Researchers have been piecing together a more complex picture of the chemosensory experience of taste. Identifying new taste receptors on the surface of the tongue and elucidating the enzymatic steps in the signal-transduction pathways of taste are two areas in which biologists are engaged. Teasing apart the psychological and physical aspects of taste-an area of study called psychophysics-is yet another dimension to understanding how we taste food and drink. SCREENING MECHANISM: Andrew Spielma

Sidebar: Ethics Journals The rise in bioethics centers, courses, and degree programs within the last decade has spawned an expansion in the literature devoted to the subject. According to scientists and ethicists, this is exemplified by an upswing in the number of periodicals and, particularly, individual articles in peer-reviewed publications. This new literature genre covers such areas as scientific fraud and integrity; patients' rights; informed consent; genetic screening; and the disseminat

A sampling of relatively new journals related to science, medical, and engineering ethics that have started in the past seven years: Cambridge Quarterly Journal of Healthcare Ethics Cambridge Univeristy Press 40 W. 20th St., New York, N.Y. 10011-4211 Tel: (212) 924-3900 Fax: (212) 691-3239 E-mail: journals_marketing@cup.org http://www.cup.org First issue published in 1992 Ethics and Behavior Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc. 10 Industrial Ave., Mahwah, N.J. 07430 Tel: (201) 236-9500 Fax: (201)

Sidebar: DHEA - More Information Snake oil or magic bullet? Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a biochemical precursor to the sex hormones androgen and estrogen, has been touted in the last few years as the next cure-all for various ailments associated with aging. Human epidemiological and pilot clinical studies suggest that elevated levels of DHEA in the blood may be beneficial in preventing heart disease, improving immune function and well-being in the elderly, and combating depression. The horm

In the seven weeks since the announcement of the successful cloning of a lamb called Dolly from an adult ewe, the scientific community has had time to reflect on what they've read, heard, or watched in the mass media. Among the scientists and bioethicists interviewed by The Scientist, there is unanimous excitement about the research itself. Despite this enthusiasm, observers and participants have a mixed reaction to the initial media coverage of the Dolly story. Some are pleased with news repor

Sidebar: Fourteen Journals Surveyed on Financial Interest of Authors For More Information On Academic-Industrial Collaborations Two recent studies have renewed attention on the perennial controversy over industry support of academic research. Some observers maintain that conflict-of-interest issues inherent in academic-industrial collaborations compromise scientific integrity and contribute to the public's mistrust of science, while others argue that such relationships benefit society and are a

Journal TitleTotal Number of original articles on biology and genetics in 1992 Number of original articles with Ma. authors in 1992 Percentage of total number of articles Percentage of database (a) Disclosure of interests required by journal in 1992 American Journal of Human Genetics 27111 4.06 1.36 no Cell 357 51 14.29 6.29 no EMBO Journal 54628 5.13 3.45 no Genes & Development 21727 12.14 3.33 no Journal of Biological Chem. 3,8542265.86 27.87 no Journal of Cell Biology 51642

D. Blumenthal, N.Causino, E.G. Campbell, K.S. Louis, "Relationships between academic institutions and industry in the life sciences-an industry survey," New England Journal of Medicine, 334:368-73, 1996. D. Blumenthal, E.G. Campbell, N. Causino, K.S. Louis, "Participation of life-science faculty in research relationships with industry," N. Engl. J. Med., 335:1734-9, 1996. E. Haber, "Industry and the university," Nature Biotechnology, 14:441-2, 1996. S. Krimsky, L. S. Rothenberg, P. Stott, G.

Editor's Note: The year 1996 was a big one for Richard Zare, the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University. In May, he was elected chairman of the National Science Board (NSB), the governing body of the National Science Foundation. His six-year term as a committee member and two-year stint as head of the board both end in 1998. In the 10 months since his election, Zare, 57, has become known for his forward-looking, hands-on approach to science policy. In mid-August

The current sociopolitical climate in the United States affects funding and the ability to draw new investigators into the field, scientists contend. It seems as if one aspect of reproduction research or another is perpetually making headlines. In the most recent example, reports of cloned animals touched off a firestorm of debate on human cloning. Some researchers and ethicists contend that the field's notoriety comes from its connection with abortion-rights issues, an association that has st

Also in this story : Six Common Mistakes For More Information ... Setting up one's first lab can be a tortuous process requiring many decisions. Researchers must choose what kind of lab they want to run and the role they want to establish with technicians, students, and colleagues, among others. But guidelines on how to make those decisions and skills like managing a lab budget or hiring the right employees aren't taught to budding scientists. Many researchers say they learned what works best t

More Information - Diversity Training Date: February 17, 1997 Center of the American Experiment http://www.amexp.org Diversity Works http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/DiversityWeb Diversity Training Group http://www.diversitydtg.com/ Dupont Corp. Bernard Scales Human Resources 1007 Market St., Wilmington, Del. 19898 (302) 774-5441 · Fax: (302) 773-1914 http://www.dupont.com/ Genentech Inc. Theresa Isaacs 460 Point San Bruno, South San Francisco, Calif. 94080 (415) 225-1000