COOPERATIVE CELLS:Courtesy of Michael CarrollThe evolution of complex biologic organisms began with the symbiotic relationship between pro- and eukaryotes (I). This relationship gave rise to mitochondria (II), and the resulting diversity of unicellular organisms (III) led to their metabolic cooperativity (IV) mediated by ligand-receptor interactions and cell-cell signaling. Natural selection generated an increasing complexity (V). Failed homeostatic signaling (VI) recapitulates hylogeny/ontogeny

Your survey in the April 16 issue1 is an invaluable resource in the current research environment, both for personal considerations and for recruitment and retention of faculty. I was surprised by the comment that the longer a person is in academia, the better off he/she is in landing an industry position. That has not been my experience. Perhaps there is a point of diminishing returns? John S. Torday, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology Director, The Guenthe