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
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