THE BATTALION
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1980
Page 3
Local
Homed co-op expanding,
ffering new experiences
v, KATHLEEN WAKEFIELD
^ Jr Battalion Reporter
Tlexas A&M University students
\IL been working with mice, doc-
J Hand patients in cancer research
r t of a biomedical science
Iperative education program,
field reCancer research is on e of the co-op
major ll'ortunities biomedical science
iverett ents have participated in recent-
ce n The study was a part of the Stehhn
^ imdation for Cancer Research in
. uston, said Dr. Archie Flowers
ssi0 n,rii |f es s 0 r of veterinary public health
1 Repuii Texas A&M.
« outsii Some students took part in expen
ds which involved laboratory
ntheHii ce, Flowers said. The small bald
ce are genetic mutants which lack
spleen and a thymus, he said.
n fihocf; ithout these organs, the mice are
if the ^ a ble to produce antibodies which
•y tinlibl mbat bacteria.
they d 0 Flowers said a germ-free environ-
n andEo ®t is created inside the bodies of
lat slot mice, which are placed in sterile
laboratory surroundings. A patient’s
cancer is introduced into the mouse’s
system, and anti-cancer solutions are
injected into the mouse. Since all
cancer is different, scientists can
learn exactly which solutions affect
that particular person’s cancer.
Another co-op program last sum
mer involved four Texas A&M stu
dents who worked for the Texas De
partment of Health in zoonosis con
trol, Flowers said. Zoonosis is any
disease transmitted from animal to
man.
This program was a one-time
opportunity, but Texas A&M is plan
ning a full-time co-op program with
the department to provide students
with on-the-job experience.
“It allows the student to apply
what he learns in the classroon to an
actual job, which reinforces his
learning,” Flowers said.
The program allows the students
to look more closely at their chosen
career and to work with employers in
the field. Flowers said it also gives
the employers a chance to look at
co-op students and select possible
job candidates following graduation.
The biomedical co-op program at
Texas A&M is considered by other
universities as an honors program,
but Flowers said it is not. A student
must have at least a 2.5 grade point
ratio, and depending on the major,
may begin co-op after the freshman
or sophomore year.
Biomedical co-op primarily serves
students interested in biomedical re
search, but it also provides an alter
native for students who are not
accepted into veterinary school.
A co-op student trains under a
veterinarian and works as an assis
tant. After graduation the student is
able to perform many of the veterina
rian’s tasks, and work for a vet as a
full-time employee.
The average salary for co-op stu
dents is $700 a month.
“e mi" vsone seeds elicit worry
rdwoul
y in pit*
;nsof4
have
Attorney
charges
Schwartz
United Press International
GALVESTON — An attorney for
Sheam Moody, a Galveston finan
cier embroiled in a suit with state
Sen. A.R. “Babe” Schwartz, filed a
police report Monday alleging the
state official struck him.
Briscoe Swan of Houston filed the
complaint with police, alleging
Schwartz was angered over a con
tinuance granted in a suit filed by
Moody against Schwartz.
Moody claimed Schwartz, who
represents the 17th state senatorial
district, owes him money. Schwartz,
an attorney, claims the money was
collected as fees while Schwartz was
Moody’s attorney.
Schwartz was in Texas City follow
ing the report and could not be
reached for comment.
Robert Collins, also a Houston
attorney representing Moody, re
ported to police Schwartz had struck
him with a briefcase outside Judge
Ed Harris’ 10th district court.
Police said the complaint would be
investigated.
CS schools purchase three
buses, table handicap matter
By VENITA McCELLON
Battalion Reporter
The College Station Independent
School District approved the purch
ase of three buses for the district
Monday night, while voting to table
a proposal by the administration for a
special bus for handicapped stu
dents.
Two of the buses will be dedicated
to new routes needed because of an
increased number of students using
the school’s transportation; the third
will be used to replace a bus current
ly on a route. The buses will cost an
MMSC AGGIE
estimated $24,000 each. The purch
ase was approved by a 6-0 vote.
Bus transportation use in the dis
trict increased over 48 percent, said
Donald P. Ney, assistant superinten
dent.
“Approximately six percent of this
increase is attributable to the fact
that we have an increased popula
tion,” he said. The biggest increase
in bus usage was at A&M Consoli
dated High School, where the num
ber of students transported by the
district increased 116.8 percent.
Ney attributed this rise to the de
creased number of student-driven
cars because of energy conservation.
Ney estimated that the buses will
arrive sometime in July or August of
1981.
The board tabled a proposal for the
purchase of a bus for students requir
ing wheel chairs until the adminis
tration could look into alternatives,
which might include conversion of
buses already owned by the district
or a revision in the routes.
The board also heard reports on
the progress of the Learner Based
Accountability System, which is
being implemented in the district.
WW&.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO MSC AGGIE CINEMA!
ACTIVE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MEETING YOU!
Breeders improving plants
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By TRACY L. FENTON
Battalion Reporter
Although we may not be growing the same types of
matoes or snap beans that grandmother grew, thanks
seed and plant breeders, the ones we are growing are
[gger and better.
Dr. Samuel D. Cotner, horticulturist with the Texas
jgricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University
Jystem, said people blame seed and plant breeders
;cause some of the older varieties of seeds are dropped
ich year in favor of newer hybrids.
“I think people are too worried about losing some of
he old varieties when we’ve got better varieties avail-
pie today,” he said.
[Cotner said people are also concerned about the
shrinking of the gene pool.” He said people think the
lybrids will be more susceptible to disease and insects
ecause the gene pool, or base for variability, is nar-
iwed.
Many plants began wild and thus had more variation
in their gene pool. Cotner said seed breeders today are
emoving some of that variability to get a more uniform
ilant.
"As we improve it (the plant), it becomes less vari
able,” Cotner said. “The genetic pool is smaller.”
: It is possible, he said, that narrowing the gene pool
will make the plant more vulnerable to disease.
BHA to hear
Parsons talk
on parking
Col. Thomas Parsons, Director of
ecurity and Traffic, will discuss the
larking situation and security on
ampus at the Residence Hall Asso-
iation meeting tonight in room 204
Ipfthe Harrington Classroom Center.
A revision in the phone system on
:ampus from dialing to extension
lumbers will also be discussed, RHA
President Sherrie Balcar said.
An RHA committee will report on.
their investigations into the
weekend crowding at Northgate area
bars, Balcar said.
“There are varieties that are more susceptible to cer
tain diseases than others,” he said.
Cotner said the plants are more prone to illness be
cause as plants change, the diseases change.
“As we develop new varieties, the disease, in order to
exist, will mutate in order to survive on whatever char
acteristics this plant has,” he said. “They (diseases) can
mutate and change just like plants do. ”
Nevertheless, Cotner said the gene pool is not being
destroyed. The National Seed Storage Laboratory in
Fort Collins, Colo., maintains a gene pool of all plants
and varieties.
Cotner said plant breeders are encouraged to put
their seeds and genetic material in the laboratory, which
has ideal conditions for long-term livablity.
“Then if this genetic material is ever needed, the seed
can be increased and made available to plant breeders
all over the world,” he said.
Though some people think seed and plant breeders
are leading us down a thorny path, Cotner disagrees.
“We’ve got as many fruits and vegetables to eat as
we’ve ever had before,” he said. “We’ve got fewer far
mers feeding more people, so somebody’s doing right
somewhere with regard to agriculture. And certainly
the plant breeders have an important part in this.”
rr
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