Volume 72, No. 1, January 2008

eos || IN NEW ZEALAND ‘ ISSN 0110-5566 Volume 72, No.1, January 2008 ~ metaalaled A Cleaner and Greener New Zealand Thanks to 2,4,5-T, Science, and Silicones Biomedicals from Bone Do We Expect Too Much? Reflection on Chemistry Contentin Higher Education Fighting Food Fraud with Science MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of Cyanobacteria: a Global Approach to the Discovery of Novel Secondary Metabolites The 2007 NobelPrize in Chemistry 2008 International Year of Planet Earth Published on behalf of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in January, April, July and October eachyear. The New ZealandInstitute of Chemistry Advertising Sales Incorporated Fiona Summerfield 128a Halswell Road PO Box 39-112 Hillmorton Harewood Christchurch CHRISTCHURCH Phone: +64 3 359 7275 Phone: +64 3 980 4809 Mobile: 021 075 4917 Fax: +64 3 359 7248 Email: Email: NZIC.Office@nzic.org.nz fiona@thinkdifferent.co.nz Managing Editors and Publishers Disclaimer Fiona Summerfield and Rebecca Hurrell The views and opinions expressed in Chemistry in New PO Box 39-112 Zealand are those of the individual authors and are Harewood not necessarily those of the publisher, the Editorial Christchurch Board or the New ZealandInstitute of Chemistry. Phone: +64 3 980 4809 Whilst the publisher has taken every precaution to Email: fiona@thinkdifferent.co.nz ensure the total accuracy of material contained in Chemistry in New Zealand, no responsibility for errors Scientific Editor or omissions will be accepted. Professor B. Halton, FRSNZ, Hon, FNZIC School of Chemical and Physical Sciences Copyright 2008 Victoria University The contents of Chemistry in New Zealand are subject PO Box 600 to copyright and must not be reproduced in any Wellington form, wholly or in part, without the permission of the Phone: +64 4 463 5954 Publisher and the Editorial Board. Fax: +64 4 463 5241 Email: brian. halton@vuw.ac.nz BIOLAB Biolab is the supplier of quality chemicals and consumables to provide a total solution for the chemical services market. Areasof specialty include chemicals, glassware, lab and filtration technology. 4 saat r 5 Vv, Mallinckrodt (BDH) I LabServ 3 | kd CHEMICALS £ PRONALYS = Generations of Good Chemistry™ For further information please contact customerservice PH: 0800 933 966 EMAIL: info@biolabgroup.com —Eeees &Chemi ry Volume 72, No.1, January 2008 : Articles and Features 8 A Cleaner and Greener New Zealand Thanksto 2,4,5-T, Science, and Silicones J A Zabkiewicz 13 Biomedicals from Bone Michael R. Mucalo* and Andrew J. Worth? 18 Do We Expect Too Much? Reflection on Chemistry Content in Higher Education Richard K. Coll 22 Fighting Food Fraud with Science Bea Perks 25 MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of Cyanobacteria: a Global Approach to the Discovery of Novel Secondary Metabolites Jonathan Puddick and Michéle R. Prinsep 29 The 2007 NobelPrize in Chemistry 34 Commenton Climate Change Mythconceptions Vincent R. Gray 35 Response Doug S. Mackie and Keith A. Hunter 37 New Zealandis Different: Chemical Milestones in New Zealand History Other Columns 2 NZIC January News 32 Chemistry Behind the News 33 Patent Proze 36 Letter to the Editor 36 Dates of Note 36 ChemScrapes ~ Brendan Burkett Cartoons 37 Book Feature: New Zealandis Different 38 Book Reiew: Handbookof Australasian Edible Oils 39 Conference Calendar 40 Grants and Scholarships Chemistry in New Zealand January 2008 a 4 New ZealandInstitute of Chemistry ‘S & supporting chemical sciences ‘7 January News RSNZ Fewllowships Genetargeting allows the production launched in 1977 and the most recent of almost any type of DNA modifi- read-out techniques of today are fur- Prof Sally Brooker (Otago Univer- sity and NZIC Branch Delegate) was cation in the mouse genome,thusal- ther developments of GMR. the sole chemist among the thirteen lowingscientists to establish the roles The prize in chemistry (Oct. 10) elected to Fellowship of the Royal of individual genes in health and dis- was awarded to Gerhard Ertl (Fritz- Society of New Zealand on Nov 7. ease. Gene targeting has already pro- Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Ge- Congratulations from Council and duced more than 500 different mouse sellschaft, Berlin) for his studies of the Branches. models of humandisorders, including cardiovascular and neuro-degenera- chemicalprocesses on solid surfaces. His groundbreaking studies are in- The 2007 Nobel Prizes tive diseases, diabetes and cancer. dustrially important and help the un- Commencing on October8, the 2007 The physics prize (Oct. 9) went to derstanding of why iron rusts, how prizes were announcedin their usual Albert Fert (Université Paris-Sud, fuel cells function, and how the cata- sequence. A brief synopsis of the sci- France) and Peter Griinberg (Forsc- lysts in our cars work — moredetail is ence awardsis provided below. hungszentrum Jiilich, Germany) for provided elsewhere in this issue. the discovery of Giant Magnetoresis- The physiology medicine prize (Oct. tance. It recognises their work that led The Nobel Peace Prize (Oct. 12) was 8) was awarded jointly to Mario R. to the technology used for data read- shared, in two equal parts, between Capecchi (University of Utah), Sir ing on hard disks. It is thanks to this the Intergovernmental Panel on Martin J. Evans (Cardiff University), them that hard disks have been min- Climate Change (IPCC) and Albert and Oliver Smithies (University of iaturized so radically in recent years, Arnold (Al) Gore Jr for their efforts North Carolina) for their discoveries as illustrated by the sensitive read-out to build up and disseminate greater of principles for introducing specific heads for compact hard disks in lap- knowledge about man-made climate gene modifications in mice bythe use tops and some music players. change, and to lay the foundations of embryonic stem cells. The Laure- for the measures that are needed to ates madea series of ground-break- In 1988 Frenchman Fert and German counteract such change. This award ing discoveries concerning embryon- Griinberg each independently dis- has not been withoutcriticism, nota- ic stem cells and DNA recombination covered totally new physical effect bly by those whoareof the view that in mammals with discoveries that — Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR). CO, levels have had no impact but led to the creation of the immensely The GMR effect was discovered also those whofeelthat the recipients powerful technology known as gene thanks to new techniques developed have donelittle for global peace. targeting in mice. It is now applied during the 1970s to produce very thin to virtually all areas of biomedicine layers of different materials. To work, 2007 New Zealand — from basic research to the develop- GMRneedsstructures consisting of Association of Science ment of new therapies. layers that are only a few atoms thick Awards andforthis reasonit is one of thefirst Genetargeting is often usedto inacti- The Council of NZAS announcedit real applications of nanotechnology. vate single genes. Such gene knock- suite of awards for 2007 during No- The very weak magnetic changes ~e out experiments have elucidated the vemberlast as: that give rise to major differences in roles of numerous genes in embry- electrical resistance ina GMR system onic development, adult physiology, provided the perfect tool for reading Marsden Medal aging and disease. To date, more than data from hard disks when informa- ten thousand mouse genes, ca. 50% The Marsden Medal for outstanding tion registered magnetically has to be of the genes in the mammalian ge- contribution to the cause or profes- converted to electric current. Other nome, have been knocked out. Ongo- sion of science went to Prof Ailsa researchers and engineers subse- ing international efforts should make Goulding, at the University of Otago, quently used the effect to provide the knockout mice for all genes available Dunedin for her sustained leadership read-outheads. Thefirst of these was in the nearfuture. and personal contribution to research 2 Chemistry in New Zealand January 2087 on bone density, osteoporosis, and A/Prof Eric Ainscough (Manawatu) subscription in the following year the role of obesity and nutrition in for their work in the field of coordi- children’s health. nation chemistry. They have been Branch subsidies to students longstanding collaborators at Massey, Council urges Branches notto subsi- Shorland Medal working in a range of coordination dise travel or conference fees to stu- and organometallic chemistry ar- dents who have less than 6 months The Shorland Medalfor research was eas, most recently on novel ligands membership andare financial (paid- awarded to Dr Robin Mitchell (Hor- derived from phosphazene-derived up members)at the time of any con- tResearch) for making an outstanding scaffolds. sideration for subsidy. personallifetime contribution in using the skills of a chemist to answer Industrial & Applied Chemistry Specialist group an important biological and com- (formerly Nufarm) Professor Jim mercial problem - how pathogenic Johnston (Wellington). Jim has Movesare taking place to set up an bacteria cause harmto plants. Robin madesignificant contributions across environmental green and industrial wasrecipient of the 1978 NZIC East- a wide rangeofindustrial and applied chemistry specialist group. If you in- erfield medal. chemistry areas, most recently using terested in being included, advise the NZIC Office. gold nanoparticles as novel colorants in fashion textiles. Research Medal Clever Kiwis stamps The Research Medal, awarded to a The Denis Hogan Chemical Educa- NZIC now ownsa first day cover with

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