Illli
Page 2 • The Battalion
■■
HEALTH PRONTIERS
& SCIENCE
Monday • September 5 |
liliasiiili
The Battalion’s
approach to science
New weekly section in paper
S cience. It’s a short word, easy to pronounce, fairly
easy to spell, yet for some reason, millions of people
shudder when they hear it mentioned.
They see science as complicated and difficult to under
stand. They believe it has no relevance to their daily
lives. As a result, people avoid science whenever they
can. It’s easier for them to ignore than to try to under
stand. The Battalion has also been guilty of this in recent
years. But, that’s about to
change.
In this issue, The Battalion
introduces its Frontiers sec
tion. A weekly feature appear
ing in Monday’s newspaper
that will focus on health and
science — their issues, their
advancements, their key play
ers, and their relevance to
everyday life.
MARK
EVANS
Managing Editor
We hope to make science interesting to read about and
to present it in ways where everyone can understand
what’s going on. Instead of approaching topics from a
technical aspect and giving readers more information
than they need or want to know, we’ll boil complex topics
down, making them easier to digest.
For example, in an upcoming issue we’ll examine DNA
fingerprinting and why it’s such a hot topic right now.
We’ll tell you why its use in the O.J. Simpson case is so
hotly debated by the attorneys on both sides and what
the issue means to future court cases that involve rape or
murder.
In stories appearing in this section, we won’t limit our
selves to telling you only the scientific aspect of a topic.
The story would be incomplete. Scientific endeavors do
not take place in a vacuum.
Researchers can no longer look down on the world
from their ivory towers in academia. In today’s world,
economics and politics are playing an ever-growing role
in fields of scientific research. Scientists are learning
that to be successful they must confront political, social
and economic issues. As part of our coverage, we will give
readers a complete view of everything that goes into re
search.
The field of science is growing by leaps and bounds
every year. Less than 50 years ago scientists deciphered
the structure of DNA, which determines a person’s genet
ic blueprints. Today, this information is being used to de
velop ways to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis and
muscular dystrophy.
In this section we’ll focus not only on national scientif
ic issues and research but also on the types of research
going on here at A&M.
Texas A&M spends an estimated $305 million annual
ly on research. Currently, A&M scientists are studying
topics that range from saving endangered sea turtles to
growing more productive crops to testing the effective
ness of tuberculosis vaccines. In the coming months, we’ll
introduce you to these people and offer you a glimpse of
the work they do.
We have no lofty goals for this section. We simply be
lieve that science plays such an important role in modem
society that The Battalion should join the ranks of other
newspapers in keeping its readers abreast of the latest
scientific advances. And, if we can make science interest
ing to read about and if readers put the section down
knowing something they didn’t before, then all the better.
A&M cloning cows for better bura^i 0
■ tPodaysGtic
By Katherine Arnold
The Battalion
The College of Veterinary Medicine is at
tempting to create the genetic blueprint for
cattle through a new genetic project de
signed to pinpoint desired genetic traits.
The National Cattle Genome Project is
attempting to map the genetic code of cattle.
Once scientists know where the genes are
located, the genes may be altered to serve
such functions as improve milk production
or prevent disease.
Dr. James E. Womack, coordinator for
the project and professor and associate head
of the Department of Veterinary Medicine
and Pathobiology, said the research could
have major implications on the cattle indus
try.
“By creating a map of the entire genome
of cattle, we hope to be able to locate impor
tant genes involved in milk production and
meat quality,” Womack said. “We have al
ready discovered the location of certain
genes, such as the genes for certain diseases
and characteristic genes like the gene for
horns.”
The number of chromosomes and the lo
cation of genes in the chromosomes deter
mines unique characteristics and distin
guishes the difference between living organ
isms. The chromosomes are found in the
nucleus of all cells. Cattle have 60 chromo
somes, whereas humans have 46 chromo
somes.
Researchers use a unit called a centiMor-
gan to judge the accuracy of their research.
Womack said at this point in the study, the
gene map is accurate to within 20 centiMor-
gans, or has an 80 percent accuracy.
Through this project, researchers hope to
be able to cure genetic diseases.
“We want to be able to breed lines of cat
tle that are resistant to infectious diseases,”
Womack said.
The University is one of approximately 10
laboratories around the country participat
ing in the research which is is funded by the
United States Department of Agriculture.
Much of the information garnered by the
project is also used for comparative studies.
The genome map for cattle can be compared
to the map for humans and mice, Womack
said.
“We have discovered that the breakage of
chromosomes has been conservative
throughout evolution,” he said. “We can
find many of the genes for specific traits or
diseases in cattle and mice in approximately
the same location on the chromosomes in
humans. All the research complements each
other.”
Dr. Susan Hardin, director of the Gene
Technologies Lab in the Department of Biol
ogy, said that genetic research such as the
National Cattle Genome Project is beneficial
to the scientific community.
“Some genetic research is done with the
‘knowledge for knowledge’s sake’ goal in
mind,” Hardin said. “Researchers never
know when they begin a project what the re
sult will be and how it will impact the rest
of the scientific community.”
The College of Veterinary Medicine is
conducting genetic research into other areas
as well.
Dr. Duane C. Kraemer, associate dean for
Research and Graduate Programs in the
College of Veterinary Medicine, said studies
are being conducted in genetics, reproduc-
Monday
Hi5
■mi
The
A ^
Some children walk the family dog, bul
year-old Michael Mackey, of Olathe,!
walks his family’s heifer at the
County Fair.
tive systems, diseases, and comp
search between humans and animals.
“We have a mission of improvi
knowledge base on animal andh
health to promote education of studec
the public regarding these matters/
mer said.
i\m
Health Tips
FROM THE. -f
OF 3A50N Fl
IN THE G
ROLLERHOCE
EAsy... J-
Pre-game reminders for A&M football fans this fall
Mark Evans has a journalism degree from Texas A&M
and is currently completing a second undergraduate de
gree in biology.
Want to get the most out of
the football game Saturday?
You’ve got your 12th man towel,
but is that all you need? Try
these helpful hints to help keep
the Twelfth Man healthy and
safe:
• When dressing for the big
game, keep in mind that wearing
loose-fitting, lightweight, light-
colored and cotton or cotton-
blend clothes allows air to circu
late and body perspiration to
evaporate. Comfortable,' sup
portive shoes' are a 'must'if "you
plan to stand the length of the
game with the Twelfth Man.
• Sunglasses with UV protec
tion, sun screen and caps can all
help protect you from the sun’s
damaging rays.
• Drink plenty of cool water
both before and during the game.
Drinking water instead of sugar-
sweetened beverages will help
replenish body fluids. You may
lose two to three quarts of water
a day. Drinking eight ounces of
cool water every 15 minutes
when perspiring heavily is sug
gested. The athletic department
permits water to be carried into
the game in quart-size or smaller
containers.
• Use caution with caffeinated
drinks such as coffee, tea and
cola and alcohol because they
may act as a diuretic that re
moves water
from your body,
increasing urine
production. You
can’t always rely
on thirst/to tell
you when you
need water.
• Keep in
mind that if you
have alcohol on
game day, alco
hol increases the
level of body de
add to dehydration on game day.
Drinking or not, be aware of oth
er football fans who may be
drinking and driving.
• Another precaution is to
check the temperature and the
relative humidity. When the rel
ative humidity gets to be around
75 percent, you
may not sweat
and your body
may be unable to
hydration, the heat will increase
blood circulation, and you may
become drunk more quickly.
This can be particularly danger
ous to your health and safety.
Even if you consume alcohol the
night before the game such as at
yell practice or at parties, it can
spiring or producing
it should be, seek medicili
lion at a first aid station
ately. Heat problems cat
serious, including heat
heat exhaustion and hea
Symptoms to watch oul
elude muscle aches andp
evated body temperato
treme fatigue, clamm!
dizziness or fainting,ai
ered blood pressure. Drir.
use the body heat wa^er before you feel s®
you would nor- if ypu’re not hot and p
• Food and beverajas
allowed in Kyle Field,!!
good breakfast and lunck
you go. Planning ak
meals will help you n
healthy blood sugar
avoid feeling dizzy or fat
• If you're tailgatingi
family, keep the foodsa
Bacteria can grow ver
and spoil the food and
joyment of the game.
!5I
WASK
Ger
:hec< this
mally lose
through perspi
ration.
• If your begin
to see dark spots
or experience
dizziness, nausea
or chills, beware.
lew
Drink some water, get into the
shade, sit down for a while, or go
to one of the first aid stations at
Kyle Field. The main station is
located at the north end of the
stadium near the horseshoe and
a station is located on each deck
as well. If your body is not per-
food is cold before placitf
the cooler. Use enough
keep the temperature
degrees for storage ofcoldlf
ADVANCED “IITUTORING
TUE 9/6 WED. 9/7 THU 9/8 SUN 9/11
7 - 10
RHYS. 202
CH. 24-25
RHYS. 208
RHYS. 219
CH. 23
MEEN 213
HW #1 -2
MEEN 212
HW #1-2
aXs
TUTORING
GROUP TUTORING FOR: PHYS: 202, 208, 219
MEEN: 212, 213
MATH.
We also have private tutors for many classes! 846-2879
or call our TICKET OFFICE in BURGER BOY at 846-2146
Come in For A FREE Workout!
NORTH GATE ATHLETIC CLUB I
■ ngac
MembeS^H
NO INITIATION FEES, NO CONTRACTS, NO HASSLES
^ FREE WEIGHTS
* STEPPERS
❖ BICYCLES
* MACHINES
* WEIGHT LOSS &
❖ WEIGHT GAIN
PROGRAMS
201 COLLEGE MAIN
(BEHIND LOUPOT’S AT NORTHGATE) W* WW
Texas A&M University
'AW^i
You Are
Invited!
Hispanic Bunless Stu^Vh Association
HISPANIC
Business Student Association is having it’s
General Meeting
Tuesday, September 6 7:30 pm Blocker 1
casual attire - refreshments
Partly (
South wind
Fair skii
wind 5-10
All Majors Welcome!
The next best thing
to Mom doing the laundry...
IcMAAAdry
690 /lb.
Wash, Dry,
& Fold
I
"BE AN EARLY
BIRD ...
IN BY 9,
OUT BY 5"
SHIRTS
Men's or Ladle's
Plain Laundered
Ruffles, pleats, or
shoulder pads extra.
I
*5.99
13 PAIR OF PANTS
| Men's or Ladle's
I
Laundered Regular
Present these coupons when dropping off
laundry. Limit one offer per visit.
We Offer Same Day
Service.
Located In The Quad
(Next to the Band Building)
260-1933
Under New Ownership
PURCHASE A LAUNDRY BAG FOR $5.00 AND RECEIVE $12.00 IN COUPONS
(mass nm
• HOWDY! There is a General Class
Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 7 th in
room 302 of Rudder Tower at 8:30 p.m.
• Applications are available for Class
Council Treasurer at the cubicle in the
SPO (Student Programs Office) and in the
Koldus Building
• Informational meeting for Class
Treasurer will be held immediately after
the G.C.M. on Wed.
Any questions call:
Gerry Brown, President at 847-1749
Lii i Battalion
BELINDA BLANCARTE, Editor in chief
MARK EVANS, Managing editor
HEATHER WINCH, Night News editor
MARK SMITH, Night News editor
KIM McGUIRE, City editor
JAY ROBBINS, Opinion editor
STEWART MILNE, Photo editor
DAVID WINDER, Sports editor
ROB CLARK, Aggielife editor
Staff Members
City desk— Jan Higginbotham, Katherine Arnold, Michele Brinkmann, Stephanie Dube/*
Fehlis, Eloise Flint, Amanda Fowle, Melissa Jacobs, Fisa Messer, Angela Near ,
Owen, Constance Parten and Tracy Smith
News desk— Robin Greathouse, Sterling Hayman, Jody Holley, Shafi Islam, JenniferMo* !:
Tiffany Moore and Stacy Stanton
Photographers— Stacey Cameron, David Birch, Blake Griggs, J.D. Jacoby, Tim Moog,®
Painton, Nick Rodnicki and Carrie Thompson
Aggielife— Anas Ben-Musa, Margaret Claughton, Christi Erwin, Jennifer Gressett
and Jeremy Keddie
Sports writers— Nick Georgandis, Drew Diener and Stewart Doreen
Opinion desk— Jenny Magee, Fynn Booher, Josef Elchanan, Faura Frnka, Aja Hendersoid
Hill, Jeremy Keddie, Michael Fandauer, Melissa Megliola, George Naso
Preston, Gerardo Quezada and Frank Stanford
Cartoonists— Greg Argo, Brad Graeber, Alvaro Gutierrez and Quatro Oakley
Office Assistants— Heather Fitch, Adam Hill, Karen Hoffman and Michelle Oleson
Writing Coach— Timm Doolen
The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall
semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except Universityb°"*
exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, To
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building,^';
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News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University*
Division of Student Publication, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial off icei
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