Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2001)
Page 6A SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Thursday, February 1,2; THE BATTALION Why are people so angry about mad cow diseaseiC Here’s the idea: You write in with a question, and I do a little research to supply you with an answer. The ques tions can vary from “Why is the sky blue?” to “Why do my feet stick to the floors of movie theaters?” To start things off, I will STUART HUTSON begin by approaching a subject that hits close to home since Texas A&M is heavily involved with cattle science. Question: What the heck is mad cow disease, and how much are we in the United States at risk of being harmed by it? — Stuart Hutson, senior journalism major Answer: I will be honest here. After a deluge of recent news reports about this particular dis ease, I did not have the slightest idea what this was or how it was spread. Feeling a little uninformed, I began investi gating and, after a little research, I discovered why I had no clue: neither do the experts. Usually, if a disease is declared a possible public health hazard (such as mad cow disease has been in England) it is because of some nasty little virus or bacteria. But Jeff Saveli, an animal science professor at A&M, said the disease is apparently caused by a naturally occurring protein in the animal’s system. “This would be a lot easier to deal with if it was a virus, but this is a disease that just occurs, resulting in a spongy appearance in the brain and nervous tissue,” he said. “The real name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), but since it results in a loss of control of the nervous system — which of course makes the cows stumble around and fall down — it was called mad cow disease by people in Great Britain, who use the word ‘mad’ like crazy.” Saveli said it is not known how the disease is spread or even if it is spread at all. The disease appears when this protein is around, but exactly how it causes BSE is not known. The human counterpart of the disease is the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) which, accord ing to the American Medical Association, occurs in about one per every million people naturally, regardless of diet. Saveli said major concerns about it arose when the disease, which usually occurs in the el derly, began popping up in 20- and 30-year-olds in Great Britain in the ’80s. “There was, of course, then concern that this was coming from BSE,” he said. “But no real evidence has ever really shown this.” This concern resulted in close scrutiny of herds, and the United States officially stopped importing cattle from Great Britain in 1985. Ever since, any herds that have the disease have been destroyed since the protein that causes mad cow disease cannot be destroyed by typical methods used to destroy viruses or bacteria. As for the danger to the United States popu lace, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, cattle in the United States has been closely monitored for 10 years, and noto case of BSE has been found. However, Saveli warned that the disease 1* been found in deer. “It is known to exist in the deer population, but I’ve only heard of one case of a hunter get ting CJD,” he said. “And again, that brings up , the question of whether he was one of the one \y C( j ne ! a million that will get the disease anyway.” in a Ok, to sum things up, mad cow disease is attorne just a little floating protein that turns cow and to eons human brains to sponge. It is not in U.S. beef, ^ ec but watch out for deer (call it Bambi’s revenp^ e 5° Overall, researchers are not sure how it is spread, but hey, as my mother always says, CO u,-( s “Better safe than sorry.” 1 Van die for Confused yet? Well, if there is anything yoiil Dur would like clarified or would like to submit;: g n 'l question, send an email to scifyi@hotmail.coii^ r ® * ie and 1 will see if I can help. on her Pros ^pts all Stuart Hutson is a senior journalism m the eirl her hea hit her; Lit’s Go Out Thursdays uc The' Battalions <cdVlci r iLua s Greek and American Grill Authentic Greek Food Vegetarian Dishes • Gyros Texas Size Hamburgers • Baklava 5%'off w/purchase w/this coupon* Expires 3-31-01 Open 6 days a week. Closed Monday. Sim, Tues, Wed 11-9 pm. Thurs - Sat. 11-10 *1 coupon per person, please 1804 Welsh pm. 1804 Welsh __ A&M Consolidated U 693-2337 TjTz Sw. Pkwv 2818 www.mariayas.com 8081 Texas Ave. College Station and 3224 S. Texas Ave. Bryan We accept checks. ALL you can eat Fish or Chicken All Day Everyday! FREE small drink included when you present coupon Caffe? CojzrL the place to eat for more info, ask a friend I FREE Mozzarella (garlic Bread with this coupon •: : : -l 222 n. main in historic cfouintoton hrcfan 979.822.2675 Smpm ipe. 2416 Tx. Ave., S College Station Kroger Center 696-5464 a r a New Location NOW OPEN! 3306 E. 29 th St. (Next to Wal-Mart) 774-3871 $ 1. 00 off any size Smoothie w/coupon Best Prices on Supplements * Creative * L-Glutamine * Proteins * Diet Pills * Vitamins * * Herbs * Sport Supplements * Nutritional Snacks - Cookies - Bar COFFEE STATION -The Ultimate Hangout- 907-A Harvey Rd. (Next to the TAP) 7 am - 1 am Seven Days a Week Buy one Drink, Get one 1/2 OFF Present this coupon at time of purchase and receive a second drink for 1/2 OFF! Not good with any other offers. Void if duplicated or copied. Exp. 5/31/01. V. 694-2844 SANDWICH SHOPST^" ‘Home of the Original Texas Cheesesteak” FREE Chips and Queso w/ purchase of 2 sandwiches • Neiv Beer Prices • New Lunch Specials M-F Accepting Aggie Bucks 201 College Main (Northgate) • 260-1999 r Freshly made Sandwiches, Soups & Desserts FREE CHIP & DRINK! w/purchase of any sandwich Present coupon before ordering Expires 05/31/01 • 2416 Texas Ave. S • College Station 696-DELI Fax: 693-6606 Hours: 10 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Delivery available. $20 minimum 7(lJe the Sisters of phi Beta Qi/ Kjonyratulate our new Associate Members m Aiti |i was l a patteii Cara Alman Noelle Appel Season Bains Jessica Coleman Denise Dempsey Natalie Franco Cristine Kattner Sara Kelley Jennifer Lange Melissa Lopez LouAnn Orlando Jaime Parlette Meredith Roberts Alana Robinson Angela Ritter to LONE EVENTS^ Events with Texas Style 1' SAr , pral Te supplie ■risen q Bay by, Igavc ta! - Vehicle; 1; The -for adn anti oth I) Unit larking leers b “We was sol days be ty, lead tmei told the' Music Revolution CORY MORROW $20 General Admission Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001 7pm Roger Creager The Hollisters Dub Miller THE LONE STAR EXPO ARENA MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS m Tickets available at Harlans Supermarkets, Navasota.Tx. Sponsored by: For Ticket Information Call: TicketMaster 1-713-629-3700 THURSDAY Ladies' Night Ladies 18 and up in FREE all night! s 1.00 PINTS ALL NIGHT TOO BAR DRINKS TIL 11 P.M. 696^5570 for details Party Safe and Designate a Driver