Cell biology allocation to fund equipment, staff By Sandy Johnstone Of the Emerald As the needle pokes into the diabetic's flesh, she heaves a sigh of relief. Finally, she is able to get human insulin instead of the cow or pig insulin that never worked exactly right. Human insulin can now be "grown" by taking the proper gene and placing it in bacteria, producing human insulin that is more effective than that taken from cows or pigs, medicine's traditional source of insulin. Research in molecular biology made that application possible. "Science is characterized as a series of breakthroughs," says Aaron Novick, chairer of the biology department. Now special funding provided by the Oregon Legislature and private industry will give the University the chance to discover more of these types of breakthroughs. Cell biology applies molecular biology to more complex creatures, asking questions about how genes are controlled and how they are regulated. The cell biology program will have some separation from the Institute of Molecular Biology, but final details have not yet been worked out, Novick says. The University received $497,000 for this academic year as Its share of the $2.67 million allotted to the state system during the next two years for high technology research. The money will be split between the computer science department and the cell biology program, but no exact breakdown has yet been made. The money will be used for some new staff and equipment, Novick says. Chemistry Prof. Ed Herbert will direct the institute for two years, until he leaves the University to direct a new institute at Portland State University. "We want to get the very best people available nationally," Novick says. "We (the Institute of Molecular Biology) are ranked high in the national ratings and I we are not interested in doing less well in the future." Actual research will be sup ported by other "outside" funds. "All our people now have grants, and we will choose people who will get grants," says Novick. Aaron Novick New staff also will teach classes. Of the Institute of Molecular Biology's total budget, the new money only totals about 5 percent. But the funds are critical in hir ing new staff and building the pro gram, Novick says. "It illustrates how much a relatively small amount of money can do. "I have been surprised through the years when the state has not given support to the program," he says. "It is long deserved. "It is cheering that at a time of great poverty the state is willing to do this. It is good for morale that we do something positive, but we do not want to do it at the expense of the rest of the University. There is no sense in a University that is excellent in only one area." Research in cell biology is im portant both for the knowledge it provides about human life and for the applications to medicine, Novick says. "We want to simply under stand," Novick says. "People are curious and want to understand who and what we are." And understanding life at the fundamental level can lead to payoffs in the material world, Novick says. Through molecular biology, scientists have learned techniques to use organisms such as bacteria to produce substances which are very useful to people. One exam ple of this is creating human insulin. "The University is a pioneer in this area," Novick says. Maranatha Christian Fellowship Welcomes You To The U of O! We invite you to attend these upcoming events: • Greg Anthony speaking on social and political issues of our day. Sept. 28,29, at 7:30 p.m. • Open House Oct. 1, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. • Movie Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. “Chariots of Fire” • Wednesday Fellowship Meeting, 7:30 p.m. • Sunday Worship Service, 10:30 a.m. (All events at Maranatha House, unless indicated otherwise) MOT7EL fRM ELECTRONICS ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT AND* ACCESSORIES 1810 WEST 7TH Eugene LCD PEN WATCH .... LCD Month/Date/Time v w In a Ballpoint Pen AM/FM/CASSETTE Short Chassis $3999 SLIMLINE 7 BAND AUTO EQUALIZER s399® WATTS Back To School Special Students and Faculty 10% OFF On All Regular Prices with U of O ID • Thru Oct 30, 1983 • SALE ITEMS EXCLUDED STEREO SPORTS POCKET FM RADIO & HEADPHONES W/ Batteries $19" Smtw Sport* AM/FM MODEL $29" AM/FM DIGITAL CLOCK RADIO led i i ,ii READOUT $-| 499_ la-de' -i I V West 7th & Grant 687-0418 Hours: Mon - Sat 9 am - 6 pm _w, 7th MODERN ELECTRONICS __W 6th s E—|— W In the Old Grand AMG Building GARFIELD ■ Illl I »■» »' ' ' BONELESS BREAST OF CHICKEN SANDWICH Something better forwendys kind of people. Present this coupon for 10% OFF Any Sandwich or Salad Bar Get another 10% OFF with your UO MAGICARD Good Al Wendy's on Franklin Boulevard. Not valid with any other. Fun Pak. or Side Salad. Please present coupon when ordering. One coupon per customer. OFFER EXPIRES OCT. 8. 1983 •• II + II ~ * * * //