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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2004)
Today Wednesday Thursday High: 78 High: 71 High: 78 Low: 50 Low: 47 Low: 49 Precip: 0% Precip: 0% Precip: 20% IN BRIEF Gene delays female puberty; may be linked to obesity PORTCAND — A gene that delays female puberty and may be linked to obesity has been identified by Oregon Health & Science University researchers. Experiments with mice suggest that absence of the gene in the hypothala mus delays the onset of puberty. Sergio Ojeda, a senior scientist at the OHSU Oregon National Primate Re search Center who led the study, said a number of research papers have indi cated recently that girls are reaching puberty at an earlier age. “While there is no definitive infor mation ... other research has suggest ed that if this is the case, it may be linked to the nation’s obesity crisis,” Ojeda said. The gene, called TTF-1, is expressed in the hypothalamus during sexual de velopment. The mouse study suggested the gene not only affects the timing of pu berty, it can shorten the time during which the animal can reproduce. The researchers found that mice lacking the TTF-1 gene had fewer lit ters, had fewer pups in each litter, and their reproductive time span was half that of a normal animal. Prior to the mouse study, Ojeda’s research team found similar results with rats, followed by studies con firming that expression of the TTF 1 gene increases in the hypothala mus of nonhuman primates at the onset of puberty. Ojeda and his colleagues are track ing other genes that might interact with TTF-1 to control the onset of puberty in animals and humans. “We know that children recently described to have mutations of this gene suffer from loss of motor coor dination and alterations in fluid bal ance,” said Ojeda. The study was presented Sunday at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego. — The Associated Press r FUJICOLOR |p R 0 C E 5 5 I K G. I N C.l PHOTO SPECIALS Oct 25 - Nov 7 $2°° OFF DOUBLE PRINTS (c-41 full-frame color print film) 12 exp 24 exp 36 exp 3x5 $1.25 $3.25 $5.25 4x6 $3.25 $5.25 $8.25 UOBookstore.com UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE TIAA-CREF INVITES YOU TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. This week, your TIAA-CREF representative will be on the University of Oregon campus to talk to you about your financial goals. There’s no better time than now to look at where you want to go—and do some fresh thinking on how you want to get there. What’s more, your TIAA-CREF representative is experienced and knowledgeable about every aspect of the University of Oregon retirement plan. So wherever you are in your life or career, you’ll get clear, straightforward guidance. And because our Individual Consultants don’t work on commission, you can be sure they’re thinking of your best interests. In fact, for over 85 years, TIAA-CREF has been dedicated to serving those whose life work serves the greater good. We look forward to speaking with you. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH TIAA-CREF INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GUY AMES DATES: October 26-28, 2004 PLACE: ERB Memorial Union, Century Room B Appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. To reserve your one-on-one appointment, call us toll-free at 877-209-3142, ext. 2615, or sign up online at www.tiaa-cref.org/moc FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR THE GREATER GOOD" You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Please call 877-518-9161 for a prospectus that contains this and other information. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Guy Ames is a registered representative of TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc. distribute securities products. TIAA (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association), New York, New York, and TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company, New York, New York issue insurance and annuities. TIAA-CREF does not offer tax advice. See your tax advisor regarding your particular situation. © 2004 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 C32497
