basalt lava 2. Conditions Extrêmes et Matériaux: Haute Température et disease was mainly due to the treatments. Irradiation (CNRS). > Contact: Bernard Lopez, [email protected] to the presence of an average volume of 0.1% of and released as CO2 gas when the lava reaches 3. F. Gaillard et al., “Carbonatite melts and electrical “renewed” differentiation of leukemia Juliette Gray conductivity of the asthenosphere,” Science, 2008. 322: carbonatite melts, confirmed by the CO2 content the Earth’s surface. cells. Now, working on a mouse model 1. Pathologie et virologie moléculaire 1363-5. of mid-ocean ridge basalts. Various research areas have opened up in of the disease,2 de Thé’s team has (CNRS / Université Paris-VII). Using laboratory measurements conducted response to the findings, some offering sub- shown for the first time that retinoic 2. R. Nasr et al., “Eradication of acute promyelocytic leukemia-initiating cells on mantle components, the team demonstrated stantial environmental prospects. The discovery acid and arsenic trioxide also induce through PML-RARA degradation,” Nature the high conductivity of these carbonates, as advances clean energy by aiding the develop- complete disappearance of the small Medicine, 2008. 14: 1333-42. compared with other substances to which ment of carbonates like lithium carbonate to be subpopulation of stem cells respon- sible for the permanent production of h leukemia cells. The complete CONTACT Ol Doinyo Lengai (Mali) is eradication of leukemia stem cells is moléculaire et cellulaire “Radiobiologie © Photos: Laboratoire Hughes de Thé In a non-pathological situation, In the presence of AKT1 (green), the only volcano in the Université Paris-VII, Paris. due to the degradation of PML-RARA BRCA1 (red) is located in the BRCA1 (orange) is kept out of world to produce lava [email protected] in these cells. De Thé’s team was able cell nucleus. the nucleus (blue). containing liquid carbonates. Photos : Hannes Mattsson, ETH Zuric ETH © Photos : Hannes Mattsson, At the summit of Ol Doinyo Lengai, Nitric Arctic One third of all nitrates present in the Arctic are emitted into the atmosphere. By measuring the small explosions produce carbonatite- atmosphere in spring come from the melting of the isotopic composition of the atmospheric nitrate rich lava characterized by a very low viscosity. snow cover. This worrying news was published by a collected in the Canadian Arctic, researchers have team led by Samuel Morin,1 after quantification of a shown that it comes in a large proportion from the process already known, the “travelling” of nitrate “recycling” of nitrate from the Arctic pack ice. This around the planet. Nitrogen oxides produced by study once more demonstrates the need for a global natural phenomena like lightning and forest fires, approach when it comes to environmental but also by human activity, such as combustion and problems, due to the close links between the industrial activity, are rapidly oxidized to nitrate. climate system (ice and snow-covered surfaces, Incorporated into atmospheric particulate matter, temperatures, and solar radiation) and the presence

. Morin nitrate is transported by air currents towards distant of highly-reactive pollutants in the atmosphere CONTACT © S ecosystems, like the Arctic, where it is deposited (nitrogen oxides, ozone, and particulate matter). Instruments for chemical and Fabrice Gaillard meteorological measurements on onto the snow cover during autumn, winter, and 1. S. Morin, et al., Science, 2008. 322: 730-2. ISTO, Orléans. early spring. When the snow is exposed to solar [email protected] Arctic pack ice covered by snow > Contact: Samuel Morin, (Alert, Canada, Spring 2004). radiation, the nitrate turns into nitrogen oxides that [email protected]

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 16 LIVEFROMTHELABS On location Profile LIVEFROMTHELABS 17

GOCE MISSION CLAIRE VOISIN The Real Shape of Earth Artist of the Abstract

1 materials of different densities. The presence in The job of the GOCE mission, just launched one place of a magma reservoir at a depth of a few Making algebraic geometry speak “volumes,” Claire Voisin has become a reference for specialists of the by the European Space Agency (ESA), hundred meters, and in another of a sinking Hodge theory. But it is her work on Kodaira’s conjecture that won her the Clay Research award in 2008. is to measure the Earth’s gravity oceanic plate means that the density of the material beneath our feet varies, ery quickly, words no longer suffice. matics came easy to Voisin both at school where before she got a CNRS position, as being “hellish.” field at every point and with and with it the value of g. Claire Voisin goes to the board, eraser in she was already boning up on final year courses, “Joining CNRS saved my life!” she jokes. unrivalled accuracy. This Determining these hollows one hand, chalk in the other, and draws then at the École normale supérieure and while Becoming a full time researcher at the age of fundamental yet poorly and bumps–with differences Vgeometrical figures side by side with doing her PhD, she knows that for all intents 24, she could at last devote herself entirely to of up to a 100 meters–with complicated calculations. Voisin, a senior and purposes, she speaks a language that is algebraic geometry, the study of the properties known data will help the same precision all over researcher at the Institut de mathématiques de foreign to most ordinary people. It’s not easy to of sets defined by algebraic equation systems, determine the true shape the planet is no easy task. Jussieu1 in Paris is a specialist in alge- which is at the heart of the most abstract Indeed, local ground braic geometry. More specifically, she mathematics. “There is creative drive in of Earth. measurement can give the works on the study of the “topology of mathematics, it’s all about movement value of the gravity field complex algebraic varieties.” trying to express itself,” Voisin con- f Man first believed the Earth was with accuracy of one part To introduce her field, she sketches fides. Nothing to do with the “boring, flat, then round–we might be in in a billion, but for a large a sphere that she cuts up in three- dead, and dry” mathematics taught in for yet another surprise: its shape structure such as the dimensional triangles with curved secondary school, where the courses Iis actually that of a lumpy potato.2 Himalayas, it is necessary to edges, as if they had been shaped by the go through an endless series of “defi- There’s a hollow off South America, a have this type of high precision rounded surface. The result is that you nitions, properties, and theorems” using bump to the north of Australia, and on a very large scale. “The aim is can cover a sphere with triangles, which a method that is “always under con- various lumpy bits here and there. This also to unify international reference are themselves the “faces” of a pyra- trol, as if on tracks,” and which is distorted shape is invisible both to the Earth- systems so that, for example, the mid, for example. “Topologically speak- applied to “simple exercises in logic.” bound traveler and to the astronaut observing measurement of the altitude of a point ing,” Voisin explains, “a sphere and After her doctoral thesis, she the blue planet in its atmosphere–yet it plays means the same thing in Paris or the surface of a pyramid are therefore became fascinated by a tool that is well havoc with a host of measurements, for instance A Beijing,” adds Diament. To meet this identical–though saying something known to topology specialists, Hodge those of ocean currents or the movement of the © ES challenge, GOCE is well equipped: on board, like that is an absurdity from the point theory, which can also be used to tackle Earth’s crust. It is what makes the GOCE mission it carries a gradiometer, an instrument made up of view of algebraic geometry,” she complex algebraic geometry. Published so important. This satellite will remain in orbit of six ultra-precise accelerometers built by the immediately points out. According to in 2003, her book on the subject has for 20 months. It will measure the gravity field, On this virtual Earth, the regions where the French Aerospace Lab Onera,5 completed by a her, “this is also possible with an inner rapidly become a reference. She won a the cause of deformities, with the same precision gravity field is weakest are shown in blue, and GPS receiver. To preserve high resolution, GOCE tube that has one or more holes.” If number of prizes and awards, such as (one part in a million) all over the surface of the regions where it is strongest in red. was placed in a low orbit, at an altitude of 265 “triangulated,” the result is a skeleton the CNRS bronze (1988) and silver Earth, at a resolution of about a 100 km. exactly the same value all over the surface of kilometers. At this distance, friction with the made up of triangles stuck together (2006) medals, and the Clay Research Researchers from several CNRS labs3 are Earth: Mass is not equally distributed inside the residual atmosphere makes it constantly lose along their sides. A metric induced by Award (2008) from the Clay Mathe- getting ready to process the data and include planet, and every point on its surface is not altitude. The satellite therefore has to compensate the ambient space then gives rise to a matics Institute,2 for her work on them in their models. subjected to the same attractive force. for this by firing small ion thrusters. “This is a complex structure, hence to a Riemann Kodaira’s conjecture, another problem The quantity known as g (the acceleration To get a better picture of the variations of g top notch Earth observation satellite,” says Dia- surface, which turns out to be a purely in complex algebraic geometry. As an due to gravity) is what relates mass to weight, and at the Earth’s surface, scientists use an imaginary ment admiringly. In fact, it was thought up nearly algebraic object, a projective curve. And editor of several mathematical jour- gives the Earth its shape. And if our planet isn’t Earth called the “geoid.” It is important to note 30 years ago–in particular by Georges Balmino, in higher dimensions, the problem nals, she always keeps an eye on the a smooth sphere, it is because g doesn’t have that this lumpy image of our planet corresponds today a researcher at CNES who has at last seen becomes even more complex. To get development of her discipline. In her to the mean level the ocean would the fruits of his labor. from one figure to the other therefore private life, she is also a mother of five, The GOCE satellite (artist’s rendition), should be able to measure have at rest. “If the whole of the Earth Azar Khalatbari involves a mathematical trick, the pre- and her eldest daughter started studying the gravity field with unprecedented precision and resolution on were covered with water, its surface cise details of which are very difficult mathematics. “But her field is far a global scale. would be the same as that of the 1. Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer. to grasp for a non-specialist, involving removed from mine and that of my geoid,” explains Michel Diament, of www.esa.int/SPECIALS/GOCE/ such words as homeomorphism, husband–also a mathematician–so as IPGP.4 “This means ocean level 2. http://ganymede.ipgp.jussieu.fr/frog/objectifs.htm simplex, Riemann surface, transcen- to avoid any family ‘pressure,’” she 3. IPGP (CNRS / Universités Paris-VI and VII / Université extends beneath the continents and de la Réunion); Locean (CNRS / Université Paris-VI / dental functions, etc. But the general explains. “In any case,” she adds, “we is used as a reference for altitudes. MNHN / IRD); Observatoire de la côte d’Azur; Observatoire idea is clear: moving between the “topo- ebedinsky/CNRS Photothèque never talk maths at home!” Midi-Pyrénées. For instance, the Mont Blanc summit logical,” the “algebraic,” and “complex © C. L Charline Zeitoun 4.Institut de physique du globe de Paris (CNRS / is 4807 meters above the geoid.” So Universités Paris-VI and VII / Université de la Réunion). geometry,” the result is a”multiplicity of per- follow what she says. That’s true even for the 1. CNRS / Université Paris-VII. Voisin is currently seconded why do the world’s oceans at rest 5. Office national d’études et de recherches aérospatiales. spectives of one and the same object” using students studying for their Masters in mathe- to the Institut des hautes études scientifiques, in Bures-sur- show such hollows and bumps? The different mathematical approaches. “What’s matics, to whom she teaches a few courses a Yvette. 2. An American private foundation set up in 1999 whose answer lies in the entrails of the exciting about my work is this constant moving year, attempting to “explain these superb ideas.” aim is to promote mathematics. planet. “If the Earth was immobile CONTACTS back and forth several geometries and several Yet they often drop out, discouraged by the com- and made of just one material–i.e., if Institut de physique du globe de Paris (IPGP). types of tools to prove results in one field or plexity of the field. “It’s very frustrating not to be it was homogeneous–the geoid Michel Diament, another,” Voisin continues. able to get across all the things that mean so CONTACT [email protected] OES Medialab would be a sphere,” Diament says. She resembles the typical mathematician as much to me in my work and research,” says Claire Voisin, A “But our planet rotates, which gives Sébastien Deroussi, we often imagine them, with a particular ability Voisin regretfully. She remembers the six months IHES, Bures-sur-Yvette. it a flattened shape, and it is made of [email protected] for abstract thinking. In fact, though mathe- during which she was an assistant professor, [email protected] © ESA - © ESA

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

18 COVERSTORY COVERSTORY 19

THE ORIGINS OF A THEORY > 19 RESEARCH IN EVOLUTION > 23 150 YEARS ON, WHEN CONTROVERSY RAGES > 26 THE WORLD according to One of Darwin’s many collections of insects, which gave him the opportunity to carry out extremely detailed real-life observations.

DARWIN Darwin only published his theory of natural selection relatively late in life– when he was 50 and already an The Origins of a Theory internationally renowned naturalist.

s the surrealist Belgian writer Darwinian meaning of the term is currently the Louis Scutenaire humorously best conceptual framework that we have for a noted, “the death of celebrities is rational understanding of the instability of living always commemorated, but never organisms and for thinking about an essentially their birth.” Yet at least 2009 will dynamic natural world.” beA an opportunity to celebrate in truly worthy fashion the bicentennial of the birth of this giant THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES of modern science, Charles Robert Darwin. By OF EVOLUTION a fortunate coincidence, it will also be the 150th The explanation of the mechanisms of biological anniversary of the first edition of his seminal evolution formulated by Darwin and his George Richmond’s 1840 portrait work, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural successors is based on four fundamental of Charles Darwin, seen here not Selection. principles. The first, as Guillaume Lecointre, a as the bearded patriarch It is hardly surprising that there is so much team leader at SAE explains, is that “among immortalized for posterity, but as enthusiasm about Darwin today. His theory of individuals that recognize each other as potential a young and slim man. the evolution of species has been constantly sexual partners, there exist variations (physical, enriched, perfected, and fleshed out by genetic, in ability, etc.). Consequently, whatever y r a

r generations of researchers on the basis of a huge the cause of such variation, living species have b i The year 2009 marks both the bicentennial of Darwin’s birthday and the 150-year anniversary L

t

r amount of experimental work carried out both a natural ability to vary.” The second is that every A

n

a in the field and in the lab. What’s more, it now species can be selected for. Horticulturists, who

m of the first publication of his famous work On the Origin of Species. Throughout the year, e g

d appears to have no serious rivals. So just what for instance create new varieties of roses by i r B

e did Darwin state back in the mid-19th century? crossing older varieties, or dog breeders, who in

h the world will celebrate the English naturalist who revolutionized the story of life T

; Basically, that living organisms were constantly a mere 11,000 years have produced dachsunds m o c . evolving, due in particular to the phenomenon from wolves, know this only too well. “The a i l with his theories of evolution and natural selection. And this is a well-deserved tribute. o t

o of natural selection, which meant that within simple fact that humans can change the F / r e

p one species, the individuals that were best morphology of a species at will shows that it

m Indeed, his work laid the foundations for all the fundamental research carried out since then, u y J r r adapted to their environment reproduced in can be ‘molded,’ as it were, and that it has the a a r t b S i

L -

greater numbers than the others. But Darwin ability to be altered,” Lecointre points out. t X to establish the relationships between species and understand their evolution over r A D

- n

went further, inferring that all species (including The third principle is that all species repro- a v o m n e

o humans) descended from one or more common duce as long as they can find food resources g s millions of years. But this celebration also responds to a need to reassert a number d i m r a ancestors. This was in complete contradiction and optimum habitat conditions. They keep on B

S

e . h J

T -

with the traditional Christian view that prevailed reproducing so as to always reach the limits of ;

a of scientific facts, at a time when Darwin’s critics, led by the creationists, seem to be t i v h i l c

at the time, namely that all the different kinds these resources, or until they come up against e C r

t b e e

, of creatures that inhabited the planet were the other limits, like predation by other species. L / n i

making up lost ground. So just how did Darwin construct his theories? And how have they s e e v H i

work of divine creation, and were forever “There is therefore a natural capacity for over- . h c C r

A n

o unchanging and unrelated to each other. population that can be observed, for instance, s i

t developed since then? Which new avenues are his followers exploring in their labs? e a d r

1 t

For Hervé Le Guyader, director of the SAE when non-native species suddenly invade a e s u u l l R I

laboratory, “the theory of evolution in the closed environment such as an island,” © © CNRS International Magazine has been finding out. >

CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 20 COVERSTORY COVERSTORY 21

> continues Lecointre. The best example of arrived from the mainland to diverge and show Townsend, whose ideas in the matter were almost causes and laws of heredity, as well as the true variations within species and about speciation.8” morphology while the marginal one changes at this occurred in Australia when rabbits were variations that were probably connected to dif- entirely copied by Darwin.” Pichot points out nature of its material basis, were still unknown. a faster rate. As time passes, the marginal pop- first introduced. They went on to overrun the ferences in their ways of life and feeding habits. that the idea of selection was already around at Although his theory maintained that natural DARWIN’S DESCENDANTS ulation accumulates divergence. If it is successful, country destroying plants and crops. Yet the Over 20 years of work were to follow before the that time, and if it made Darwin so successful, selection was the main mechanism of evolu- Another modification of the theory of evolution it extends its territory and may replace the orig- planet is not dominated by a single hegemonic publication of On the Origin of Species. These it was because the timing was right: “The second tion, Darwin also believed that characters was provided by the so-called “neutral” model of inal population through interspecific competi- species, but, as Lecointre explains, “it is on the were two decades during which, according to half of the 19th century saw the triumph of eco- acquired during an organism’s existence could the Japanese geneticist Motoo Kimura. “Kimura tion, as happened with the trilobites (marine contrary populated by millions of species living Michel Veuille, from EPHE,3 Darwin “wrote to nomic liberalism,5 and Darwin’s ideas lent great be handed down to its offspring. believes that most changes observed between arthropods) during the Paleozoic era. “This in coexistence, despite the natural capacity for correspondents from all over the world, ques- weight to this notion by giving it a natural basis.” “Darwin’s theory of natural selection plunged the genomes of various species are due to chance, would explain why, in an unbroken sedimentary overpopulation that each of them has. So each tioned them, asked them for statistics, found out Pichot’s interpretation makes Darwinists into obscurity after his death in 1882,” says which imperceptibly alters the frequency of vari- sequence, a species that has been stable for species acts as a limit for the others, by occupying about the taxonomy of the species he observed, see red. “Darwin’s innovative idea wasn’t so Veuille. After the rediscovery of Mendel’s laws ations from one generation to the next, rather several million years is suddenly replaced by their space, by exploiting them (predation and and took this into account in his analysis. It is as much natural selection as descent with modif- on hereditary transmission6 in 1900, a new than to natural selection, whose existence he another species related to it,” Lecointre explains. parasitism), or by sharing the same resources. if he already realized that the study of adaptations ication, in other words the fact that species have science, “population genetics,” was to rediscover nonetheless recognizes,” Veuille explains. Over Working with Richard Lewontin, Gould sub- In short, the other species all act as constraints needed to rely on the principle that species a history and are related,” Le Guyader points the importance of the notion of natural selection. the last few decades, many other researchers sequently corrected the overly optimistic view of that play a role as selective agents.” descend from common ancestors.” out. The now famous meeting organized in June The mathematical models7 proposed by Fisher, have added weight to the synthetic theory of the synthetic theory. Gould and Lewontin pointed The fourth and last principle is that the While many Darwinists consider the 1859 1860 in Oxford by Bishop Samuel Wilberforce Haldane, and Wright were accepted by the evolution and helped refine it, starting with the out that variants with a selective disadvantage success of a species’ growth and reproduction publication of On the Origin of Species the key concerned this point. Wilberforce, attacking the scientific community in 1932. It was only then paleontologists Stephen Jay Gould and Niles continue to appear all the time, which led depends on optimum conditions, both physical scientific event that raised biology to the status Darwinist Thomas Huxley, asked him if it was that researchers were able to turn population Eldredge. Their new model, the “punctuated evolutionary scientists to put into perspective (temperature, humidity, sunshine, etc.) and chem- of a historical science, the epistemologist André “on his grandfather’s or grandmother’s side that genetics into a practical discipline. equilibrium,” explained why in the fossil record, their impression that nature was a perfect con- ical (pH, odor molecules, toxins, etc.). “These factors Pichot, from LPHS,4 minimizes the importance [he] claimed descent from an ape,” and received The years 1940-70 saw the merging of pop- species seem to happen in spurts interspersed struct,” Lecointre explains. “Furthermore, they all act as constraining factors,” says Lecointre. “If of Darwin in the history of science. For him, the no less famous reply: “Better to descend ulation genetics with zoology, botany, and pale- with long periods of stagnation. During an event show that certain structures that could be deemed they change, the genetic variants2 that carry a “Darwinism in 1859 scarcely consisted of from an ape than from a man who uses his ontology, which had hitherto ignored each other, of population separation, a small group of as a handicap (like the fact that spotted hyenas selective advantage won’t be the same.” anything more than natural selection. But that great gifts to obscure the truth.” giving rise to the “synthetic theory of evolution.” “marginal” organisms becomes cut off from its give birth through the clitoris, which results in So there are a host of factors, within the wasn’t really a novel idea in the mid-19th century. As Lecointre explains, “its instigators attempted original population when it occupies a new envi- death for some of the newborns) are in fact physical, chemical, and biological environment The concept can be found, for instance, in 1813 GENETICS TO THE RESCUE to unravel the mechanisms that gave rise to bio- ronment. The original population is stable in biologically connected to other structures which a species inhabits, that lead to natural selection in the work of William Darwin’s theory, while diversity, using the mechanisms in each generation, resulting in “differential Charles Wells, and then upsetting the traditional described by population reproductive success.” Put into plain language, in 1831 in that of Patrick Christian view of the genetics enriched by what this means that within the same species, Matthew, who accused world, suffered from a naturalists had discovered individuals that carry a heritable variation that Darwin of plagiarism. We major handicap: the about natural geographical is temporarily advantageous in the conditions of also know that Alfred the environment at that time will produce more Russel Wallace had devel- offspring. “If those conditions are maintained for oped a similar version at long enough,” Lecointre adds, “the variant with the same time as Darwin. DARWIN’S JOURNEY During his stay in the Galápagos, Darwin set out to a selective advantage will end up having a And we shouldn’t forget study a dozen separate species of Passerine birds frequency of 100% in the population. The species the minister, geologist and which were to become famous under the name “Darwin’s finches.” s

will then have changed.” The outcome is that no political scientist Joseph e v i h c

species is stable over time. r A

s

provide decisive advantages (in this case, the e d

e aggressiveness of females), which is why these u R

DARWIN’S FORERUNNERS / C Although it fell to Darwin to put forward two structures are maintained.” Y N

In September 1835, n o i big ideas–descent with modification and the key Darwin was able to Another key stage in the ever-increasing t c e

Plymouth l l

role of natural selection in the adaptation of living observe giant tortoises Departure: Dec. 27th, 1831 sophistication of the synthetic o C

Return: Oct. 2nd, 1836 r

and turtles in the e

organisms, and therefore in evolution–they were theory was the method developed g n

volcanic Galápagos a r

not purely incidental. The ground had been pre- in the 1950s by the German ento- G

Islands on the equator. The Azores e h T pared by, among others, the French naturalist mologist Willi Hennig for recon- ;

y r a

Jean-Baptiste de Monet, better known as Chevalier structing the evolutionary his- r b i L

t

de Lamarck, and the Scottish geologist Charles tory of species–i.e., identifying r A

n

Lyell. Indeed, the first volume of Lyell’s Principles their degree of kinship and a m

Cape Verde Islands e of Geology traveled with the young Darwin when constructing the tree of life–and g d i r B

he set sail from Plymouth in late 1831 on a voy- Galápagos Islands its associated classifications–as e h

(Sept. 16th-Oct. 20th, 1835) T

t

age round the world on board the famous Bea- well as its computerized appli- e

, S

gle. This was to be a very long voyage of explo- Cocos Islands cations from the 1970s onwards. R Bahia N C

Fish, lizards, iguanas, etc.: Darwin

ration of natural history, during which Darwin This total shake up of taxonomy u Jean-Baptiste de Monet, d

Tahiti Callao described the “eminently curious” l a n

landed on the Galápagos Islands, home to giant Chevalier de Lamarck, Mauritius island (the science of the classification r

natural history of the fauna that u o J tortoises, iguanas, fur seals, and above all, the well- helped introduce the Rio de Janeiro Réunion Island inhabited the Galápagos Islands. of organisms), later coupled with e l

(April 4th-July 5th 1832) idea of evolution into the (April 29th - May 9th 1836) r u

known finches. Although their morphologies Valparaíso the large-scale sequencing of o p

scientific thinking of the

(July 23rd, 1834) n Montevideo Cape of Good Hope i showed striking similarities, they differed in var- early 19th century. There King George genomes, made it possible to “place on the same e H

Sound . Puerto Deseado Sydney C ious details, such as the shape and size of their appears to be an obvious Darwin’s voyage round the world ‘tree of life’ and at the same time fungi, bacte- : (Jan. 1836) Bay of Islands e i

beaks, from island to island. Darwin realized connection between his on board the Beagle lasted five ria, animals, etc., whereas until then we were only h p a ideas and those of years, from December 1831 to Falkland Islands (March 1833-March 1834) Hobart r Falkland Islands g

that the isolation of the finches on the different able to classify vertebrates and plants relative o f n

Darwin. October 1836. I islands had caused the single species that had to one another,” says Le Guyader. > © Source : Darwin et la science de l’évolution, P. Tort, Découvertes Gallimard, 2000

CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 22 COVERSTORY COVERSTORY 23

Comparing the nervous system of development, the study of their distribution from other individuals in a population. 3. Ecole pratique des hautes études. Research Network Research in Evolution jellyfish with the more complex within the animal world, and their comparison. Génomique des populations et génomique évolutive. systems of other animals helps us This should help to better interpret organ understand how this cellular network 4. Laboratoire de philosophie et d’histoire des developed during evolution. similarities between large groups of animals. sciences–Archives Henri Poincaré (CNRS / Université t is no surprise that scientists from every dis- at ISEM. “Evolution can be studied at different As Le Guyader points out, “Darwin would have Nancy-II). cipline are still unable to explain all the levels of organization,” he explains. “It can be 5. The economic liberalism that established itself in 19th been delighted with this encounter between century Victorian England lent weight to the idea that free facts of evolution. How could it be studied on the scale of ecosystems, of species, of embryology (in which he was very interested) competition between companies and freedom of work and otherwise, given that only a few decades organisms, or of genomes, which is what I do. trade should not be hindered. and genetics, which thrusts development and 6. Formulated by Johann Mendel, who as a monk was have gone by since the discovery of DNA I ‘watch sequences of DNA evolve,’ both within its associated genes into an evolutionary known as Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), these laws stated Iand the fundamental molecular mechanisms current populations and between species that are framework.” that genes (whose existence Mendel knew nothing about) of life. Yet facing the complexity of the task, very far apart, such as bacteria and mammals, from each parent contribute in equal share to the offspring. All these areas of research show that the 7. These models showed that genes with a small selective researchers are using all the means at their dis- knowing that certain genes–like those that reg- pioneering ideas of the great English naturalist advantage could reach a frequency of 100% in the posal to unravel the events set off 2.5 billion ulate the transcription of DNA into RNA and the were greatly enriched throughout the 20th population. years ago. “Such questions form one of the most translation of RNA into proteins–are common 8. Differentiation of species during the course of evolution.

i century. “Today, evolutionary specialists can play far-reaching and exciting scientific fields. to all living organisms.” This is the art of making r 9. Professor of biology at the University of Paris-VI and o i

h Ecole Normale Supérieure. Laboratoire Régulation de

C with a wide range of models and mechanisms Moreover, beyond its academic and practical genes “talk,” to decipher the relationships that

.

R l’expression génétique (CNRS / École normale supérieure to explain evolutionary phenomena,” says Michel interest, studying evolution provides us with unite all living things and to reconstruct the © Paris). Morange.9 “Their objective isn’t to prove Darwin’s the keys we need to forecast the impact of current evolutionary history of species. > THE CONTRIBUTION OF theory wrong,” but rather to test the different global change on organisms and ecosystems,” However, why is it that the genomes of some CONTACTS EMBRYOLOGY models derived from his theory. says Jean-Christophe Auffray, director of ISEM1 species (human, for instance) evolve at a slower The latest boost to the theory of evolution has Philippe Testard-Vaillant Hervé Le Guyader, [email protected] in Montpellier. pace than others (like the fruit fly)? Nobody been provided by the rapid development of Guillaume Lecointre, [email protected] knows. Such a differential evolution rate between Michel Veuille, [email protected] evolutionary developmental biology–informally 1. Laboratoire Systématique, adaptation, évolution (CNRS / ON THE TRAIL OF BIODIVERSITY species remains largely unexplained. “Several Université Paris-VI / MNHN / IRD / École normale André Pichot, [email protected] known as “evo-devo”–a discipline focused on supérieure Paris). Trying to understand how biodiversity emerges possibilities are beginning to emerge,” Galtier Michel Morange, [email protected] the identification of the genes behind embryonic 2. Variants are individuals that carry a different genotype and maintains itself is Nicolas Galtier’s specialty explains, “involving various parameters such as the spontaneous appearance of genetic changes

from one generation to another, the efficiency of n o r o

repair of damaged DNA, the average life span of J

. M a generation of organisms, or even the ability of A DANGEROUS CRUSADE © Coelacanths different species to eliminate deleterious– AGAINST DARWIN Phylogenetecists usually These images show mimicry classify living organisms into disadvantageous–mutations.” between different species of “I’m not a knight in shining armor fighting creationism, “trees,” whose branches reveal Working on the methods and mechanisms butterfly that are genetically Lungfish although the subject does need to be addressed,” the relationships between of evolution can also entail studying mimicry, as relatively far apart. Sarcopterygians groups of species. They divide does Mathieu Joron, from answers Pascal Picq, paleoanthropologist at the into more and more branches as Collège de France, slightly irritated that he has once the OSEB laboratory.2 This Gymnophiones organisms evolve and new more been asked to comment on the harm caused by species appear. adaptive phenomenon the crusade currently waged by fundamentalist The part of the tree of life causes species that are .

Lissamphibians 6 shown here contains the 0 evangelical circles in the US. 0 genetically very far apart to 2

Urodeles Rhipidistians sarcopterygians, which include , n i “These Churches, which teach that the Universe and l resemble each other e B Batrachians s morphologically. “I have

the Earth were created by a god around 6000 years ago, n o i t i

are constantly gaining ground, and their goal is nothing d shown that, for the tropi- Anurans E

, t

e cal butterfly Heliconius

less than to establish a theocracy,” he explains. s s Primates i V

numata, variation in wing e e

“Europe is vulnerable. The revival of creationism that u u q

Tetrapods q è i h

n color is controlled by a sin- t we’re seeing today is a real threat to secularism and Mammals i o t m o Homininnss o

gle locus (a precise spot on h D

democracy.” P .

l l i S

,

a chromosome),” he says, R Another current of thought which has a knack for r e N d C / a y

“whereas for other closely n

Chelonians i

making evolutionary scientists angry is that of u r r G e

P e related species, variation in

. “Intelligent Design,” a neo-creationist belief that claims L

Amniotes E .

: H

the same trait is controlled , to be a science and states that certain evolutionary s e o r t

mammals and therefore t o n i

Squamates by four or five loci located h

facts (such as the formation of complex structural and o P

humans. It was Darwin who c e ©

L on different chromosomes,

functional features like the eye) can never be explained Sauropsids Lepidosaurians first suggested classifying . G

, living organisms t and involves more genes. I am attempting to The insectarium at

by science, and that we should therefore seek non- n a v Sphenodonts genealogically. However, there i ISEM, where v understand the evolutionary aspects of these natural causes for their appearance. “Intelligent Design u

are as many different trees as d thousands of

invokes the existence of a ‘superior intelligence’ to e differences in ‘genetic architecture.’” u

there are ways of analyzing q mosquitoes are bred i t

explain the incredible diversity of life,” Picq explains. é characters that are common to n and available at

Diapsids é

THE PLACE OF Birds g o So, what can be done to fight off the onslaught of species. l NEW DISCOVERIES IN THE LABS... different stages in y h p

. Uncovering the secrets of the evolution of living their life cycle. This

creationism and Intelligent Design? Most suggest the HUMANS IN THE t n e o i s

t is a valuable tool, s i a organisms also means finding out its impact

reestablishment of the fundamental concepts of c V i Archosaurians f . TREE OF LIFE Crocodilians i especially for studying the D s

s on biodiversity. To tackle this issue, the ecologist :

evolution in school curriculums as a starting point. a l s mechanisms that enable common c n

o a

i Nicolas Mouquet, who works at ISEM, has been t P.T.-V. L mosquitoes to acquire resistance

a : r

t e s working with the bacterium Pseudomonas flu- c to insecticides. u

CONTACT: Pascal Picq, [email protected] r l l u I

o © S orescens. The experiment he carried out >

CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009

Hom ini 24 COVERSTORY COVERSTORY 25

evolve, sometimes on just one single substrate, sometimes on one substrate and then on another, Around hydrothermal vents, organisms live POLLUTION’S IMPACT and sometimes in an environment containing in symbiosis with ON EVOLUTION a combination of these substrates,” explains bacteria, forming a Isabelle Olivieri, who leads the experiment. The completely novel What is the impact of air pollutants from aim is to test the predictions of the mathemat- ecosystem. road traffic on female fertility and, therefore ical models that describe the processes of adap- eventually, on the evolution of the human tation and specialization according to the species? A study, dubbed Atmos-Fer heterogeneity of the environment. They will be (Atmospheric Pollution and Human able to tweak the parameters of these models to Fertility), in which CNRS researcher Lyliane better understand the mechanisms of what is Rosetta is taking part,1should help shed known as “adaptive speciation,” especially in a more light on the question. A thousand context of increasingly fragmented habitats. French women aged 18-44 not using e u

q “The results obtained until now show that, even

è contraception and attempting to become h t o t after 400 generations on one single host plant, pregnant took part in the survey. “We asked o h P the populations still exhibit a very large genetic e

S the women to send us urine samples u R q N diversity, enabling them to adapt to new è h C collected every other day during a t / o n i t r r environments,” Olivieri says. “This evolutionary o e h complete menstrual cycle,” Rosetta P P

. S E potential enables them to live on new host plants.

R explains. “We are currently determining :

N s C o /

t Eventually, we would like to discover the genes

e the hormonal profiles of estradiol (a o é h n i P involved in this process. In particular, we wish

m hormone secreted in large amounts just © e h

to determine to what extent adaptive mechanisms C before ovulation) and progesterone . L - .

are repeated. Is a given specialization process J (secreted after ovulation) in the biological © always genetically performed in the same way, samples.” The same women were also or do the genes recruited differ from one ecosystems live in symbiosis with bacteria, which asked to provide a sample of hair to population to another for the same selective means that the animal-microbial pair makes up determine the quantity of pollutants it environment?” the key component on which selection acts. In contained. The aim is to find out whether By following the diversification of the other words, selection acts on the pair, and not the cycles of these women were disturbed,

bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens for y r a l

over 500 generations, researchers have ... AND IN THE FIELD just on one of the two members of the couple,” a and if so, to what extent this anomaly could H

. S

revealed a connection between the To study the evolutionary mechanisms that led Le Guyader explains. “In addition, we realized

: be linked to air pollution in their immediate

s

complexity of the environment and the o to current biodiversity, Hervé Le Guyader, back that the mussels in these environments are t

o environment. biological diversity that can take place h P at SAE, is scouring the sea floor. It provides related to coastal mussels. Our hypothesis is In terms of evolution, Rosetta says, there is there through evolution. © food and shelter for an extraordinary fauna that that ‘sunken wood’ (torn out trees sent down to Above, bottom: gill filaments of a hydrothermal every reason to think that “if air pollution live around hydrothermal vents or get their the ocean floor during hurricanes) could have vent mussel, where it is possible to make out does affect, and actually decreases the > together with Patrick Venail, Thierry Bouvier, mites (which feed on plants). Populations of energy supply from organic matter that trickles been a colonization vector for surface organ- the cells containing its symbiotic bacteria. Top: overall pregnancy rate, more fertile women and Michael Hochberg “consisted in creating Tetranychus urticae mites are placed in down from the surface (the dead bodies of large isms which over thousands of years adapted, 3D view of a detail of this image. will have a distinct advantage over less in the laboratory, using plastic micro-culture environments containing different host plants cetaceans, for example). “We have discovered some of them to whale carcasses, others to fertile ones, for whom it will be harder to plates, various environments made up of several (cucumber, tomato). “We let each population that the organisms found in these deep hydrothermal vents.” Le Guyader also works in the mother? Does this process play a role in the reproduce.” The definitive results are sources of carbon3–based on glucose, fructose, the field of “evo-devo,”–i.e., connected to the dynamics of emerging diseases? We are expected to be available in 2010. amino acids, etc. We put bacteria that were genetics of development. He is comparing combining various approaches to tackle these P.T.-V. strictly genetically identical into each of the 96 sponges, which lack a nervous system, with both questions, from modeling to experiments in the 1. Laboratoire Dynamique de l’évolution humaine: wells of the micro plates, and we left them evolve LACTASE EVOLUTION jellyfish, which have a simple nervous system, field and in the lab.” individus, populations, espèces (CNRS). freely for over 500 generations (i.e., around 50 and mammals, which possess a complex nervous Contact: Lyliane Rosetta, days), at the same time moving a small fraction If there’s one example that shows that cultural differences can lead to biological alterations and affect system, to try to understand the evolutionary 100% VIRTUAL ORGANISMS [email protected] of them from one well to another.” And what the genetic diversity of Homo sapiens, it is that of lactase, an intestinal enzyme that makes it possible origin and the function of the genes specialized But why not create entirely virtual organisms were the results? The effect of this cocktail, to digest the lactose (a sugar needed for children’s growth) present in milk. “This enzyme,” explains in the organization of neurons. from scratch using computer programs, and which combined spatial heterogeneity of avail- Évelyne Heyer, from MNHN,1 “is generally inactivated in mammals after weaning, which makes them Meanwhile, over at CEFE,4 scientists are observe “live” all the events that take place during able resources and dispersion, accelerated the unable to digest milk when they become adults. “However, in certain human populations, especially in working on evolutionary ecology, focusing on the their evolution? This is the exciting idea that The effect of air diversification of the genotypes of the Northern Europe (Sweden) and in East Africa (the Tutsis), a high proportion of adults (as many as 90%) interactions between genes, individuals, Guillaume Beslon is trying out at LIRIS5 and quality on human Pseudomonas fluorescens communities and have active lactase.” So what do these groups have in common? All of them are made up of herdsmen populations, and variations in their environment. IXXI.6 Whereas phylogeny reconstructs reproduction is of or descendants of herdsmen, and milk has played a major role in their diet for several thousand years. increasing interest boosted their ability to create biomass. “This Thierry Boulinier is endeavoring to understand “retroactively” the stages of evolution of real to scientists. work shows that there exists a positive relation- Heyer explains that “when these populations began to drink large quantities of fresh milk, individuals a peculiar adaptive process observed on an arctic species that have survived until today or that ship between the complexity of the environment who were able to digest it possessed a selective advantage (better absorption of calcium, better bird, the black-legged kittiwakes. The females of have left fossil remains, “we do just the opposite,” and the biological diversity that can emerge resistance to dehydration, etc.). The tools of population genetics even enable us to date the moment these birds pass on to their chicks, via the yolk Beslon explains. “Instead of looking back to the from it through evolution,” explains Mouquet. when this mutation began to increase in frequency.” The European mutation’s age is estimated to be of their eggs, antibodies against a bacterium past, we follow over thousands of generations the It also indirectly shows that the increasingly approximately 8000-9000 years old, dates which are consistent with what archeology tells us about the transmitted by a tick to which the chicks are evolution of artificial organisms, each one m o

domestication of livestock. c

uniform terrestrial ecosystems resulting from likely to be exposed. “This adaptive process raises possessing simplified virtual DNA based on . a i l o human activity could eventually reduce life’s P.T.-V. a lot of questions,” explains Boulinier. “Does bacteria, which we bring together as populations. t o F / y

ability to diversify. the ability to transmit antibodies vary among By introducing biologically plausible mutation o 1. Groupe Eco-Anthropologie et Ethnobiologie (MNHN / CNRS / Université Paris-VII). t s l o T Another “experimental evolution” assay is females? Are the chicks effectively protected and selection mechanisms, we can observe the CONTACT: Évelyne Heyer, [email protected] . M

being carried out at ISEM on phytophagous against the parasites? Is the investment costly for ‘real’ evolution of artificial organisms!” > ©

CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 26 COVERSTORY COVERSTORY 27

FOR FURTHER > This makes it possible to monitor all When Controversy “behavior in animal and human societies the events the organisms undergo during an is in the final analysis governed, more INFORMATION experiment, including those that phylogeny or less directly, by specific genes retained BOOKS would have lost track of. “In fact, although Rages by natural selection.” > The Origin of Individuals, Jean-Jacques we produce all the mutation algorithms, they Another even more distant cousin of Kupiec (Hackensack: World Scientific occur at random. We don’t decide ourselves in sociobiology, to which it is even totally Publishing, 2009). which part of the genome they will occur, nor number of evolutionary theo- Nonetheless, according to opposed on certain points, is memet- A picture that > Ecology and Evolution of pokes fun at when,” points out Carole Knibbe, a bioinfor- ries have attempted to apply Dominique Guillo, from ics, which emerged from the work of Parasitism, Frédéric Thomas, Jean- 2 the theory of matics scientist working on this project. Darwinism to human societies. GEMAS, whatever the truth of the English ethologist Richard Dawkins. François Guégan and François Researchers have already obtained unexpected Born in the ferment of debate the matter, the social sciences, evolution, by This line of thinking, which has many the cartoonist Renaud (Oxford: Oxford University results. For instance, they were surprised to between the life sciences and after having been initially closely Benjamin followers in the US, applies the evolu- Press, 2009). observe that the frequency of spontaneous theA social sciences in the second half of the 19th connected to biology and its off- Rabier at the tionary mechanisms modeled by Dar- > The Pure Society: from Darwin to Hitler, beginning of mutations has a strong influence on the size century, the proponents of “social Darwinism”– shoots, progressively severed their winism to human societies, but solely as André Pichot (London / New York: Verso of the evolved genomes.” In particular, we which sees human society as an animal species links with the life sciences and the 20th an analogy. For Dawkins, Guillo explains, century: Apes Books, 2009). have discovered a connection between the whose “health” requires the elimination of the became an independent disci- “there exist basic ideas–he calls them descend from > Behavioural Ecology, An proportion of non-coding sequences7 in a most unproductive individuals, such as pline at the beginning of the 20th memes–that are specific to each cul- humans! Evolutionary Perspective on genome and the mutation rate it undergoes,” criminals, alcoholics, the disabled, etc.–are a century. Admittedly, social, ture: the idea of God, a song, a certain Behaviour, Etienne Danchin, the scientists explain. A result that could help source of endless controversy. At issue is the eugenic, racist, and imperialist way of cooking, etc. These memes work Luc-Alain Giraldeau, and Frank us better understand the role of such non- exact role played by Darwin’s ideas in the emer- ideas derived from Darwinism like genes. They jump from one brain

I Cézilly (Oxford: Oxford University C C

coding DNA in in vivo evolutionary gence of detestable ideologies like eugenics, continued to proliferate, acting / to another, spreading out through pop-

s Press, 2008). e v phenomena. which calls for “artificial selection” of human for example as a source of inspi- i ulations and multiplying, competing h c

r > The Tree of Life, A This is only some of the research currently beings. The philosopher Patrick Tort, the ration for the horrors of Nazism. with each other to ‘colonize’ the maxi- s

e Guillaume Lecointre and d

carried out to shed some light on the founder and director of the international But for many decades, “on the e mum number of brains. They mutate u Hervé Le Guyader R

1

development of evolutionary mechanisms. Charles Darwin Institute and a tireless whole, academic sociology and © when someone introduces a technical (Cambridge: Belknap Research that agrees with the words of the defender of Darwin, categorically denies that anthropology kept their distance innovation in an industrial process, or Harvard University Press, Russian-American geneticist Theodosius the British naturalist had anything to do with from biology, hiding behind the invents a new style of clothing, etc. Such 2006). Dobzhansky (1900-1975): “Nothing in biology the emergence of such ideas (see box below). principle of an insurmountable barrier between human social and cultural phenomena: moral mutations can either disappear rapidly (as in > Charles Darwin. The Scholar who makes sense except in the light of evolution.” André Pichot, however, is far less charitable nature and culture,” Guillo explains. codes, religion, the division of labor between the case of fashions), or establish themselves changed Human History, Patrick Tort Philippe Testard-Vaillant to Darwin and begs to disagree. “Darwin was men and women, etc.,” says Guillo. For Wilson, long-lastingly (such as the meme of the idea of (London: Thames & Hudson, 2001). American 1. Institut des sciences de l’évolution de Montpellier neither more nor less racist, sexist, or a FROM NATURE TO CULTURE social norms, such as the avoidance of incest, are God).” In other words, memes, like genes, edition: Darwin and the Science of Evolution, (CNRS / Université de Montpellier-II). supporter of slavery than his contemporaries,” This separation was questioned in the mid- the biological tendencies rooted in genes that undergo a process of selection. In memetics, Patrick Tort (New York: Abrams, 2001). 2. Origine, structure et évolution de la biodiversité Pichot claims. “But Darwinism gave rise to all 1970s by neo-Darwinian theories of culture, were probably selected for in our ancestors, Guillo points out, “human culture therefore (CNRS / MNHN). 3. Carbon is at the root of metabolism in bacteria. sorts of sociological and political theories that especially as propounded by the American throughout prehistory, for the advantages they appears to be disconnected from biological 4. Centre d’écologie fonctionnelle et évolutive (CNRS / made competition, war, and mass slaughter the entomologist Edward O. Wilson, whose conferred. evolution, the evolution of genes.” Universités Montpellier-I, II, and III / Ensa Montpellier/ explanatory principles of societies and their Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, triggered The reductionist determinism formulated At the junction between the two aforemen- to sit on the fence by seeking to estimate the Cirad / École pratique des hautes études). 5. Laboratoire d’informatique en images et systèmes evolution. You only have to read what was tremendous controversy in western intellectual by human sociobiology gave rise to another, tioned theories, another neo-Darwinian model respective influence of biological and cultural d’information (CNRS / Insa Lyon / Universités Lyon-I being written before and during the First World circles. In its most radical version, apparently “softer” version: evolutionary of culture, “gene-culture co-evolution,” attempts factors in human evolution. “This tendency and II / École centrale de Lyon). 6. Institut Rhône-Alpin des systèmes complexes. Its War, right up to the 1930s! Darwin never sociobiology’s reasoning can be boiled down psychology. The instigators of this ideology admit reviews the various scenarios,” says Guillo, “from partners include CNRS, INRIA, IRD, ENS Lyon, Insa protested against the eugenic and racist ideas to one simple and very succinct proposition: that things do get a bit complicated with regard At the end of the 19th century, for the the recognition that genetic factors are involved Lyon, Université Joseph Fourier, and many others. of his cousin Galton. And his own son, Major Much social behavior is governed by genetic to the human species, where it isn’t possible to in some human practices, to situations in which 7. DNA sequences that do not code for proteins. supporters of social Darwinism, “human zoos” Leonard Darwin, was for years the chairman mechanisms and by the principle of natural disregard the complexity of cerebral mechanisms justified the cultural evolution is totally inde- of the International Federation of Eugenics selection, not only in animals, but also in and the importance of cultural and social distinction pendent of genes.” For the American Organizations.” The issue looks set to remain humans. “Wilson sought to adapt the foun- transmission. But the basic principle remains the between anthropologist William H. Durham, “primitive” controversial. dations of Darwinian logic to a whole series of same. “For these theoreticians,” Guillo insists, and cannibalism, which is given great cul- “civilized” tural value by the Fore people of New races. Guinea for the warlike virtues that can be obtained from an enemy killed CONTACTS RACISM: DARWIN CLEARED in combat, illustrates this latter point, Jean-Christophe Auffray [email protected] Was Darwin a racist? Can his fought racism as a result of family Species was first published in the triumph of the ‘deserving,’ as irrevocably dismissed Galton’s since such practices probably ended Nicolas Galtier, theory of evolution be accused of tradition, personal outrage after 1859. So as not to damage the well as the refusal to help the poor.” eugenics in Chapter 5 of ‘The up triggering the appearance of a lethal [email protected] bolstering the racist visiting Brazil, and because of his chances of his ideas being During the same period, Darwin’s Descent of Man,’” says Tort. neurophysiological disease called Matthieu Joron, [email protected] undercurrents that would lead to own theoretical convictions.” accepted, “Darwin refused to young cousin, Francis Galton, “Which is why it is necessary,” Tort kuru, which is a variant of mad cow y r a

Nicolas Mouquet the horrors witnessed during the Was the British naturalist such a make any public statements on invented eugenics. concludes, “to finalize the r disease. b i

[email protected] L

t Philippe Testard-Vaillant 20th century? For the philosopher convinced opponent of slavery? the subject of humans for over a Referring to Darwin, both Spencer’s unexpurgated French translation of r A Isabelle Olivieri n Patrick Tort, the answer is Yes, he was, “absolutely and decade. And yet it was precisely and Galton’s theories “converged” this work. This is currently being a 1. www.darwinisme.org

[email protected] m e

g 2. Groupe d’étude des méthodes de l’analyse

certainly no. “Racism glorifies the constantly,” says Tort. To all those during those ten years that the towards the principle of the undertaken by the Slatkine d i Thierry Boulinier, r

B sociologique (CNRS / Université Paris-IV).

[email protected] inherent qualities of the ‘race’ and who maintain that Darwin was at English philosopher Herbert necessary elimination of the weak. publishing house.” e h T / n Guillaume Beslon condemns mixed marriages, the root of the obnoxious Spencer developed his ‘system of “Yet Darwin saw the protection of P.T.-V. i r r e

[email protected] P CONTACT which is totally opposed to distortions of his theory, Tort synthetic philosophy,’ which led the poor as an indication of the CONTACT: Patrick Tort, . R

Carole Knibbe Darwin’s ideas,” he says. Darwin reminds us that The Origin of to a social theory that celebrated degree of ‘civilization,’ and [email protected] © Dominique Guillo, [email protected] [email protected]

CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n°13April 2009

28 INIMAGES INIMAGES 29

3 He studied several Amazon tribes, including the Nambikwara. Unusually for South American Indians–who invented the hammock–members of this tribe

vi-Strauss/Éditions PLON vi-Strauss/Éditions PLON sleep on the ground. e 3 4 e © L © L 4 Among the Nambikwara, the men take care of their bodies just ETHNOLOGY as much as the women.

5 The “mariddo,” a Bororo Indian dance, was performed The Century of during a complex funeral rite that also included a ritual hunt.

6 The village of Nalike in the Serra Bodequana was the capital of the region of the Caduveo CLAUDE Indians. Claude Lévi-Strauss made two documentaries about it, filmed in 1935. vi-Strauss/Musée du quai Branly e 5

© C. L 7 Lévi-Strauss and Dina, his first LÉVI-STRAUSS wife, in their camp in Amazonia. They had both graduated in philosophy and she actively participated in the ethnographic Claude Lévi-Strauss celebrated his research trips. centennial on November 28, 2008. This 8 For Lévi-Strauss, the renowned anthropologist, a tireless social Bororo Indians formed a theorist and founding father of “knowledge-based” and extremely hierarchical

structuralism, has had considerable vi-Strauss/Musée du quai Branly

e society. It was divided into influence on contemporary thought. two rival “moieties,” the Cera and the Tugare, each of which 6 7 8 was subdivided into four © Photos : C. L hierarchical clans. Here, a Cera wears a ceremonial dress. 9

hose who have crossed his path have never Lévi-Strauss, a professor at the Collège 9 This hairpin, 62 centimeters in run out of praise: “a man with an excep- de France, the author of more than 20 books, length, made from a twig to which tional flair for ethnology,” “a lively, modest including the famous Tristes tropiques (1955), La large red and blue ara feathers are Tpersonality, with a great sense of humor,” pensée sauvage (1962, The Savage Mind, 1966), attached, was brought back from “the author of one of the greatest contributions to and Mythologiques I-IV (from 1964 to 1971), and Amazonia by Lévi-Strauss. It is

20th century French thought.” Winner of the CNRS founder in 1960 of the Laboratory for Social . Gries/Musée du quai Branly part of the Lévi-Strauss collection

2 © P gold medal in 1967, he has made throughout his Anthropology is best known for having introduced at the Paris Quai Branly museum, career an indelible mark on ethnology and structuralism, a method borrowed from linguistics, which includes 1478 items. 1 Claude Lévi-Strauss anthropology. “His body of work has fertilized into the field of anthropology. Social phenomena was born in Brussels in major studies in the human such as kinship systems or myths 10 While in exile in New York 1908. After studying in sciences–those of Foucault, are no longer to be studied as during the Second World War, Paris, he was successively Deleuze, and Bourdieu,” notes independent entities each with Lévi-Strauss, along with André a professor of philosophy, Frédéric Keck of the Institute their own significance, but rather Breton and his Surrealist friends, 1 sociology, and finally Marcel Mauss in Paris, who as part of an organized system bought several items made by the anthropology. was involved in the publication of where connections are revealed Indians of the American northwest his major works in the “Biblio- by differences, not commonalities, and by the Inuit, including this 2 Lévi-Strauss, shown thèque de la Pléiade” edition, a exposing at the same time the decorative item made of carved collection of great works of structures of unconscious thought here with his second wife, Presse . Karel/Gamma/Eyedea wood and green mother-of-pearl.

quai Branly W 2 Monique, was elected © literature and philosophy. “His that are common to all human ani/AFP

av to the Académie française work has had a spectacular beings. “Structuralism provided a 1 P. P © P. in May 1972. influence internationally.” way out of a kind of determin- > 10

. Gries/Musée du

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 © P CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 30 INIMAGES Foreign partners AROUNDTHEWORLD 31

11 HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT First Joint Unit in Africa Pollution, global warming, urbanization... the world is facing major environmental challenges. An ambitious French-African research group has just been formed to study these phenomena and their consequences on health. vi-Strauss/Musée du quai Branly vi-Strauss/Musée du quai Branly e e 12 13 © C. L

© C. L n January 16th, the first ever interna- mosquito nets, or even taking into account city four years (renewable) at four geographical sites: tional joint unit (UMI) between CNRS politics–known to contribute to the spread of Marseille (France), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and Africa was signed into existence. malaria. In other words, the social sciences are Bamako (Mali), and Dakar (Senegal). “This is This UMI, which goes by the name crucial to these issues.” like the embryo of a global lab,” says Basile O 1 “Environnement, santé, sociétés,” brings together Apart from their recognized scientific Guissou, delegate general of CNRST. “It will researchers from France, Burkina Faso, Mali, expertise, the UMI’s researchers have another enable us to share infrastructures, but also to and Senegal to work in a high-priority field: asset: almost all of them know each other, some be everywhere at once, so to speak.” Another environmental change and its impact on health. quite well. “Most of the teams making up this undeniable advantage of the lab is its visibility, “Through this first major initiative for CNRS in useful for responding to important international Africa, our goal is to set up a strong, balanced part- calls for proposals. The rector of Bamako’s uni- nership between researchers from the North FIVE TOPICS OF RESEARCH versity, Ginette Siby Bellegarde, has an optimistic and South,” stated CNRS president Catherine outlook: “Each partner brings his own skills to the Pollution, health and society Bréchignac during the ceremony. Joining her mix, his desire to work with others on unifying Environment, cognition and society were the heads of the three other founding topics. I have no doubt that the results of our work Pathocenosis, social dynamics, prevention organizations: Senegal’s Université Cheikh Anta will be up to our expectations,” she enthuses, and society

vi-Strauss/Musée du quai Branly Diop in Dakar (UCAD), Mali’s University of confiding that she hopes that the project will be e

vi-Strauss/Éditions PLON Technical care spaces and society 11 Lévi-Strauss during his e 14 15 Bamako, and Burkina Faso’s National center for extended to neighboring countries. © L © C. L Ways of life and health, influence of migration research visit to Brazil. He scientific and technological research (CNRST). Matthieu Ravaud and demographic transition explains that Lucinda, the little The researchers have their work cut out for monkey that lived with him, had > ism that saw societies’ traditional practices and return to Brazil until many years later, in 1985, them. Their primary goal is to investigate the Traffic jam in vi-Strauss/Éditions PLON e made a habit of clinging to one of bodies of knowledge as simply responses to the after his retirement. relationship between environmental changes Dakar (Senegal).

© L natural or social environment,” explains Pierre Lévi-Strauss, then, is not a fieldwork specialist. and health. For example, the way that pollution Researchers his legs. will study the Deléage of LAS. “Levi-Strauss was able to show He admits that he does not have “the meticulousness brings about new respiratory illnesses, or the effects of 12 13 14 15 Claude that universal structures of thought were at least of and patience” for it.3 Yet as a theoretician, he is a precise role that global warming plays in the dif- pollution on Lévi-Strauss and his wife Dina equal importance in the formation of these practices genius. “All his articles, all his books have consis- fusion of epidemics, or in food crises. But they health. took many portraits of indians, and bodies of knowledge.” He pulled together these tently inspired true anthropological thinking,” Izard will also look at the sanitary problems raised by such as the Caduveo (12) and (13), structures into the concept of “the savage mind,” an observes. “When I was just a student, I attended his migrations, and at demographic evolutions, the Nambikwara (14) or the alternative to the “primitive mindset” that prevailed seminars at the Sorbonne University in Paris. including aging. Finally, they will evaluate how Guaranì (15). These photographs at the time, as a symptom of the His theories filled us with excitement.” He hospitals and health centers function, to improve show how diverse their arrays and supposed superiority of colonialist nonetheless kept a critical eye on his con- medical care. All these topics will be studied at jewels can be: body paint, lip and scholars over the practices and temporaries, and still does today. In Tristes the local level in Africa, but also on a world scale. nose ornaments, headdresses... mentalities of societies different from tropiques, published in 1955, he wrote: “With global warming, for instance, diseases their own. “Mankind has opted for monoculture; it currently present in southern countries may very 16 On bended knee, this How did Claude Lévi-Strauss develop is in the process of creating a mass civi- well spread to northern countries,” says Gilles Tsimshian shaman statue is his theories? “Oddly enough for an lization, as beetroot is grown in the mass. Boetsch, UMI director and president of CNRS’s adorned with a garment made of ethnologist, he did relatively little field- Henceforth, man’s daily bill of fare scientific board. “The issues that this group will painted skins. On its head sits a work,” acknowledges Michel Izard, a will consist only of this one item.” tackle are therefore global and relevant to leather diadem with upward bear former member of LAS. In fact, Lévi- Words which, in the new age of researchers all over the world.” And these issues claws. It was part of Lévi-Strauss’ Strauss’ theories originated in the series globalization, ring terribly true. involve many scientific fields: the five main North American collection, and is of ethnographic research trips he made Fabrice Demarthon research topics (see box) will rely on 40 or so © M. Houet/Belpress/Andia now displayed at the Quai Branly between 1935 and 1938 to study the 1. CNRS / EHESS. specialists in environmental science (climatolo- museum. Amazon Indians of Mato Grosso, while 2. Laboratoire d’anthropologie sociale (LAS) gists, ecologists), health sciences, as well as in the UMI have already worked together for several 1. Environment, Health, Society. he was a professor at the University of (CNRS / Collège de France / EHESS). humanities and social sciences (anthropologists, years,” says Abdou Salam Sall, president of 2. Laboratoire “Anthropologie bioculturelle” (CNRS / 3. Quoted from De près et de loin, by Université Aix Marseille-II / EFS Alpes Méditerranée). São Paulo in Brazil. It was not until his Claude Lévi-Strauss and Didier Eribon sociologists...). This type of interdisciplinary UCAD. This is because a number of African 3. With Lamine Gueye and Nicole Chapuis for Senegal, return to France in 1948, after having spent (Paris: Odile Jacob, 1988). research is essential, according to Yannick Jaffré, researchers and UMI team leaders first pursued Ogobara Doumbo for Mali, and Blaise Sondo for Burkina Faso. the war years in the United States as an from CNRS,2 who will be one of the five deputy research in CNRS labs, and, once back in their academic refugee, that he published his CONTACTS directors of the UMI.3 “Everyone knows how home countries, continued to work together. CONTACTS doctoral thesis on “the elementary struc- Institut Marcel Mauss, Paris. important the life sciences are to studying malaria Their collaboration needed to be formalized, and Anthropologie biologique, Marseille. tures of kinship,” along with a Frédéric Keck, in Africa. But it is very difficult to tackle the this took some work. “It’s tricky enough forming Gilles Boetsch, complementary thesis on the [email protected] subject seriously without looking into local a lab involving just two countries, so imagine [email protected] family and social life of the Pierre Deléage, sanitation systems, seeing how patients are one involving four...,” adds Boetsch. But the work Yannick Jaffré,

. Gries/Musée du quai Branly [email protected] [email protected]

© P Nambikwara Indians. He was not to treated in health clinics, investigating the use of has paid off, and the UMI has been created for 16 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

32 AROUNDTHEWORLD They chose France AROUNDTHEWORLD 33

Marcello Solinas Nathan McClenaghan acts on the same system, excessively mimicking > GRANTS/ Research Addict the effect of the molecules secreted by the brain. Molecular Language FELLOWSHIPS “Like cannabis, this system can regulate the activity of the brain’s dopaminergic systems but 4TH STIC-AMSUD PROGRAMME am interested in everything, as long as without producing the sensation of pleasure, ow can two apparently solitary driven ions and small designer molecules. This Calls for submission of research- something is at stake behind the work,” therefore without risks of addiction.” This explains neighboring molecules be made to is molecular communication that can be followed development projects in all topics enthuses Marcello Solinas. His aim is to the growing interest in therapeutic use of newly communicate together? This was the in real-time using photosensitive molecules related to Information and Iunderstand drug addiction, its patho- developed cannabinoid tools, capable of providing Hchallenging idea raised by young chemist whose properties adapt during the “conversation,” Communication Sciences and physiology and the influence that the environ- only the positive effects without abuse liability. Nathan McClenaghan, a recent recipient of the thus enabling small-scale computation or even Technologies were just issued. ment plays on it. It’s an ambitious challenge but The goals are to treat eating disorders and CNRS Bronze Medal. With his “COMMOTION” the instantaneous diagnosis of certain diseases Projects must include at least two the results are already coming in. With his depression–characterized by low motivation–or project, for which he has been awarded a that are mainly based on defective com- participating South American colleague Mohamed Jaber, Solinas has recently facilitate weaning someone off cannabis as shown European grant, he is indeed trying to establish munication. This could be accomplished, for countries, and one team of French shown1 that a positive and stimulating environ- by the scientist’s results published in May 2007.4 communication links between certain molecules, example, by investigating the transport of calcium scientists. ment helps defeating cocaine addiction. And the Meanwhile, Solinas and his French wife simply by using light. or potassium ions, or other types of ions that Deadline: May 15th, 2009 34-year-old Italian scientist, who arrived 5 years decided to move back to the “old continent,” Just 35, he understands the full scope of this are responsible for certain serious disorders like www.sticamsud.org ago at the IPBC2 in Poitiers, has absolutely no though career opportunities were rather uncertain particularly innovative type of research, and takes osteoporosis, tetanus, and various nervous dis- intention of stopping such promising research. there. Yet he was soon recruited as a guest it in stride. In fact, Brussels has just granted eases. In the long run, one possibility might be CNRS-DENMARK AGREEMENT Interestingly, his encounter with both neu- researcher in Poitiers in 2004. One year later, he him a total of Û1.25 million over a five-year period, to treat certain diseases by photo-activating roscience and France was totally unpredictable. joined CNRS in his newly adopted city. Different to build his team and develop his project in the defective channels. The COMMOTION team is CNRS and the Danish National Attracted to languages and history, the young lab, different challenge: While pursuing his work context of the ERC young researchers program.1 now being formed, and should bring together Research Foundation (DNRF) have Sardinian chose classical studies, “ideal for devel- on cannabinoids, Marcello started using rodents CNRS, the Aquitaine Region, and the University about a dozen students and CNRS researchers, concluded an agreement to oping a sound reasoning mental structure.” But to investigate “the influence of living conditions of Bordeaux-I are also providing strong support specialists in the fields of chemistry, biology, strengthen scientific cooperation at 18, he changed course. His family owned a on the effect of drugs.” He built this activity from for the project. and physics. We shall certainly be hearing a lot between France and Denmark. It pharmacy so he opted for a doctorate in the field scratch, including finding available financing And this son of a Northern Irish engineer is more about this very ambitious project in the includes a mobility program that at the University of Cagliari. This gave him the and buying the latest equipment. This strategy confident, having nurtured the idea for a long near future. provides support for travel opportunity to meet Professor Gaetano Di Chiara, is paying off, “we are finally starting to be time. During his thesis work in Belfast, where he Séverine Duparcq expenses, accommodation, and a world-renowned specialist in drug addiction competitive and our work is now accepted for worked on developing light-sensitive (photo- running costs. Applications can be and dopamine. “I only discovered how famous publication in prestigious journals.” “France has sensitive) molecules, he already had his eye on submitted throughout the year he was later on. But he impressed me with his offered me great professional opportunities mainland Europe, and particularly the work by three months prior to the intended lectures on the cerebral circuitry common to despite my handicap with the language,” he adds French teams based in Bordeaux. date of travel. natural rewards and drugs, and on how the brain with a smile. The next step will be to consolidate Following an initial postdoctoral stay in Italy, www.dg.dk suffered from addiction.” This rapidly evolving the neurosciences in his region and make his he moved to France, the country where he would sector of neuroscience gave Solinas ample laboratory world-class. later meet his wife. He rapidly mastered the EURAXESS avenues for exploration. He subsequently wrote Patricia Chairopoulos French language and pursued his research in a This portal provides information on a dissertation on the changes in dopamine3 neu- 1. M. Solinas et al., “Reversal of cocaine addiction by Bordeaux chemistry laboratory where he focused grants, fellowships, or positions rotransmission in the brain areas linked to addic- environmental enrichment.” Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2008. not only on isolated molecules, but also on available throughout Europe as well tion. In 2000, with his doctorate in hand, he 105: 17145-50. supramolecular architectures based on self- 2. Institut de physiologie et biologie cellulaires (CNRS/ as practical information (accom- had one goal: to cross the Atlantic. He landed in Université de Poitiers). assemblies of fullerenes (comprising carbon modation, childcare and schools, Baltimore at the National Institute on Drug 3. Our endogenous molecule linked to reward. atoms ordered in the shape of a football). Then, healthcare...) for each country. 4. M. Solinas et al., “Nicotinic alpha 7 receptors as a new Abuse (NIDA). It is there that he embarked on target for treatment of cannabis abuse.” J Neurosci., 2007. in 2003, this young scientist decided to settle at http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/ four years of research on subjects ranging from 27: 5615-20. the ISM2 in Bordeaux in the Nanostructures index_en.cfm?l1=0&l2=0&l3=0 the mechanisms of action of caffeine to the role Organiques (NEO) group, and started his initial of the human brain’s “endogenous cannabinoid research on molecular language. To establish CONTACT ÉGIDE system.” Counting several molecular entities, Marcello Solinas inter-molecular communication, his current this system is involved in pain inhibition, coor- IPBC, Poitiers. methodology involves pointing a light source Égide is a non-profit organization dination, and even appetite control. Cannabis [email protected] directly at the molecules, forcing them to modify that manages French government their molecular and electronic structure. This international mobility programs. action can release ions, which act as messen- Many funding opportunities are listed. Most content is in English. WORKING IN A FRENCH LAB, PRACTICAL INFORMATION: gers that are then caught and gradually released by other molecules. “This process is inspired www.egide.asso.fr

Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler (FNAK): France Contact will help you plan and arrange your from living organisms,” explains McClenaghan. . McClenaghan

Helps foreign researchers settle in France and stay in France: © B “Vision is a good example: When your eye is MARIE CURIE ACTIONS maintains contact after their departure. www.francecontact.net 1. European Research Council. http://erc.europa.eu/ www.fnak.fr exposed to light, photons are absorbed by retinal 2. Institut des sciences moléculaires (CNRS / Universités This EU program provides French embassies and consulates abroad: pigments which change their shape and trigger Bordeaux-I and IV / ENSCP Bordeaux). numerous fellowships and grants Foreign embassies and consulates in France: www.expatries.diplomatie.gouv.fr/ the gradual release of ions to the brain, which in www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/annuaire/ annuaires/annuaires.htm facilitating research mobility in turn records the message. This is a simple but effi- Europe. Association Bernard Gregory: Edufrance: cient form of communication. I am now trying CONTACT http://europa.eu.int/comm/ This association helps young PhDs from any Information on France's higher education programs– to determine the extent to which this can be discipline make the transition into business. course enlistment, grant and fellowship applications. Nathan McClenaghan research/fp6/mariecurie- ebedinsky/CNRS Photothèque www.abg.asso.fr www.edufrance.fr reproduced and used, at the nanometer scale, ISM, Bordeaux. actions/indexhtm_en.html [email protected]

© C. L in the laboratory.” And this time, using light-

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine 3n°1April 2009

34 AROUNDTHEWORLD Horizons Argentina AROUNDTHEWORLD 35

k contribution to the country’s largest CNRS researchers were also involved single international research coopera- in year-round projects in the country.

Scientific Revival otostoc

gef tion project: the Pierre Auger Across all its joint projects based Observatory (named after French in Argentina, CNRS counts five arez/A

rgentina, which Alv physicist Pierre Victor Auger). Based International Program for Scientific

produced two Nobel Bolivia © I. in the Mendoza Province of western Cooperation (PICS), involving Brazil science prize- Argentina, this unique international biology, mathematics, genetics, and winners in the 20th Paraguay observatory of ultra-high energy social and human sciences; two Century, is a country cosmic rays brings together 253 International Research Networks Awith huge potential: It is the researchers and engineers from 17 (GDRIs), one involving extreme second biggest country in South different countries. This includes a energy observation at the Auger America and one of the French team of 32, which is princi- Observatory, and another focused on continent’s largest economies, Uruguay pally represented in the project by water governance and access in the with an educated workforce and Buenos Aires CNRS. In 2008, France contributed Americas; as well as an International considerable natural resources. Chile 12% (Û3 million) of the Observatory’s Associated Laboratory (LIA) in Yet its troubled past, including budget. nanotechnology. several military dictatorships The National Agency for CNRS is currently involved in and public finance bankruptcies, Scientific and Technological negotiations with the MINCyT to

prompted a significant brain Pacific Atlantic Promotion (ANPCT), placed under establish two Joint International drain among the neglected Ocean Ocean the MINCyT, encourages both Units (UMIs), one focused on tech- scientific community. The national and international research nologies, astro-particles and sciences government now wants to cooperation agreements. On the of the universe based at the Auger encourage their return. It has basis of research papers published in Observatory, the other involving cli-

placed R&D at the heart of the S Argentina in 2007, France was mate studies, which would be located

current program for national © CNR Argentina’s fourth-placed interna- at the University of Buenos Aires. development, together with tional partner (behind the US, Spain, Rooted in an agreement signed in improving the resources and pay of and Brazil), accounting for 260 co- 1985, CNRS and the CONICET researchers. publications (of which 160 involved together fund a yearly average of 15 This budding renaissance also CNRS). cooperation projects, mainly in the centers around a strong development Monte Fitz Roy, located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. “Joint scientific activities with fields of physics, mathematics, of international scientific cooperation France and other major European materials, information and commu- in which France is a major partner. restructured and partly repaid. By organization of specific research IN FIGURES Finally, separate to the MINCyT partners offer Argentina better access nication technologies, and history, “There is a long tradition of French 2008, the Argentine economy was activities. Created in 1958 and based > 39.9 million inhabitants structure is the National Atomic to research in Europe-wide struc- centered at the universities of Buenos presence in Argentina,” comments the third fastest-growing in South on the same organizational structure (source: UN 2008) Energy Commission (CNEA), a tures, like the EU Framework Aires, La Plata, and Rosario. Claire Giraud, deputy director of America, with a public debt level as CNRS, it currently has a yearly > 6 636 US$ GDP per government-run body responsible for Program for Research and Finally, this year marks the 10th International Relations at CNRS. brought down to 51% of its GDP and budget of about Û110 million and capita (source: UN management, research, and Technological Development, which anniversary of the ECOS program “Argentines represent the majority of unemployment reduced to 7.8%– employs researchers in both its own 2007) development of all the country’s civil the EURALINET program aims to (orientation and evaluation of CNRS researchers of Latin American down from 20% in 2002. and associated research centers– > 0.5% R&D spending as nuclear activities. Placed under the stimulate,” explains Jean-François scientific cooperation) under which origin, and they now lead many of In 2006, the Argentine many of whom conjointly hold a percentage of GDP, in authority of the Energy Secretariat Marini, who represents CNRS and France’s Ministry of Foreign and our joint projects.” The current government announced the launch of university posts. 2006 and the Ministry for Federal the French IRD2 in Argentina. European Affairs and Ministry of revival followed one of the country’s a 10-year plan to double the Research is centered around five > 32,000 researchers in Development, In 2007, CNRS researchers Higher Education and Research fund worst crises; in December 2001, the proportion of GDP spent on scientific major fields: agronomy; engineering 2006 Public carried out 250 mission visits to some 15 joint lab projects in economy collapsed due to record debt and technological R&D, from 0.5% to and materials; biology and health; > 3.8% state funding in Investment and Argentina, mainly involving sciences Argentina, of which about 60% defaults and currency devaluation, 1%. One of Mrs Kirchner’s first natural and exact sciences; and education, as a Services, the of the universe (almost 30%), involve CNRS teams. These currently leading to violent social unrest. But moves was the creation of the human and social sciences. Under the percentage of GDP CNEA has several engineering sciences and technolo- include research in bioinformatics, following the election of president Ministry of Science, Technology and terms of a development plan launched (source: UNESCO 2004) research centers gies (19%), physics (15%), and social architecture, and mathematics. Nestor Kirchner in 2003, the country Productive Innovation (MINCyT), in 2005, the CONICET annually > 1.54 million students in at its disposal. and human sciences (12%). Several Jason Brown witnessed a remarkable turnaround, which devises and leads national provides 500 permanent positions higher education in These include the 1. Center for Research into Very Low due to a combination of audacious research policies. Significantly, she (300 newly-created and 200 2006 Centro Atomico Temperatures. internal economic policies and a appointed a scientist, Dr. José Lino replacements). It also manages 1300 Constituyentes 2. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement. favorable international economic Barañao, to run it. Mrs Kirchner, who grants for doctorate and post- near the capital climate. The recovery has largely described science as “key to the doctorate research studies. Buenos Aires, continued under the current nation’s economic future,” also set Academic research is involved in

president, Cristina Fernández de aside funds to increase researcher seated among the country’s © M. K. Castelo fundamental and Kirchner, who succeeded her salaries by 30%, and boost public 79 universities, of which 41 Above: The fly larvae applied technology, and the Centro

that infect domestic illacide husband in 2007. funding of competitive research are privately-funded, and Atomico at Bariloche, in Patagonia, V CONTACTS bees are the subject Claire Giraud Many problems remain, but the grants by 40% in 2009. which total some 1.54 million of one of the which enjoys a longstanding history

© J. M. © J. DRI, Paris. baseline figures are impressive: At a national level, the National students. The leading cooperative research of cooperation with the CRTBT,1 a [email protected] Argentina has enjoyed relative Council of Scientific and Technical research universities are programs. CNRS lab based in the French city of Pine trees in a Patagonian plantation, infected by the woodwasp Sirex noctilio. Researchers Jean-François Marini political stability and greatly Research (CONICET), headed by the those of Buenos Aires, La Left: Researchers Grenoble. CNRS Office, Santiago de Chile. collect bees’ larvae study the parasitoids used in the biological [email protected]

improved finances with its debt MINCyT, manages the financial Plata, Cordoba, and Rosario. © M. K. Castelo for their work. The CNEA provides Argentina’s control of this major pest.

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

36 INNOVATION Start-up INNOVATION 37 Paris1

Montpellier DEINOVE 1 Bacterial membranes (red) and AGROCHEMISTRY DNA (green) labelling of a small colony of Deinococcus

Second Generation Biofuels radiodurans (8 bacterias). © Dea Slade The Strength Lies in the Plant roducing second generation genus, can resist ionizing rays, UVs, that Deinove was created two years the bacteria are fond of. “We are oxicity, water table pollution, How exactly does this new shown by the detection of two early biofuels from residual agri- solvents, and drought, among other ago, also involving CNRS and the now screening these strains on soil degradation... The list treatment work? “The aim is to markers of the natural defense cultural and forest biomass is things. “It is very efficient at repair- Toulouse branch of the engineer parameters such as sugar assimila- P of harmful effects of chem- supply the plant with a substance pathway. The substance was then now seen by many as an environ- ing its DNA after radiation damage. school Insa. tion or solvent resistance, in order ical treatments used by that acts as a signal to stimulate its improved to enhance the control of mental priority. That is because first This property makes it easier to “Three patents have been filed,” to identify one or several candidates. T farmers still sends shivers down the natural defense mechanisms, in specific attacks from powdery and generation biofuels–such as bioeth- insert genes into its genome, such says Jacques Biton, Deinove’s CEO. We will soon start their fermentation spine. Although for many years, other words, an ‘elicitor’peptide,” downy mildew, that mainly affect anol obtained by fermenting corn as enzyme genes which are of inter- “The first patent protects a smart profile to generate a hyper-producing numerous research groups have explains Florine Cavelier, researcher vines. Finally, in 2005, open-field with brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces est for sugar degradation or fer- research tool, the second one is strain within 18 to 24 months,” been focusing on the development at IBMM. As initiators of the project, trials were authorized on sections of cerevisiae)–stress food resources. But mentation. Some of these bacteria protecting applications for the explains Léonetti. of clean alternatives, they have never Cavelier, together with Jean three vineyards in the Burgundy, to be successful, second generation can also withstand high tempera- production of biofuels, and our last Jean-François Haït elier

been able to achieve the combina- Martinez, also from IBMM, had first Loire-Atlantique, and Languedoc v biofuel production needs to break tures, which results in less water patent protects other potential 1. Centre d’études d’agents pathogènes et tion of sustainable development and of all observed this effect in a family regions. The treatment, applied by down polymers, namely cellulose, consumption when cooling the vats industrial applications. Within two biotechnologies pour la santé (CNRS / intensive agriculture. This problem of peptides synthesized by spraying the leaves, enabled a hemicellulose, and lignin, more during fermentation under indus- and a half years, we hope to set up Universités de Montpellier-I and II). 2. Université Paris-V / Hôpital Necker. is nonetheless crucial, especially in Trichoderma fungi. But they were significant protection of grapes, complex than glucose and saccha- trial conditions,” says Jean-Paul a large scale pilot fermentor, with the Ca © Photos : F. viticulture where the use of plant difficult to produce and thus too despite less marked efficacy on rose, which Saccharomyces feeds Léonetti, of CPBS1 in Montpellier. help of an industrial partner.” The Top: Grape attacked by downy mildew. health treatments can harm the costly to use as an agrochemical. leaves. on. This may soon be possible, The team of Miroslav Radman,2 latest move was the May 2008 Bottom: Grapes treated with Lapp 6, at image of renowned vineyards. A “We then looked at this compound The IBMM team had decided a rate of 1.5 g per hectare, remain thanks to the biotechnology a member of the French Academy creation of Deinolab, a cooperative CONTACTS novel plant health protection strat- as an object rather than a complex to patent this process as early as healthy. company Deinove, specialized in of Sciences, had for a long time lab between Deinove and CNRS in Jacques Biton Deinove, Paris. egy has now been developed on the chemical structure. We sought to 2001, and the patent was extended research into a family of superbac- been carrying out cutting-edge Montpellier. Thousands of [email protected] lab benches of IBMM1 in Montpel- produce a simplified peptide with a worldwide in 2003. Today, this synthesize, active at very low doses, teria, namely Deinococcales. research on DNA repair in Deinococcus strains have been Jean-Paul Léonetti lier: Rather than combating the structure as close as possible to that innovation belongs to both CNRS non-toxic, and biodegradable. Deinococcus radiodurans for exam- Deinococcus. It was after a meeting collected since then all over the CPBS, Montpellier. pathogen, as do pesticides, new of natural peptides, so that they and the company De Sangosse in Aude Olivier ple, first identified bacteria of the with Truffle, a venture capital firm, country–mostly in the hotsprings [email protected] biodegradable and non-toxic com- would nonetheless keep the ability Agen (France), specialized in plant 1. Institut des biomolécules Max Mousseron pounds can preventively stimulate to stimulate the plant’s defenses,” health solutions. But the work is (CNRS / Universités de Montpellier-I and the natural defenses of plants explains Cavelier. not complete yet: “we need to ana- II). against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. As a result, the team produced lyze the stability of this product over The new patented product was pre- a compound they called “Lapp 6,” time, its interaction with the automation there was in the food identical weights. Finally, a robot sented last June at the European which was first tested in the labo- surrounding environment, and its CONTACTS processing industry.” Little by little, arm slices the piece of meat at the Research and Innovation Exhibi- ratory at low doses on melon and precise formulation,” adds Cavelier. IBMM, Montpellier.

DR a business plan took shape, and the angles indicated by the software. tion, and in 2007 the team had cucumber plants and young vines. In any case, some of Lapp 6’s Jean Martinez, director project got off the ground with the The prototype is able to cut 250 kg received the INPI trophy for inno- These trials showed that Lapp 6 was properties have already ensured that [email protected] arrival of the third team member, of meat per hour, with a 5% margin vation in the Languedoc-Roussillon able to stimulate the natural it will be able to enter the integrated Florine Cavelier Montpellier [email protected] 1 Mickaël Sauvée, an engineer in of error, compared to the current region. defenses of the plants tested, as farming market: it is easy to machine vision. They weren’t long rates of butchers–100 kg/hour with in producing a prototype robot at a 10% margin of error. Despite its

LIRMM, which continued to host high cost, the improved quality Montpellier their experiments, resulting in two and productivity provided by this 1 FLUOPTICS Artificial technological patents. In 2005 and robot has already won over one ALCI intelligence 2007, their initiative won awards customer, who will have operational software in the innovation competition machines in early 2009. But the Making Tumors Fluorescent computes and organized by the French Ministry team doesn’t intend to stop there. Meat Cutting-Edge optimizes cutting planes so as to of Research. In short, Alci has been The researchers are already talking oloring malignant cells could fewer constraints, and no side affixed to the tumors. This means After being incubated at the obtain pieces with something of a success story. “We to the vegetable and fish industries, be of great help to surgeons effects. the surgeon is able to visualize the Grenoble Alpes Incubation structure Technology the same weight. did benefit from a very favorable and other projects to develop new Cwhen removing tumors. And “We have brought together two extent of the tumor from the in summer 2007, and then at context, especially through business robots are already under study. By this is exactly what Fluoptics is work- independently developed innova- beginning of the procedure, and EM-Lyon from April 2008, Fluoptics omewhere, at a supermar- meat into pieces with identical development grants,” the two Alci the end of the year, they’re hoping ing at. The product of a close-knitted tions: biomarkers, and a portable can ensure that the ablation is was created at the beginning of ket’s fresh food counter, a weights. Yet in the near future, this founders admit. to hire three people and obtain ISO collaboration between researchers at optical device designed by CEA,2 to complete. 2009. The next stage, according to customer is picking up a job could be handled by robots. All Their goal was to have their 9001 certification, which defines different French organizations,1 visualize pathogenic zones,” explains Conscious of the great public Allard, is “to manufacture and Stray of vacuum-packed beef. thanks to the pioneering work robot cut uniform slices from pieces the requirements for quality Fluoptics is set to offer a complete Odile Allard, one of the project health interest in this technology, industrialize this technology.” He’s not thinking too much about achieved by Alci, a new company of meat of varying shape and size. management systems. imaging solution to surgeons. leaders. The principle behind the the French Ministry for Research Aude Olivier the weight because after all, the set up in 2007 in Montpellier by To design it, the team made the Caroline Dangléant Whereas current methods of two prototypes used in laboratory- and Industry selected last June the 1. CNRS, CEA-Léti, and Université Joseph pieces have been graded, and they all Hervé Turchi and David Barra (two most of what they had learnt at 1. Laboratoire d’informatique, de robotique cancer detection require the injec- based preclinical tests is simple: Fluoptics project leaders as winners Fourier. weigh roughly the same. But PhD students at LIRMM1). LIRMM. A profilometer, consisting et de microélectronique de Montpellier tion of radioactive molecules into The fluorescent tracer is injected of a national competition for inno- 2. Commissariat à l’énergie atomique. although we take this for granted, it A meat-cutting robot is a pretty of a laser and a camera, is used to (CNRS / Université Montpellier-II). the organism, Fluoptics uses intravenously the night before the vative business creation assistance wouldn’t be at all possible without unusual idea–and a world first– obtain an image of the muscle that CONTACTS patented fluorescent markers which operation. During the surgical (Û450,000 to launch a start-up). the hard–sometimes deemed unre- admits Turchi as he remembers the is to be cut. Then, artificial intelli- Hervé Turchi and David Barral are capable of targeting cancerous procedure, a camera lights up the Fluoptics’ technology had also CONTACT Lyon1 warding–work of butchers working day when this idea first came to gence software developed by the Alci, Montpellier. cells responsible for the vascular- operation site by infrared, and received recognition at the European Odile Allard in a chilly 5°C and 80% humidity him: “Someone I know actually team calculates the optimum cutting [email protected] ization of tumors (angiogenic). And captures the fluorescent light level with a first prize at the Fluoptics, Lyon. environment, and striving to cut pointed out to me how little angles required to obtain pieces with www.alci.fr these markers are cheaper, have emitted in response by the markers European Innovation Hopes. [email protected]

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

38 CNRSNEWSWIRE CNRSNEWSWIRE 39

ASTRONET

The E-ELT will be mounted on a UK 2008. It brings together CNRS’ National central concrete pier that Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics Europe’s Space Bound Program ensures a minimum clearance of Focus on the 10 m above the ground. (IN2P3), the French large heavy-ion Building on significant accelerator (GANIL), the French Atomic Thalamus Energy Agency (CEA), and the advances in the past 50 key component of the brain, the Consortium of Polish Institutions for years, Europe looks set to thalamus plays a role in many research in the field of nuclear physics Aphysiological functions (sensory (COPIN). Although the teams involved keep its lead in space information processing, sleep, etc.) as have long worked together on exotic science with the Astronet well as in various pathologies. To better nuclei–those of chemical elements that do program, a roadmap for understand how it works, CNRS, the not exist in a natural state on our Pierre et Marie Curie University, and planet–COPIGAL will encourage the joint the next two decades. Cardiff University (UK) have set up the use of infrastructures and the promotion European Associated Laboratory (LEA) of long-term strategies. s there life elsewhere? How did the “Thalamic function in health and disease Contact: Francesca Grassia, galaxies, stars, and planets form? What states-THD.” It brings together the [email protected]

is the nature of dark matter? Just some © KM3NeT/ASPERA/NIKHEF/M.Kraan Neurobiology of Adaptive Processes of the fascinating questions The KM3NeT neutrino telescope, laboratory (CNRS / Université Paris-VI) I immersed in the Mediterranean sea, astronomers worldwide are trying to find and the Cardiff School of Biosciences. IRELAND answers to. To consolidate and reinforce will be unique in sensitivity and resolution. Contact: Anne-Marie Brass, Biological Imaging Europe’s leading position in astronomy, [email protected] the Astronet program was created in Sep- medium-scale projects include cooperation agreement on tember 2005. Supported by 28 countries, Gaia data analysis and processing biological imaging and the Astronet consortium is coordinated (Milky way mapping), EUCLID POLAND A“translational research,” a link by CNRS’ French National Institute for (Dark Energy), or the Solar Orbiter, between fundamental research and Sciences of the Universe (INSU). “The a mission devoted to studying the Joining Forces on clinical research, was signed in Paris on aim was to establish a long-term plan for Sun. All these space missions are Exotic Nuclei January 26th. It brings together the the development of European astron- driven by the European Space Institute of Functional genomics1 and the omy, including every observation Agency (ESA). he France-Poland European Royal College of Surgeons. approach, from space or from Earth, and The role of existing observa- Associated Laboratory (LEA) covering radiation studies on all wave- tional facilities, in space or from TCOPIGAL (COPIN-GANIL 1. CNRS / Inserm / Universités Montpellier-I and II. lengths,” explains CNRS researcher © ESO/H.Zodet the ground, is also considered in cooperation on the physics of exotic Contact : Anne-Marie Brass, Jean-Marie Hameury, coordinator of Astronet. Astronet’s major role is to define priorities the roadmap, recommending the prolongation nuclei) was launched November 26th, [email protected] The strategic plan, which puts forth a detailed ensuring that the goals of the scientists meet of the most successful space missions, and the Astronet roadmap, was released in November those of the funding agencies. Two ground-based review of all ground-based telescopes. A scien- 2008 to funding agencies. This roadmap was infrastructure projects emerge as top priorities: tific group has already begun assessing the written by 60 European experts regrouped in the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) existing small to medium-size optical telescopes five panels. They reviewed over 100 tools and and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The first, throughout Europe, with the objective of overall ISRAEL infrastrucutures, examined computing facilities a very ambitious project driven by ESO (European coordination and ensuring all these facilities

and data archiving, and analyzed human Space Observatory), is already in an advanced fice and XILOSTUDIOS (approximately 30) are useful. Strengthening Scientific Cooperation resources including education, recruitment, stage of study, whereas the SKA–comprising “The roadmap also focuses on training and public outreach and industrial involvement. thousands of antennas making the total collect- education,” adds Jean-Marie Hameury. But it On March 18th, in Jerusalem, CNRS President Catherine Bréchignac and Menahem will also deal with public communication and will Megidor, the president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, signed an agreement for © SKA Project Of © SKA Project establish greater ties with European industry. the creation of a European associated laboratory (LEA), the France-Israel Laboratory of The SKA’s collecting area (around a million square Indeed, technological readiness is a limiting meters) will be distributed over a number of groups Neuroscience (FILN). It brings together CNRS, the Victor Segalen University in EUROPEAN TRAINING ON BLACK HOLES of antennas, or “stations”–perhaps as many as a few factor for many of these projects and a vigorous Bordeaux, the Descartes University in Paris, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It hundred. R&D program is needed, in concert with indus- takes over, in renewed form, from the first France-Israel laboratory set up in 2005, the A black hole is a region of space in which the of space scientists. “We will train students, who try, to ensure technology transfer. This coher- France-Israel Laboratory for Neurophysiology and Neurophysics of Systems. The FILN is gravitational field is so powerful that nothing (not are usually specialized in one or the other ing area close to a million square meters–is still ent plan should also be a strong asset in dedicated to fundamental and clinical studies of the brain. Just beforehand, March 16th, even light) can escape it once inside. Black holes wavelength (X, Gamma, radio...), to be multi-scale in early stages of development. Other projects, negotiating international partnerships for the the LEA NanoBio Science (NaBi) was inaugurated in Rehovot in the presence of are therefore “invisible” by nature–but not to oriented,” says Stéphane Corbel. A necessary which operate on smaller budgets, were also largest projects. “To define a roadmap is the first Catherine Bréchignac and Daniel Zajfman, president of the Weizmann Institute. This LEA astronomers, who detect events happening close skill when working on the two types of black classified top priority, such as the European Solar step, but putting it into action is what really brings together for a duration of four years seven CNRS-affiliated laboratories and the by. “For instance, they eject powerful jets of holes: the stellar ones, produced in massive star Telescope (EST), the Cherenkov Telescope Array matters,” concludes Hameury. European astron- departments of chemistry and physics of the Weizmann Institute. Research will focus on plasma,” explains Stéphane Corbel, from the AIM explosions, and their heavy counterparts, a billion (CTA), and the underwater neutrino detector omy now has a clearer view of where it’s going. nanotechnology, photonics, and biological imaging. laboratory.1 He is also the French coordinator of a times more massive, found at the center of KM3NeT. Samantha Maguire > Contacts: new “Marie Curie training network,” the Black galaxies. Future space missions are obviously on the FILN: David Hansel, [email protected], Hole Universe Consortium–part of the 7th agenda with large-scale missions like the gravi- 1. Astrophysique interactions multi-échelles (CNRS / CONTACT Thomas Boraud, [email protected], Framework Programme (FP7). For four years, it Université Paris-VII / CEA Saclay). tational-wave observatory LISA and the X-ray Jean-Marie Hameury Francesca Grassia, [email protected] will associate leading astronomy institutions observatory XEUS/IXO first on the list, followed Coordinator of Astronet Contact: Stéphane Corbel, AIM, Gif-sur-Yvette. NaBi: Joseph Zyss, [email protected], across Europe in order to train a new generation [email protected] by the search for giant planets with TandEM or INSU/CNRS, Paris. Francesca Grassia, [email protected] LAPLACE, and ExoMars. The highest priority [email protected]

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

40 CNRSNEWSWIRE CNRSNEWSWIRE 41

CZECH REPUBLIC MATHEMATICS The Cefres in Prague is housed in a gothic CEFRES in Prague cloister. Paris, City of Maths At the forefront of French research and with direct With approximately 1000 researchers, the Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris (FSMP) is one of ties to the world’s major cultural areas, the the world’s largest breeding grounds for mathematicians. And it’s not only the numbers that are UMIFREs (French Research Institutes Abroad) act impressive. The prestigious medals and prizes that the Foundation has chalked up over a few years as both vehicles for knowledge and springboards testify to its level of excellence. for scientific collaboration. We interviewed Marie- ith four Fields medals, two Abel then recruit the mathematicians most qualified fundamental computer science on this scale in Claude Maurel, director of the French Center for prizes, three of the eleven prizes to answer them. the country. “To recruit them, we advertise the Research in Social Sciences (CEFRES) in Prague. awarded at the most recent Euro- positions in 2000 institutions around the world,” Wpean congress, fourteen members ATTRACTING THE VERY BEST Chemin explains. The Czech Republic took over the What is CEFRES’ overall mission? of the French Academy of Sciences and 120 win- Though the French capital already enjoys great And there are other ways to attract talent. presidency of the European Union M.-C.M: To take part in the develop- ners of both French and international awards, the credibility when it comes to mathematics, The Foundation Prize can sponsor for up to one in January. How has this affected ment of scientific networks in Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris maintaining it will require a major effort. “There year a promising young mathematician–who the activities of a research center Eastern Europe. Although we work (FSMP) backs up its success with numbers. are other cities in the world lying in wait, like could one day become a leader in the field–and like CEFRES? in Prague, we maintain very close Launched at the end of 2006, it is the world’s greatest mathematicians Marie-Claude Maurel: CEFRES is links with our neighboring coun- made up of six teaching and research can also be invited for two to three- extremely active. On top of our tries–especially Slovakia, Hungary, organizations1 and brings together month stays in Paris. “Funds can research work, this year we’re taking and Poland. These countries have a nine labs in Paris with no fewer than also be rapidly made available to host part in publishing a journal which joint heritage in the cultural, polit- 1000 researchers, making it the an exceptionally talented PhD stu- will present the Czech Republic in ical, and administrative fields, which largest group of mathematicians in dent from abroad,” adds Chemin,

all its different aspects (historical, justifies the presence of a center © CEFRES the world. CNRS is one of the found- citing the example of a young Aus- social, sociological, cultural, etc). like ours. This unit, which is a What research are you carrying out opment in Central Europe.’ For the ing members and accounts for a tralian prodigy who recently picked We’re also organizing two confer- true research and service platform, and with what means? first time, it brings together quarter of its staff. The Foundation the FSMP over other tempting offers. ences so that the scientific, eco- is constantly tied to local French M.-C.M: We are involved in an Inter- approximately 20 French, Polish, was set up to federate Paris’s math- nomic, and political players in the embassies, universities, and national program for scientific coop- Czech, Hungarian, Slovakian, and ematicians and to improve the visi- A TASTE FOR MATHS rest of Europe learn more about this research institutions. We host eration (PICS) entitled ‘Local play- Lithuanian researchers. bility and attractiveness of their labs Fostering general interest in math- country. approximately 20 fellowship ers faced with the European model.’ Séverine Lemaire-Duparcq in France and abroad. Another of ematics is also one of the Founda- students, researchers, Another of our projects, funded by its distinctive features is that it cov- tion’s objectives–though its main and assistant professors. the French National Research ers the entire range of pure and role lies in research. While Paris uni- NEW IMPETUS FOR Every year we organize Agency (ANR), is concerned with CONTACT applied mathematics, as well as fun- versities are not as affected, the over- FRENCH CENTERS ABROAD conferences, talks, and the sound archives of the Soviet Marie-Claude Maurel damental computer science. A all shortage of math students has training workshops Gulag. Lastly, we are initiating a CEFRES, Prague. choice justified by a fact that is borne become a worrying trend. This has On January 29, CNRS reasserted its backing to open to French- study–also funded by the ANR– [email protected] out again and again: There is no encouraged the FSMP to launch a the directors of the 26 French centers abroad speaking researchers. on ‘Local action and territorial devel- www.cefres.cz such thing as an insurmountable “Paris Graduate School of Mathe- gathered together at the organization’s barrier between theory and its appli- matical Sciences,” with grants for headquarters in Paris. CNRS President cations. As FSMP Director Jean-Yves both Masters and PhDs. “Our goal is Catherine Bréchignac announced that this Chemin likes to point out, “mathe- to host 20 foreign students at spring, special funding would be made ASIA matics first emerged 5000 years ago ‘Master 1’ level at the beginning of available, aimed in particular at improving “the to manage the production and dis- the 2010 academic year, and then magazine dissemination of information between the Closer Ties tribution of goods. It doesn’t get S increase this to 50 students,” various areas of culture” and at encouraging the much more applied than that!” Chemin explains. Similarly, the emergence of thematic networks. In addition, an Foundation is also committed to agreement should be signed this year between ew international associated laboratories (LIAs) have been set up in the last few THE APPLICATION FACTOR making science more accessible to the centers’ two supervisory authorities, CNRS months with China and Hong Kong. The Functional Organophosphorus Materials And the scope is far-reaching: the general public, through its web- and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to N(MOF) laboratory, bringing together the University of Rennes-I and the University of climatology, seismology, and a host site and various public lectures, like Zhengzhou, will be dedicated to the synthesis of new phosphorus compounds for plastic more clearly define the missions of these of other disciplines all need mathe- the CNR © Laetitia le Saux for those that were held during its centers, the duties of their directors and their electronics. The France-China Catalysis laboratory, with Claude-Bernard University in Lyon, matics. One example is cryptography, which has Beijing and Mumbai, where the number of math- launch in 2007–hoping that a growing number responsibilities. With clear objectives, this the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), and a Chinese industrial group–the become essential for secure online banking ematicians is constantly growing,” Chemin of students also add up. “road map” should help instigate a strict and Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP)–will focus on catalysis for energy and transactions. “The number theory that it relies warns. Therefore, the Foundation is investing Jean-Philippe Braly constructive evaluation policy by 2010. water treatment. on is an edifying example of how abstract math- considerable means to attract the world’s top Lastly, the first LIA with Hong Kong is now underway. Called “Role of calcium in cellular 1. CNRS / Ecole Normale Supérieure / Université Paris- Contact: Claudio Galderisi, ematics can be used for a practical application. mathematicians. For instance, it recently Diderot / Université Pierre et Marie Curie / Université Adviser for UMIFREs to the CNRS president. determination and differentiation,” it brings together, for a period of four years, CNRS, the There can be no doubt that mathematics play a created a chair of excellence intended for world- Paris-Dauphine / Collège de France. [email protected] Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and Toulouse-III University. This vital role in our everyday life. This is why the class researchers, the only individual chair in CONTACT LIA is the fruit of more than 10 years of collaboration between researchers from the Center FSMP encourages collaborations between France entirely dedicated to mathematics. Fifteen Jean-Yves Chemin, for Developmental Biology in Toulouse, and a Hong Kong team that specializes in calcium’s researchers and business and industry. Its goal postdoctoral researchers from other countries FSMP, Paris. role in gene expression during development. is to play a key role in helping companies iden- can also be hosted every year, which makes this [email protected] www.sciencesmaths-paris.fr Contact: Luc Le CALVEZ, [email protected] tify their medium and long-term needs, and the only post-doc program for mathematics and

CNRS International Magazine 3n°1April 2009 CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009

42 CNRSNEWSWIRE AMAZING IMAGES CNRS in Brief The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Tentacles of Thought Research) is a government-funded research organization under the administrative authority Electric seaweed? A mysterious creature of the underworld? Not quite. What you are looking of France’s Ministry of Research. at is a rat’s neuron at the moment neuronal communication occurs. In this picture, a research team from the PCS1 lab in Bordeaux used fluorescence microscopy (a labeling method using colored antibodies) to highlight the terminals of the pre-synaptic neuron (blue), and the post- synaptic neuron (red for a post-synaptic marker, green for glutamate receptors, and yellow for the nucleus). They observed an accumulation of neurotransmitter receptors at the tip of the Facts… dendritic spines–visible as white labeled dots, the result of colocalization of blue, red, and Founded in 1939 by evaluations. There are two between fields, ensure civilian research. This funding green fluorescence. The team believes these receptors’ mobility plays a vital role in the governmental decree, CNRS types of labs: economic and technological comes from various sources: passage of nerve impulses from one neuron to another, and thus controls the reliability of data has the following missions: CNRS labs: fully funded and development, and solve Government and public transfer. Their results2 pave the way for new therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, To evalulate and carry out all managed by CNRS complex societal problems. funding OCD, and other disorders that are caused by poor neuronal communication. research capable of Joint labs: partnered with www.cnrs.fr/prg/PIR/liste.htm CNRS funds, primarily from advancing knowledge and universities, other research industrial and EU research Lucille Hagège bringing social, cultural, and organizations, or industry The CNRS annual budget contracts and royalties on economic benefits to society represents one-quarter of patents, licenses, and 1. Physiologie cellulaire de la synapse (CNRS / Université Bordeaux-II). To contribute to the As the largest fundamental French public spending on services provided 2. M. Heine et al., “Surface Mobility of Post-synaptic AMPARs Tunes Synaptic Transmission,” Science, 2008. 320: 201-5. application and promotion of research organization in research results Europe, CNRS is involved in all Contact: Daniel Choquet, PCS, Bordeaux. [email protected] To develop scientific scientific fields, organized into communication the following areas of To support research training research: To participate in the analysis Life sciences … And Figures of the national and Physics international scientific Chemistry Budget for 2009 Organization Industrial Relations climate and its potential for Mathematics Û3.36 billion of which > 9 thematic institutes (2007) evolution in order to develop Computer science Û607 million comes > 19 regional offices, > 1680 contracts signed a national policy Earth sciences and from revenues ensuring decentralized by CNRS with industry Astronomy generated by CNRS direct management of in 2007 CNRS research units are Humanities and Social contracts laboratories > 30 current agreements spread throughout France, and sciences > 1100 research with major internat- employ a large body of Environmental sciences and Personnel units–90% are joint ional industrial groups permanent researchers, Sustainable development 32,000 employees: research laboratories > 3103 patent families engineers, technicians, and Engineering 11,600 researchers, with universities and > 729 licenses and other administrative staff. 14,400 engineers and industry financially remune- Laboratories are all on CNRS conducts some twenty technical staff, and 6000 rating active acts four-year, renewable interdisciplinary programs in non-permanent > Û58.2 million in royalties contracts, with bi-annual order to promote exchange employees > 394 companies created between 1999 and 2008

DAE AND DRI, TWO OFFICES DEVOTED TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

CNRS carries out research direct relations with its organizations as well as the IN NUMBERS: > International Programs for activities throughout the institutional partners abroad. activities of the Ministries of Exchange agreements: Scientific Cooperation world, in collaboration with The DAE and the DRI Research and Foreign 85 (with 60 countries) (PICS): 363 local partners, thus pursuing promote cooperation Affairs. > International Associated an active international policy. between CNRS laboratories To carry out their mission, Foreign visiting Laboratories (LEA + LIA): 89 and foreign research teams the DAE and the DRI–with scientists: 5000 (PhD > International Research students, post-docs, and Groups (GDRE + GDRI): 90 The Office of European through a set of structured head offices in Paris–rely on visiting researchers) > International Joint Units Affairs (DAE) and the Office collaborative instruments a network of eight (UMI): 18 of International Relations developed for this purpose. representative offices Permanent foreign staff (DRI) coordinate and At the same time, they abroad, as well as on the members: implement the policies of coordinate CNRS actions science and technology > About 1700 researchers of Contact: Isabelle Chauvel, CNRS in Europe and the rest with those of other French offices in French embassies whom more than 1200 come [email protected] of the world, and maintain and international research around the world. from Europe www.drei.cnrs.fr M. Mondin, D. Choquet/CNRS Photothèque Choquet/CNRS © M. Mondin, D.

CNRS International Magazine n3°1April 2009 FRENCH NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OFFICES ABROAD

IMOSCOWI ¯ Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States 1 Head: Vladimir Mayer IBRUSSELSI 14, rue Goubkina APP 98 European Union 117312 Moscow - Russia ¯ 1 Tel. +7 495 129 03 13 Head: Monica Dietl 1 Fax +7 495 938 22 29 IBEIJINGI 98, rue du Trône [email protected] ¯ China B - 1050 Brussels - Belgium 1 Tel. +32 2 548 10 40 Head: Jean-Claude Thivolle 1 IWASHINGTON DCI Fax +32 2 548 10 46 Golden Lake Apartment 1 [email protected] Baijiazhuang Dong Li #23 Block B 18B ¯ USA and Canada 100600 Beijing - China Head: Jean Favero Tel. +86 10 65901132 ITOKYOI French Embassy Fax +86 10 65901127 Mission Scientifique et [email protected] ¯ Japan and Korea Technologique Head: Natacha Aveline 4101 Reservoir Road RD, N.W. Maison Franco-Japonaise 6F Washington DC 20007-2176 - USA 3-9, Ebisu Tel. +1 202 944 62 40 1 Shibuya-ku Fax +1 202 944 62 43 Tokyo 150-0013 - Japan [email protected] IPARIS - Headquartersi Tel. +81 3 3443 8551 Fax +81 3 3443 8552 3, rue Michel-Ange [email protected] 75794 Paris Cedex 16 - France Tel. +33 (0)1 44 96 40 00 www.cnrs.fr

IHANOII ¯ South East Asia Singapore and Taiwan Trinh Le Tuyet 35 Dien Bien Phu Hanoi - Vietnam Tel. +84 4 734 51 23 [email protected]

ISANTIAGO DE CHILEI 1 ¯ Latin America IJOHANNESBURGI Head: Jean-François Marini Sub-Saharan Africa Romàn Diaz 264 ¯ Providencia Head: Anne Corval Santiago - Chile 1 IFAS Tel. +56 2 236 34 64 66 Wolhuter Street - PO Box 542 Fax +56 2 236 34 63 Newton 2113 [email protected] Johannesburg - South Africa Tel. +27 11 836 0561 Fax +27 11 836 5850 [email protected]

https://dri-dae.cnrs-dir.fr/