CONTENTS

October 2007

The facts never speak for themselves. As a result, scientists must learn to focus on presenting, or “framing,” their messages in ways that connect with diverse audiences, say MATTHEW C. NISBET and DIETRAM A. SCHEUFELE. Plus, see results of our reader poll about the importance of framing.

RELATED:

A typology of frames specific to science-related issues

Here’s what you think

How to start?

Will Panama’s planned widening of the famed interocean canal spell ecologic trouble? We sent ANDREA GAWRYLEWSKI to Panama to investigate the effects of canal expansion on the area’s ecology.

RELATED:

Expanding evolutionary history

The plan to expand

Slideshow: Expanding the world’s most famous canal

What can we learn from the in-process encyclopedia of how non-protein-coding sequences exert genetic control? MELISSA LEE PHILLIPS presents an overview of what roles microRNAs are playing in the body, and the experience of one lab studying these small but abundant regulatory RNAs. Plus, JOHN S. MATTICK explains why he believes most of the human genome is functional.

RELATED:

MicroRNAs: An emerging portrait

One lab mines for microRNAs

The human genome as an RNA machine

Whether drug companies like it or not, the FDA is pushing for patient-reported outcomes in trials. ED SILVERMAN asks: What is this data good for?

RELATED:

Putting it all together

CONTRIBUTORS

MAIL

EDITORIAL

Scientists on science Should researchers "frame" their work, or is that just spin?
RICHARD GALLAGHER

COLUMNS

What is your brain worth? Neurological diseases cost billions, but we shouldn't overspend on brain research.
GLENN MCGEE

Poisoning the poison A new biologic could save the thousands of people killed by pesticides every year.
JACK WOODALL

OPINION

Discrimination in academia A faculty member and administrator who resigned over conditions at MIT speaks out.
FRANK DOUGLAS

Notebook

The agenda; Scorpion tags tumors; Poop tracking; Seafloor to bench top; Koalas vs. chlamydia; Slideshow: Saving koalas from chlamydia; Fashioning conservation; Slideshow: Is the South China tiger worth saving?

FOUNDATIONS

RSV: the first specimens

PROFILES

Not flowers, but flies Gerry Rubin was exposed to the leading lights of molecular biology right from the start of his career. Now he's trying to attract the next generation of leaders to Janelia farm.
KAREN HOPKIN

Scientist to watch: Dee Denver: Shaking up mutation

An antibiotic to the rescue How Cubist's Jeff Alder turned a devastating Phase III failure into an approval.
KEITH O'BRIEN

THE LITERATURE

Hot paper: Stimulating discoveries Two groups reveal an essential messenger in storeoperated calcium entry.
BOB GRANT

Hot paper in microbiology: Diversity in the gut

Hot paper in epigenetics: Methylation mystery

Hot paper in neuroscience: Cannabinoid receptor surprise

Sequencing surge How two new methods and two years have changed sequencing.
EDYTA ZIELINSKA

Papers to watch

Model variation

Group migration

LAB TOOLS

Genomic alterations 2.0 How to make the most of the evolving technology for detecting copynumber variants.
MELISSA LEE PHILLIPS

How it works: CGH arrays

CAREERS

For the hottest jobs, go regulatory The most in-demand jobs in science, and how to get a piece of the action.
KELLY RAE CHI

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Spotlight on Atlanta, Georgia(PDF) submitted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce