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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1959)
Institute delves into research on genes By JIM BOYD Emerald Mtaff W riter One year ago, the Institute of Molecular Biology wan juat an lik-R and a patch of lawn behind the science building. Today, the modest structure houses research that delves Into some of the most f indair.ental riddles of biology. It wan nearly noon when a hurried Emerald reporter inter viewed Aaron Novick, the Insti tute's director. The vlrdowlesa office wan ordinary :xcept for a vivid crayon drawing taped next to a blackboard crammed with biologic diagrams. Son sees wrinkles "See what my son thinks of me Look at the wrinkles," Nov ick said, pointing to the sketch. Son David had drawn his father with a red, ear-to-ear smile and 1. lack forehead creases. Turning serious. Novick ex plained that the work of the In stitute is concerned primarily with the nature and function of the material of which genes are made. He drew a cell diagrnm on the already-crowded board and ex plained that the gene has long Keen accepted as the unit of In heritance However, the mechan ism fin chemical terms) by which a given Inheritable char acteristic Is determined has only it cntly begun to be understood. Kmymfi are a mystery Apparently a Ren* provider for the manufacturing of p. specific «■ n /. y m « or protein molecule. These enzymes. produced within each cell, control the chemical rcnctlons characle:ietic of that cell, he said. If a gene fa analogous to a bi n- prirt, then the enzyme* be come the masor1*, carpenters and plumbers that build the organ ism. Juat how the protein is made is Novick's major interest, Genoa made of I).V\ It has been found, he explain ed that the gene is made of a substance labeled DNA (desoxy ribonucleic acid». Four small chemical units (A, G. T and Ct are strung bead-like together along these DNA chairs. Novick said that DNA might actually be called a four letter code. The arrangement of the A. G, T and C units direct the formation of the enzyme. His pers nai research ' protein syn thesis is aimed at finding the way ’hat this four symbol DNA code is changed into the 20 aym isi! language of enzymes. Lanky <6'5”j Frank Stahl, who jokingly insisted that the Emer ald should mention his hand someness if it mentioned his height, has his arsenal of prob lems too. Stahl has troubles, too It was well into the lunch hour In the adjoining office when Stahl, Novlck's associate, looked up from the assortment of sand wiches, avocados arid other lunch eon paraphenalia scattered across his desk. DNA does not make only en zymes, It makes more DNA, Stahl explained. This ability to duplicate characteristics is the reason that a blond woman may have a blond child. He sakl that DNA is actually composed of paired chains. When the chains separate and dupli cate, it is possible for an A. G, T or C unit to be stuffed Into the wrong slot. This causes a differ ent code, a new enzyme and per haps a new characteristic or mu tation. Stahl said the Institute is one of about 20 majors group* that are working in this field. When fully staffed. It will have five permanent members in addition to graduate researchers. No undergraduate classes are conducted, but graduate students may receive research Instruction. In addition to this, each of the Institute's members also teaches m one of the science depart ments. A Public Health Service train ing grant of S300.000 will be used over the next five-year period for the Institute's training and re search. Funds me available for fellowships in addition to Nov tek'a and Stahl's grants. Film Society.. (Continued from page 5) •torif's arc utilized in the unique node of the film.” fwo of the season's films will -e >hown at the Mayflower The atre: "Ararr»jito,”jthe Indian se quel to "Panther Panchali," and Charlie Chaplin's classic, "The Gold Rush." All other showings will be in the UT, and are sched uled for approximately every sec ond Sunday. Admission to the film society showings may be gained by mem bership only; transferable season tickets ($5) and term member ships ($2) are now on sale, in limited number, at the UT box office. TO HUTCH'S BIKE SHOP 960 Charnelton Dl 5-7521 WELCOME HOME and while you are in town dash in to your nearby Irish-Sv/artz Markets for some of these money saving specials. COFFEE hills ib 59c WITH TURKEY LACING KIT CRISCO 3 ,b-can 69c BISQUICK large pkg 29c HEINZ 14 oz. BOTTLE KETCHUP 4 for 89c PUMPKIN HUDSON HOUSE No. 2 Vi tins TOMATOES HUNTS SOLID PACK 4 N:,r 89= PEACHES HUNTS NO. 2Va for $*00 PIES SIMPLE SIMON Appls, Cherry, Fresh Frozen Berry, Pumpkin or Mince ea. DELICIOUS SNO BOY APPLES 3 ,b bas 49c NO. 1 QUALITY Ya ms °r Sweet potatoes 3 ibs. 29c TOMATO JUICE HUNTS 32 OZ. for $100 SHRIMP HARBOR BELL 4'/a OZ. CLEANED for $100 BABY FOOD HEINZ STRAINED 10 ,er 89c ARDEN QUALITY t MARGARINE 5«» 79c GIANT PACKAGE SOAP WHITE KING Pkg 49c PILLSBURY PANCAKE Fiour 8 ibs. 79c FLOUR Pillsbury "|Q ibs. 89c Irish-Swartz FOUR FRIENDLY MARKETS TO SERVE YOU
