PAGE 4
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Wednesday, April 6, 1949
Research in Biology
Keeps 8 Grads Busy
Biology has become far more
than a requirement lor a degree
to the eight graduate students
who claim 222 Bessey as their
headquarters. The "science of
life" is really a life for them.
Along w'th zoological specimens
in their cluttered office are all the
comforts of hnmp Knmp nf thp
more earnest workers cook their
own lunches which are built
around the constant noodle soup.
There's always coffee, too, for aft
ernoon guests if they care for a
drink strong enough to replace
formaldehyde as a preservative.
Fruitfly Flies.
In this pleasant atmosphere an
amazing amount of very serious
research goes on. Several of the
students, for example, are work
ing with an insect fa- smaller
than his pretentious name. Dros
ophila af finis, commonly known
as the fruitfly, he has played an
important part in the develop
ment of the science of genetics,
because his hereditary character
istics are so easily traced. With a
two week life cycle and 5 pairs of
chromosomes (in contrast to
man's 48 pairs), Drosophila's he
redity and existence are relative
ly simple.
One man has countless glass
vials neatly labeled, which con
tain Drosophila from three differ
ent localities. He is studying the
possibility that sexual isolation
exists between strains of the spe
cies. Or, to put it more simply,
he is trying to find out why the
Henry (Nebr.) Drosophila will
have nothing to do with his rela
tives from Huskerville and why
both midwestern varieties con
sistently ignore cousins from
Woodsdale, Mass.
Genes Studied.
Another problem in connection
with particular chromosomes
(which bear the genes, which, in
turn, carry the hereditary char
acteristics). In Drosophila, the
chromosomes in the salivary
glands are 100 times as large as
elsewhere in the body. This is
very convenient because it is ne
cessary to separate the chromo
somes to study the gene sequence.
That's the point at which even a
5 chromosome-pair creature seems
extremely complicated. It takes
some pretty handy work with tiny
instruments even to get at the
chromosomes, and some very deli
vate study to get information
about them.
A parasitologist has set herself
the tremendous task of identify
ing and classifying all the Tre
matoda (parasite flatworms like
the liver fluke, that is )in Nebras
ka. Another worker is concerned
with the parasites which spend
part of their lives in farm ani
mals and part with some other
form of life. Her problem is to
determine the part earthworms,
cockroachs, slugs or other lower
animals play as hosts.
"Rat Girl."
On. young scientist, jokingly
called "the girl with the rats," has
her little "pets" carefully caged
in ,a third floor room. In the place
are two kinds of rats hooded
and albino along with a number
of ground squirrels. The ground
squirrels are noisy little creatures
at times; they whistle when they
want service and they expect
immediate attention.
A histologist, or tissue special
ist, is busy studying certain fish
which retain their eggs instead of
spawning them. He knows now
what happens to the eggs they
are broken down and absorbed
by the fish but he is looking for
an answer to the age-old question,
"Why?"
Questions Answered.
These, and a great many other
University students, are seeking
answers to the"whys" through a
wide variety of scientific reserach
programs. The additional money,
which the proposed 20 budget
increase would bring, would make
possible far more extensive
study.
In comparison with other uni
versities the Nebraska graduate
student, who is doing part-time
research, is underpaid. He re
ceives an average salary of $1,000
to $1,200. The typical Big Seven
university pays him $900 to
$1,000; the typical Big Nine uni
versity pays him $1,200 to $1,400.
Inflation has greatly increased
the cost of research equipment.
For example, in 1940, a micro
scope cost $155; in 1946 it cost
$222; in 1947 it cost $267. More
money is needed if the University
is to continue this, the largest
research program in its history.
Testing the theory that a cer
tain histroy prof doesn't bother
to read reports, but grades them
by weighing them on a scale, a
sophomore inserted this in the
middle of his term paper: "If you
read this far, I'll buy you a coke."
He got the report back marked,
"C I did, is 4:30 this afternoon
O. K.?"
Dr. Wimberly
Edits English
Lit Anthology
Dr. Lowry C. Wimberly, pro
fessor in English, is a co-editor
of "Dominant Types in British and
American Literature," a text uni
que in that it enables students
to contrast modern and older lit
erature. British and American, in
ample quantity in one anthology.
The other editors are Dr. Wil
liam H. Davenport, professor of
English at the University of
Southern California, and Harry
Shaw, humanities editor for Har
per and Brothers. The book
was published by Harper and
Brothers.
The philosophy of the text is set
forth in the preface: "It is the
feeling of the editors that an in
troductory course for the general
student should be based on a
different principle from that of a
course for future majors; the
course for the general student is
a place to woo the uninitiated into
the company of believers. The
ideal study materials, then, must
be sound enough, but also, rela
tively speaking, appealing in their
own right. Some 'classic mate
rial must be left out or de-emphasized
because presumably the
student may not be ready for it;
and there can be little good in
forced feeling if only regurgita
tion is to result."
Nutrition Expert
To Speak at Ag
Dr. Hazel Stiebeling, Chief of
U. S. Bureau of Human Nutrition
and Home Economics in the U. S
Department of Agrictulture, will
speak at an Ag convocation Thurs
day in Room 306 Ag Hall from
11:15 a. m. to 12 noon.
Dr. Stiebeling, who is also a
member of FAO s Advisory Com
mittee on Nutrition, will speak on
"Nutrition as it is Related to Ag
riculture and World Problems."
She will also show slides on the
subject.
Dr. Steibeling is coming to the
campus for the cefcbration of the
50th anniversary of the Home
Economics department which will
be held this weekend.
INli
Bulletin Board !
Wednesday
VM cabinet meeting at 6 p. m.
in the lounge in the Temple build
ing. Meeting of Phalanx, 7:30 a.m.
in the Armory.
Nu-Med meeting, 7:30 p.m.,
Parlors A and B of the Union.
Prof. Frederick J. Ludwig will
speak on "Medical Jurispru
dence." Playwright's Matinee on KOLN
at 4:30 p. m.
Thursday
Authors of the Ages, dramati
zation of "Dan Peters and Casey
Jones," by Schram, at 9:30 p. m.
on KFOR.
Kosmet Klub actives meet at 5
p. m. in Room 307, Union.
Tickets for the Business Ad
ministration banquet to be held
April 7 at 6 p. m. in the Student
Union Ballroom are still on sale
at the booth on second floor of
Social Science hall.
L in
America's greatest vocal stylist
wm
And tiis Orchestra
Where the Best Bands Play
FRI., APRIL 8
Adm. 1.25 TIus Tax
X...f 9lUUIA ItCMO.
6
One Query Easy
In Temple Exam
Once in a while humor turns
up even in such unexpected places
as the ivied halls of higher learn
ing. While taking a mid-term ex
amination recently, Temple Uni
versity students came across this
question:
"One gets lonely while thinking
by himself and finds solace in
resting his eyes on someone else's
paper. True or false?"
ZIPPER
SPORT SHIRTS
Here'. that new zipper pleated
sport shirt in all the new
spring shades, washable ga
bardine, it's the sportiest sport
shirt on campus.
6
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