September 1994

Today's researchers are being offered a host of opportunities to study philosophical implications of scientific activity As students at the California Institute of Technology arrive on campus for the fall semester, they're finding that a new ingredient has been stirred into the curricular mix. The Caltech catalog now lists an undergraduate major--a four-year degree program of required courses in science ethics and history--and a

Citing broad range of challenges facing the president, observers laud diversity among advisory panel choices PP.,10 Chairman and CEO of Martin Marietta Corp., Bethesda, Md. Currently serving on the Defense Policy Advisory Committee on Trade and as chairman of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Served as undersecretary of the Army in 1975-77. Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences and professor of

Today's researchers are being offered a host of opportunities to study philosophical implications of scientific activity As students at the California Institute of Technology arrive on campus for the fall semester, they're finding that a new ingredient has been stirred into the curricular mix. The Caltech catalog now lists an undergraduate major--a four-year degree program of required courses in science ethics and history--and a

Citing broad range of challenges facing the president, observers laud diversity among advisory panel choices PP.,10 Chairman and CEO of Martin Marietta Corp., Bethesda, Md. Currently serving on the Defense Policy Advisory Committee on Trade and as chairman of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Served as undersecretary of the Army in 1975-77. Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences and professor of

Symposia: Monday, September 19, 8:45 a.m.-noon: NICHD Distinguished Alumni Symposium: Contributions of Basic Science to Human Biomedical Research (Bldg. 10, Masur Auditorium) Tuesday, September 20, 8:30 a.m.-noon: HIV Pathogenesis and Therapy (Bldg. 10, Masur Auditorium) Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.-noon: Apoptosis and the Cell Cycle (Bldg. 10, Lipsett Amphitheater) Wednesday, September 21, 8:30 a.m.-noon: Genetic Predisposition to Diseas

Symposia: Monday, September 19, 8:45 a.m.-noon: NICHD Distinguished Alumni Symposium: Contributions of Basic Science to Human Biomedical Research (Bldg. 10, Masur Auditorium) Tuesday, September 20, 8:30 a.m.-noon: HIV Pathogenesis and Therapy (Bldg. 10, Masur Auditorium) Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.-noon: Apoptosis and the Cell Cycle (Bldg. 10, Lipsett Amphitheater) Wednesday, September 21, 8:30 a.m.-noon: Genetic Predisposition to Diseas

Biomedical career decisions have never been easy. It's typical for a bright young student assessing the options to go through a period of self-examination, according to doctors and scientists interviewed for this article. Such introspection generally focuses on questions like: "Do I need to care for sick people in order to be professionally fulfilled, or would I be happier doing basic research, which ultimately could benefit million

Biomedical career decisions have never been easy. It's typical for a bright young student assessing the options to go through a period of self-examination, according to doctors and scientists interviewed for this article. Such introspection generally focuses on questions like: "Do I need to care for sick people in order to be professionally fulfilled, or would I be happier doing basic research, which ultimately could benefit million

Given the international attention accorded the recent Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, another historic cross- cultural event taking place in Israel has received somewhat less publicity. Khaled El-Shami, a surgical intern from Alexandria University Hospital, has become IsraelUs first doctoral student from Egypt. The 29-year-old El-Shami, who holds a masterUs degree in molecular biology from the University of Sussex in England in

Given the international attention accorded the recent Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, another historic cross- cultural event taking place in Israel has received somewhat less publicity. Khaled El-Shami, a surgical intern from Alexandria University Hospital, has become IsraelUs first doctoral student from Egypt. The 29-year-old El-Shami, who holds a masterUs degree in molecular biology from the University of Sussex in England in

RICHARD E. SMALLEY Gene and Norman Hackerman professer of chemistry and professor of physics, Rice University, Houston. Richard Smalley believes that "science is a crucial enterprise, not just to keep us economically competitive with other nations but, more important, to develop practical solutions to the dilemmas facing society." In his Rice University laboratory, Smalley developed a new technology-- supersonic cluster beams -- tha

RICHARD E. SMALLEY Gene and Norman Hackerman professer of chemistry and professor of physics, Rice University, Houston. Richard Smalley believes that "science is a crucial enterprise, not just to keep us economically competitive with other nations but, more important, to develop practical solutions to the dilemmas facing society." In his Rice University laboratory, Smalley developed a new technology-- supersonic cluster beams -- tha

Unfortunately, the use of nonhuman animals in laboratories has always been entrusted to people in the habit of ardently shutting out criticism. Research bureaucrats, for example-- those who determine funding priorities--regularly sidestep criticism of animal experimentation, even if it comes from within the ranks of science and medicine. But certain challenges to their position are irrefutable. Since animal models are mere analogue

Owing to the ongoing debate over health-care reform, we've all become conversant on such once-esoteric subjects as "managed care" and "universal coverage." We're all interested in the matter, and the fact that politicians are meeting the issue head-on illustrates the power of public pressure. But there is one threat to human health that has slipped through a loophole in the public consciousness. It is a threat that has the potentia

Owing to the ongoing debate over health-care reform, we've all become conversant on such once-esoteric subjects as "managed care" and "universal coverage." We're all interested in the matter, and the fact that politicians are meeting the issue head-on illustrates the power of public pressure. But there is one threat to human health that has slipped through a loophole in the public consciousness. It is a threat that has the potentia

Unfortunately, the use of nonhuman animals in laboratories has always been entrusted to people in the habit of ardently shutting out criticism. Research bureaucrats, for example-- those who determine funding priorities--regularly sidestep criticism of animal experimentation, even if it comes from within the ranks of science and medicine. But certain challenges to their position are irrefutable. Since animal models are mere analogue

The National Institutes of Health's effort to streamline its peer-review process by virtually dismissing, after cursory examination, as many as half the research proposals it receives is not a good idea. This experiment at whatUs come to be known as "triage" will not solve any of the problems facing United States science; indeed, it will create new ones. Theoretically, early-stage identification and rejection of "noncompetitive" ap

The National Institutes of Health's effort to streamline its peer-review process by virtually dismissing, after cursory examination, as many as half the research proposals it receives is not a good idea. This experiment at whatUs come to be known as "triage" will not solve any of the problems facing United States science; indeed, it will create new ones. Theoretically, early-stage identification and rejection of "noncompetitive" ap

The Scientist, May 16, 1994, page 3), the suggestion was made that the significance of the most precedent-setting aspect of Jensvold v. Shalala (that mentoring is covered under the discrimination law) for other women professionals is unclear. That is not correct. The most precedent-setting aspect of Jensvold v. Shalala to date came in the August 1993 summary judgment ruling on the case, not in the 1994 trial. The August 1993 ruling

The Scientist [P. McCarthy, page 1]: Most of us have probably suspected that our manuscripts were being reviewed by ill-informed and unqualified reviewers, but rarely do we get a clear indication that such is the case. Twice within the past few years I have done the same inadvertent experiment by accidentally omitting a pivotal citation from a manuscript. Anyone qualified to review either paper should have spotted so glaring an omi

The Scientist [P. McCarthy, page 1]: Most of us have probably suspected that our manuscripts were being reviewed by ill-informed and unqualified reviewers, but rarely do we get a clear indication that such is the case. Twice within the past few years I have done the same inadvertent experiment by accidentally omitting a pivotal citation from a manuscript. Anyone qualified to review either paper should have spotted so glaring an omi

The Scientist, May 16, 1994, page 3), the suggestion was made that the significance of the most precedent-setting aspect of Jensvold v. Shalala (that mentoring is covered under the discrimination law) for other women professionals is unclear. That is not correct. The most precedent-setting aspect of Jensvold v. Shalala to date came in the August 1993 summary judgment ruling on the case, not in the 1994 trial. The August 1993 ruling

Editor's Note: This is the second part of a two-part series on the field of structural biology. Part 1, presented in the Aug. 22, 1994, issue of The Scientist (page 14), discussed the evolution of this booming discipline. This article focuses on structural biology's key areas of basic and applied research and looks ahead to its future. Following are some of the professional organizations whose memberships include structural biolo

Editor's Note: This is the second part of a two-part series on the field of structural biology. Part 1, presented in the Aug. 22, 1994, issue of The Scientist (page 14), discussed the evolution of this booming discipline. This article focuses on structural biology's key areas of basic and applied research and looks ahead to its future. Following are some of the professional organizations whose memberships include structural biolo

G.J. Giudice, D.J. Emery, L.A. Diaz, "Cloning and primary structural analysis of the bullous pemphigoid autoantigen, BP180," Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 99:243-50, 1992. George J. Giudice (Departments of Dermatology and Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee): "Our investigation of an autoimmune skin disease has uncovered a novel protein that may function in cell-matrix adhesion. The disease, bullous pemphi

Journal of Neuroscience, 12:3665-70, 1992. Terence J. Coderre (Pain Mechanisms Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Canada): "It has become increasingly evident over the past few years that, in addition to a sensitization of peripheral nociceptors, peripheral tissue injury leads to a sensitization of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). This sensitization is a form of neuronal plasticity that may contribute t

G.J. Giudice, D.J. Emery, L.A. Diaz, "Cloning and primary structural analysis of the bullous pemphigoid autoantigen, BP180," Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 99:243-50, 1992. George J. Giudice (Departments of Dermatology and Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee): "Our investigation of an autoimmune skin disease has uncovered a novel protein that may function in cell-matrix adhesion. The disease, bullous pemphi

Journal of Neuroscience, 12:3665-70, 1992. Terence J. Coderre (Pain Mechanisms Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Canada): "It has become increasingly evident over the past few years that, in addition to a sensitization of peripheral nociceptors, peripheral tissue injury leads to a sensitization of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). This sensitization is a form of neuronal plasticity that may contribute t

Molecular biologists and biochemists these days are focusing an increasing share of their investigations on the activities of a class of small peptide messenger molecules called cytokines. The following companies provide a broad array of cytokines and related products for use in biological research laboratories. For more information, please use the Reader Service Card inserted in this issue. Accurate Chemical & Scientific Corp.

Molecular biologists and biochemists these days are focusing an increasing share of their investigations on the activities of a class of small peptide messenger molecules called cytokines. The following companies provide a broad array of cytokines and related products for use in biological research laboratories. For more information, please use the Reader Service Card inserted in this issue. Accurate Chemical & Scientific Corp.

NEW PRODUCTS The POPPETTE series of adjustable, positive-displacement micropipettors is designed for polymerase chain reaction, DNA hybridization, and radioactive applications. The devices feature a disposable plunger and tip unit. Whatman LabSales Inc., Hillsboro, Ore. Circle No. 88 on Reader Service Card Purification Kit MAb Pharm is a new kit for producing and purifying research- scale quantities of monoclonal antibody (MAb

NEW PRODUCTS The POPPETTE series of adjustable, positive-displacement micropipettors is designed for polymerase chain reaction, DNA hybridization, and radioactive applications. The devices feature a disposable plunger and tip unit. Whatman LabSales Inc., Hillsboro, Ore. Circle No. 88 on Reader Service Card Purification Kit MAb Pharm is a new kit for producing and purifying research- scale quantities of monoclonal antibody (MAb

But for scientists like Kristine Ann Erickson, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a research associate at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary in Boston, AHAF's grant program provides a much-needed opportunity to expand their research. "I'm trying to define the pharmacology of the outflow system, the system that goes wrong" when glaucoma develops, says Erickson, who is in the midst of a two-year

But for scientists like Kristine Ann Erickson, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a research associate at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary in Boston, AHAF's grant program provides a much-needed opportunity to expand their research. "I'm trying to define the pharmacology of the outflow system, the system that goes wrong" when glaucoma develops, says Erickson, who is in the midst of a two-year

Mitchell D. Eggers, a bioengineer who headed the bioelectronics division of The Woodlands, Texas-based Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), is the first president and CEO of a new biotechnology company in the Houston area called Genometrix Inc. The new firm opened its doors on August 1. Temporarily housed at HARC, a nonprofit research organization that conducts biomedical studies, Genometrix will be targeting its efforts toward

Mitchell D. Eggers, a bioengineer who headed the bioelectronics division of The Woodlands, Texas-based Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), is the first president and CEO of a new biotechnology company in the Houston area called Genometrix Inc. The new firm opened its doors on August 1. Temporarily housed at HARC, a nonprofit research organization that conducts biomedical studies, Genometrix will be targeting its efforts toward