The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, June 17, 1975, Image 1

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NUMBER TWO
The summer months, often
a time for planning and
strategy sessions for the fall,
will be 1 devoted mostly to
"some housecleaning"
according to ASUN
(Associated Students of the
University of Nebraska)
President Jim Say.
Say, who is also the Lincoln
campus student Regent, said
no ASUN Senate meetings will
be scheduled for the summer
months.
"It's tough to get them all
together, and so far, I don't see
anything that pressing," he
said.
r
ASUN President Jim Say pauses
Grants given for
Answers
By Deb Gray
In the beginning, there was
one cell, a. mating of 23 pairs
of chromosomes.
What happens next is one of
the great mysteries of science:
these- chromosomes of
deoxyribose nucelc acid (DNA)
- described as the "blueprints
of - life" - duplicated
themselves exactly through
billions of divisions. The result
of this constant regeneration of
protein: a living organism.
Study genetic mechanisms '
Dr. Naba Kumar Gupta,
IJNL nrnfpnr of chemistry,
has studied nucleic acids for the
last 11 years. Next year, his
research will be injected with
more than a half million dollars
to study genetic mechanisms in
living cells.
: Gupta's research will be
financed through two grants
from the National Institute of
Health (NIH). One grant will
' support five years of research
into the formation of proteins
in mammals. The second,
three-year is for specific
purpose the study of protein
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Every form of life ' '..
DNA is found in every form
of lif, from single-celled
bacteria to billion-celled
human beings. .
In recent years, tales of
DNA-tampering have instilled
f fear in many ' of the
non-scientific major ity.
Misconceptions range from
Hit'eresque fantasties of
breeding an invincible breed of
super humans in the test tube
aces summer housecleaning
Say explained that only
three positions are individually
salaried for the summer in the
ASUN budget.
Student attorney salaried
They include full-time funds
for the Student Legal Services
Attorney, Dave Rasmussen,
and salaries for two part-time
secretaries each working haif a
day.
The secretaries will be
responsible for both ASUN's
and the student 'attorney's
needs, he said.
Besides Say, ASUN First
Vice-President Mary Jenkins
and Second Vice-President Paul
V
If .
at a recent Regents meeting
research
in chromosomes?
to unleashing new strains of
bacteria that would eradicate
the human race. These ideas
occur because people don't
know much about the DNA
gene, Gupta said.
Invaluable benefits
Genetic engineering ;can
produce invaluable benefits for
mankind, according to Gupta.
For to understand the DNA's
role in the human cell may also
be to understand the reasons
for such diseases as sickle cell
anemia and cancer,
To explain the questions
that he and his 12-member
team of researchers wiii
attempt to answer during the
next five years, Gupta gave a
brief description of cell
structure. The cell contains:
the nucleus, which is the
control center of tlie cell, and
the cytoplasm, the gH-like
emulsion- surrounding the
nucleus.
Sends messanger
From its position in the
nucleus, the DNA engineers a .
complex protein-synthesizing
operation. It sends out a
messenger a molecule of
ribose nucleic acid HNAj -which
selects the pieces to
manufacture a protein.
"In our body, protein is an
important constituent,'' tuipia
said. "It is the chief uody
building ingredient. Enzymes
which are catalysts in chemical
reactions in tht body are
proteins. Hormones are
proteins." ? "
Tha questions raised by this
process of forming protein in
a living cell aro the basis of
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
Morrison will be around for
parts of the summer, Say said.
$3,500 left in budget
The ASUN budget provides
a fund to pay the three
executives for twenty hours of
work together, at about $2.50"
per hour he said.
Say said the most
immediate concern of his was
trying to use up the $3,500 left
in the 1974-75 ASUN budget.
If the money is not spent, it
will be returned to the
University general fund at the
end of the fiscal year, June 30.
The Fees Allocations Board
has already given ASUN
permission to carry over about
$1,400 for next year's budget,
Say said.
Another $1,400 will go to
the salary of the student
attorney and secretaries for
June.
Book exchange debts
Much of the remainder,
"possibly up to $700 or $800"
will go for removing debts that
have accumulated from several
ASUN sponsored book
exchanges in the past, he said.
, "Most of that is from books
we can't account for," he said.
"We're working on
restructuring ; the book
exchange structure so that we
don't have 3 large amount of
missing funds" he said.
One way of keeping tighter
Gupta's research. How does the
DNA know to which molecule
out in the cytoplasm to send
the RNA? Why does it choose
some . molecules and reject
others? Why does the presence
of protein in the cell alter as a
person grows older? Why is
there so much more of it in
growing cells?
. Study cancer ,-
Last year, Gupta was
awarded a $50,000 grant from
the American Cancer Society
to study the development of
cancer which he described as
"uncontrolled protein
growth." Since he cameio
UNL in 1968, the former
student of Nobel Prize-winning
scientist Dr. H.G. Khorman has
received $9,000,000 vorth of
grants from scientific research.
"Whajt we need to kt.ew
more about are the factors that
change in protein synthesis,
and why these changes," Gupta
said. "A better understanding
of the molecular mechansims
involved will further our
knowledge of blood diseases
such as sickle-cell anemia end .
Colley's . anemia, which are
priiliuiiai- UJ poi-ifiv eiiiuiv
groups but are both the result
of impaired hemoglobin
synthesis.
ffcysScfcsics! knowfsdss
"Also, research into the
molecular mechanisms involved
in the translation cf genetic
messages in mammalian cells
will provide a knowledge of the
physiological processes
involved in " aging, viral
infections and carcinogenesis
(cancer growth)."
control of the books would be
to have the price stamped
directly on the books rather
than placed on a form slipped
inside the book as done in the
past," he said.
Library survey
Say is also in the midst of
compiling the results of survey
taken in May concerning the
proposed closing of the
Undergraduate Library in
Nebraska Hall.
While there are no firm
figures, since the responses
covered several ideas, Say said
he thought the survey was
"about two to one against. the
move."
"A lot of negative opinion
was directed by people who
thought they would lose the
study areas," Say said.
Dewey users .
"The people whose
comments favored the move
were'those who use the Dewey
books on third floor", he said.
Crafts collection
bought by Sheldon
The works of several Nebraskans are among those in the
newly-purchased American craftsmen collection at Sheldon
Art Gallery at UN-L. .
Included in the collection are wooden toys made by
Shelley Becker and Rod Lamberson of Lincoln; a weaving
by Mary Kester of Omaha and pieces by John Dinsmore
and Ray Schultz of Kearney.
The collection, purchased under a grant from the Charles
Merrill Trust, opens the summer exhibit program at the
Sheldon Gallery. .
The exhibition of hand-made objects in ceramic, textiles,
glass, metal and wood runs through July 6. It includes
works chosen from 26 artists around the nation.
The grant from the Merrill Trust of Ithica. N.Y., was
made to the Sheldon Gallery last year as one of an annual
series- made to educational institutions throughout the
country in support of museum acquisition programs.
Also currently on display at the Sheldon Gallery are
drawings by James Donovan, Madison, Wis., . and a
photographic portfolio titled "The Seasons," by Eliot
Porter.
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MHouseplants Quilt" is the
cotton, satin and bead work
Outdoor fair is Wednesday
Recreation featured
The recreation department
will sponsor the second annual
"Summertime is Funtime" re
creation and craft fair on
Wednesday at the Memorial
Plaza of the Nebraska Union.
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1975
Some sections of books
classified under the Dewey
Decimal .system have been
stored at the Undergrauu&te
Library during the
construction at Love Library.
The card catalog for those
books is located at Love
Library.
. Members sought
Say is also seeking two
people to serve for the summer
on the Parking Appeals Board
and for one person to serve on
a board which is studying the
possibility of a campus
information cente-, in the
Nebraska Union, he said.
Say is also considering, an
on-campus bike registration
.and a student workshop for
off -campus students to deal
with1 landlord-tenant relations
and other apartment problems.
"We're going to try and
work on finding what sorts of
problems we want to consider
for the fall," Say added.
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title of this construction of
which ft part of the recently
Information from the
department as well as displays
from area recreation
' equipment suppliers will be
displayed. Demonstrations of
crafts will also be given.