| Wednesday, February 11, 1987/The Battalion/Page 7 SMILE FOR YOUR FAMILY’S GENERAL DENTAL CARE $ 29 00 CLEANING, EXAM & X-RAYS ★Call For Appointment, Reg. $44 Less Cash Discount $15 • Dental Insurance Accepted • Emergency Walk Ins Welcome • Evening Appointments Available • Nitrous Oxide Available • Complete Family Dental Care • On Shuttle Bus Route Hi ^(Anderson Bus) CarePlus^itf MEDICAL/DENTAL CENTER 696-9578 Dan Lawson D D S 1712 S W ‘ Parkwa y M - F 10 a m.-8 p.m. uan Lawson, (across from Kroger center) Sat. 9 a.m.-l p.m. at Slit vill mtt: neeui at 6 pi mCJ adder will mtei TY:wI 305 M 501U 102 T» t at 8:5 studenli e Collejf Photo by Tracy Staton r. Jay ThomnM col L etn petunia seeds from plants that are part of his gene experiments. New gene transfer method ould improve cereal crops /■N o By George Weissenberger Reporter Electroporation is a relatively new method of gene transfer that shows great potential in improv ing cereal crops, says Dr. Jay C. Thomas, a member of a gene transfer group in the biology de partment at T exas A&M. Electroporation allows genes to be transferred into monocotyle dons — corn, beans, barley, rice md other important crop plants, Thomas says. Before electroporation, he says, the preferred method of gene transfer was limited mostly to a group of plants called dicoty ledons, which doesn’t include ce real crops. This older method of transfer ring genes into dicotyledons, Thomas says, makes use of a type of bacteria called agrobacterium tumefaciens. This bacteria con tains a plasmid called the ti plas mid, which, for some unknown reason, can transfer part of its DNA into a plant cell, he says. In nature, Thomas says, this transfer of DNA can result in strange, tumor-like growths on plants. But in the lab, geneticists have learned to take advantage of the process by cutting out sections of the ti plasmid and filling the gap with other genes, he says. The genes then could be trans ferred into a plant cell by the bac teria, he says. Electroporation does away with this long bacterial process by al lowing f ree genes to directly en ter into a plant cell, Thomas says. T hrough electroporation, free genes are mixed with plant cells chosen by the geneticist, he says. The cells, he says, are prepared by having their cell walls dis solved by an enzyme called cellu lose. Once the cell walls of the plant cells are dissolved, the genes are allowed to come into di rect contact with the cell mem brane, he says. T hen, the solution is jolted with about 350-40() volts per cen timeter, he says, burning holes in the cell membrane, allowing the genes to enter and enabling the cell to repair itself . Afterward, the membrane is able to repair itself, he says. “If you’ve been very careful in growing your cells in your cultu res,” Thomas says, “you can end up with a mature plant. “Without being able to do this, the whole process of introducing new genes into a cell would be worthless. T he next challenge is to isolate genes that are of agron omic interest. We’re not thefe yet. We’re just f inding out what genes are important for disease resis tance.” Many interesting ge-nes already exist in nh’ture, he : says, and it’s just a matter of f inding them. ident At' Comptroller: Think about state income tax rams i ungt AUS TIN (AP) — State Comptrol ler Bob Bullock told Senate budget vriters Tuesday he is as opposed as inyone to a state income tax but |‘you might as well talk about it, you light as well think about it.” Bullock said because Louisiana las a state income tax, it will obtain about a 28 percent increase in reve- l Tme next year by amending its law to coincide with the new federal tax law. “But in Texas, where are we?” he asked. “We don’t have that, we don’t have a growth tax.” The comptroller appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on his request for an office appropria tion of nearly $218.4 million in 1988-89. Unlike what many state agencies are facing, the original Sen ate bill proposes almost as much as Bullock is requesting. Bullock said as a result of layoffs and job attrition during Texas’ re cent financial crisis, his office had lost 470 jobs the last two years. Sen. Roy Blake, D-Nacogdoches, recalled, “Years ago in East Texas, if you " e tax it was enougn iw — even (just) die mention.” Back By Popular Demand ons 2” 2 item pizza and 2 16oz. bottles of Coke for only Hi. DOMINO’S PIZZA DELIVERS" $7.25 I® IS Hours: Sun-Thur11 a.m.-l a.m. Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m. 693-2335 1504 Holleman 16” 2 item pizza and 2 16oz. bottles of Coke® foronly $9.95 No coupon necessary Tax included Good every Wednesday 260-9020 822-7373 4407 Texas Ave. Townshire Shopping Center /STUDENT GOVERNMENT TEXAS A&.M UNIVERSITY “ So, You Think Your A Texas Aggie” -Ormond Simpson Muster, first held on June 26, 1883, has become one of the most sacred Aggie traditions. In the early 1900s, Muster was changed to April 21, San Jacinto Day, In commemoration of the bat tle that won Independence for Texas against Mexico's Santa Anna 150 years ago. Every April 21, Aggies gather throughout the world to pay homage to all students and former students who have died during the year. The principal ceremony is held on campus where a roll call is read for those who have passed on. A candle is lit as each name is called, and some living comrade answers “Here” to symbolize that even though the Aggie is no longer present in body, he will always be present in spirit. Muster is more than a ceremony. It represents a pledge and re- sponsiblity of A&M men and women which has been handed down from generation to generation, from year to year. It is a way for each of us to renew our loyalty and unity, which constitute the basic foun dations of our relationship for each other and our love and devotion for our school. Muster, April 21 IS Pedernales Falls State Park February 20-22 Join us in hiking through the Texas Hill Country!! The $35 fee includes camping equipment, backpacks, food, permits, transportation costs, and experienced guides. Sign up in the Intramural-Recreational Sports Office in 159 Read until February 16. For more informa tion please call Patsy at 845-7826. y. fifty.. \ It They said it couldn't be done. But we've just hod the best sales season in our history! You are the greatest! You know your best buy when you see it and you've seen it at Suzannes. Now to show our appreciation, we've scoured the market to bring you even bigger bargains, better looks, at prices we hope will amaze you even further. Come on in. Now. You deserve the best and it's here waiting for you! DANKA! TWILL PANTS From Jack Mulqueen and First Time Dept. Store $32.00 $1999 ENJOY! SPRING SWEATERS, T-SHIRTS From Kazana and Erika Dept. Store $20.00 $999 *14e 9 o 9 MANY THANKS! 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