chemistry

Lourdes J. Cruz

Lourdes J. Cruz is a chemistry topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Lourdes J. Cruz rather than just read about it. In short: Lourdes J. Cruz (born May 19, 1942) is a Filipino biochemist whose research has contributed to the understanding of the biochemistry of toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails.

Key takeaways

Lourdes J. Cruz belongs to chemistry; place it in that map before memorising details.
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Reproduce the core statement of Lourdes J. Cruz from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Lourdes J. Cruz (born May 19, 1942) is a Filipino biochemist whose research has contributed to the understanding of the biochemistry of toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails. Throughout the Philippines, she is known as the Sea Snail Venom Specialist. The characterization of over 50 biologically active peptides from the snail's venom had been made possible, in part, by her studies. Scientific findings regarding the peptides found in snails have applications in diagnostic tools for cancers and the development of drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders. She has also contributed to the development of conotoxins as tools for examining the activity of the human brain. Her contributions to science have earned her several awards and acknowledgements including being named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2006.

Life and education Cruz was born on May 19, 1942, in Tanza, Cavite. Cruz received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1962 where she researched trypsin inhibitors. She later traveled to the United States to receive her master's and doctorate in biochemistry from University of Iowa in 1966 and 1968 respectively. Cruz worked at the International Rice Research Institute after completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees. She also completed a five-month postdoctoral position at Kansas State University.

Research Cruz has published over 130 academic papers and has a prolific career in research. In 1970, Cruz worked as an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. She began her research on Conus geographus, a venomous fish-hunting cone snail found in the waters of Marinduque and Mindoro of the Philippines whose sting can result in death in humans. Her work focused on the isolation of peptides from the conotoxins in the snail's venom during a time their effects were still unknown. Her research shed light on the effects of conotoxins on the central nervous system and their connection to muscular paralysis, drowsiness, involuntary motion and motor function. Today, conotoxin peptides are used extensively in biochemical probes. For example, two classes of conotoxins are used as analytical agents: ω-conotoxin has been widely used for studying neuronal calcium channels and μ-conotoxin has been used when controlling muscular activity to observe events at the synapse. Cruz has also pursued research in connecting science and technology to poor and indigenous rural communities. In 2001, she launched an initiative called the Rural LINC Program which allowed indigenous women in the Philippines to work at a fruit-processing plant in order to combat poverty. Additionally, she currently serves as the project leader for the Future Earth Philippines Program, an effort to reduce unsustainable practices like deforestation, coral reef degradation, pollution, and irresponsible mining and agriculture in the Philippines.

Awards Awards won include:

NAST Outstanding Young Scientist Award, (1981) NRCP Achievement Award in Chemistry (1982) L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2010) Outstanding Women in the Nation's Services Award - TOWNS Foundation and Lions Club (1986) Academician - National Academy of Science and Technology (1987) Professional Achievement Award in Biochemistry - University of the Philippines Alumni Association (1991) Sven Brohult Award - International Foundation Science (1993) Medal of Distinction (research) - Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1994) Outstanding Alumnus - University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation (1996) Gregorio Y. Zara Award in Basic Science - Philippine Association for Advancement of Science (2000) Service Award - Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2001) Outstanding ASEAN Scientist and Technologist Award (2001) Gawad Chancellor Award for Research (2002) Proclaimed as National Scientists - President of the Republic of the Philippines (2006)

References

Further reading Gorgoni, Luis (1998). The Filipino Scientists. Gagalangin Tondo, Manila: Loacan Pub. House. ISBN 971-668-027-9 Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology http://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/35-2012-news/228-national-scientist-lourdes-cruz-heads-dost-research-council.html Tecson-Mendoza, E. (2017) Biosketches: Filipino Trailblazers in Science and Technology. Taguig, Philippines. National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines. Vilvestre Jess (2019) Flip Science. Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz: The Pinay Biochemist Who Studied a Deadly Snail. https://www.flipscience.ph/news/features-news/features/national-scientist-lourdes-j-cruz/

External links Lourdes J. Cruz publications indexed by Google Scholar

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Lourdes J. Cruz

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Lourdes J. Cruz claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In chemistry, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Lourdes J. Cruz before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Lourdes J. Cruz ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Lourdes J. Cruz

In research: Lourdes J. Cruz appears in chemistry research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Lourdes J. Cruz in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Lourdes J. Cruz is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1942 births, 21st-century American women scientists, American biochemists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Lourdes J. Cruz outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Lourdes J. Cruz in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Lourdes J. Cruz means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Lourdes J. Cruz out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lourdes J. Cruz in simple terms?

Why does Lourdes J. Cruz matter?

Because it connects several chemistry ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Lourdes J. Cruz?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Lourdes J. Cruz.