Genes Longevity
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Helen Hobbs || Brett Finlay || Science in Chile || Lessons from Lipids SPRING 2004 »»»»IN THE NEXT ISSUE www.hhmi.org/bulletin S The sweeping lines of Janelia Farm’s HER distinctive design begin to take shape P in this construction photo from December 2003. The round structure PHOTOGRA in the foreground will be the facility’s S auditorium. Behind it, lab space is being framed and filled. The 760,000- square-foot complex will house a research staff of up to 300 resident and visiting scientists. BROTHER STEWART » Janelia Farm: » Science and the » DNA Repair A Progress Report Liberal Arts College Damage to DNA occurs all the HHMI broke ground for its new From the push toward hands-on time. Keeping the genome in top research campus, Janelia Farm, last undergraduate research to the shape requires a network of genes May. When completed in 2006, the building boom in new science and enzymes to sense and repair facility will house a wide range of facilities, many signs suggest that that damage. As investigators begin scientific programs in a world-class science at liberal arts colleges is to understand how DNA repair research environment. We’ll take a stronger than ever. And liberal arts machinery works, they are also look at how construction is pro- colleges still produce a dispropor- gaining insight into fundamental gressing and plans are proceeding. tionate share of next-generation mechanisms that contribute to Ph.D. scientists and engineers. disease and aging. What’s the story behind these Is there a trends? formula for living a Howard Hughes Medical Institute NONPROFIT ORG. long life? 4000 Jones Bridge Road US POSTAGE Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815-6789 PAID 301.215.8855 www.hhmi.org SUBURBAN MD Genes PERMIT NO. 6561 and Longev i ty CONTENTS Spring 2004 || Volume 17 Number 1 FEATURES 36 12 Secrets of the Centenarians [ COVER STORY] In certain families, small genetic variations bring good health and long life. Can researchers apply this knowledge to benefit us all? By Maya Pines 18 Ace of Hearts Investigating the roots of heart disease, physician-scientist Helen Hobbs applies what she learns in the clinic to her successful research in the lab. By Nancy Ross-Flanigan 24 Science in Overdrive The energetic Brett Finlay works hard to help solve global health problems but still finds time to be a husband, dad, boss, athlete, musician, cook, and grocery shopper. By William Dietrich DEPARTMENTS 02 HHMI RESOURCES Lab Management Demystified 18 03 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Global Science UP FRONT 04 Lessons From Lipids 06 Development: One Key Hormone Calls the Tune 08 Ask, Listen, and Learn 10 Science Mavericks 23 INTERVIEW A Big Voice for Science 28 PERSPECTIVE A Better Understanding of the Public NEWS & NOTES 29 Designer Protein 30 Hunting Proteins the Nanotech Way 31 Science in Bangladesh 4 32 College Freshmen Get Ahead with Lead 33 The Value of Evaluation 34 Life Studies in Clay 35 Exploring Bioethical Choices 36 Food for Thought 37 On Martian Time 38 Its Name Is Noggin 39 G’Day, Lab Mates 40 HHMI LAB BOOK 42 NOTA BENE 45 INSIDE HHMI Beantown Team Helps the Science Happen 24 Cover photograph by Ed Kashi, from the project Aging in America. DANNY TURNER (TOP LEFT), MARINA KNIAZEVA (MIDDLE), BRIAN SMALE (BOTTOM), GRAHAM TROTT (ABOVE) HHMI TRUSTEES James A. Baker, III, Esq. Senior Partner, Baker & Botts Alexander G. Bearn, M.D. Former Executive Officer, American Philosophical Society; Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College Frank William Gay Former President and Chief Executive Officer, summa Corporation Joseph L Goldstein, M.D. Professor and Chairman, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Hanna H. Gray, Ph.D., CHAIRMAN President Emeritus and Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service Professor of History, The University of Chicago Garnett L. Keith Chairman, SeaBridge Investment Advisors, L.L.C. Former Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, The Prudential Insurance Company of America Jeremy R. Knowles, D.Phil. Dean Emeritus and Amory Houghton Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Harvard University William R. Lummis, Esq. Former Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, The Howard Hughes Corporation Anne M. Tatlock Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fiduciary Trust Company International HHMI OFFICERS Thomas R. Cech, Ph.D., President Peter J. Bruns, Ph.D., Vice President for Grants and Special Programs David A. Clayton, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer Stephen M. Cohen, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joan S. Leonard, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel Avice A. Meehan, Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs Gerald M. Rubin, Ph.D., Vice President and Director, Janelia Farm Research Campus Landis Zimmerman, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer HHMI BULLETIN STAFF Stephen G. Pelletier, Editor Jim Keeley, Science Editor Jennifer Donovan, Education Editor Patricia Foster, Manager of Publishing Mary Beth Gardiner, Assistant Editor Maya Pines, Contributing Editor Laura Bonetta, fact checking Steven Marcus, story editing Kathy Savory, copy editing David Herbick Design, publication design Telephone (301) 215 8855 n Fax (301) 215 8863 n www.hhmi.org The Bulletin is published by the HHMI Office of Communications and Public Affairs. © 2004 Howard Hughes Medical Institute The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by authors in the HHMI Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints or offi- cial policies of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. DANNY TURNER (TOP LEFT), MARINA KNIAZEVA (MIDDLE), BRIAN SMALE (BOTTOM), GRAHAM TROTT (ABOVE) HHMI RESOURCES Lab Management Demystified Bridging a gap in young researchers’ training. o most fledgling scientists, launching went into designing the course curriculum. gram officer in Bruns’s department who was an independent research lab is an hhmi and BWF staff, with assistance from instrumental in developing the course. “We’re Texhilarating—and daunting— colleagues at the American Association for interested in the long-term success of our prospect. It’s a lot like getting your first dri- the Advancement of Science, convened focus awardees,” she says. “Making the Right Moves ver’s license, says hhmi President Thomas groups of advanced postdocs and newly will help them hit the ground running.” R. Cech. “Suddenly you have all this freedom appointed faculty—physician and nonphysi- “Usually these things are learned haphaz- to turn where you want to turn, go straight cian scientists alike. They also sought input ardly,” adds Martin Ionescu-Pioggia, Franko’s when you want to, and go as fast as you like.” from the sponsoring organizations’ senior counterpart at BWF, who shared responsibili- But along with the freedom comes researchers and other professionals, includ- ty with her for the content of the course and responsibility, he adds. “On the other hand, ing executive coaches. the book. “We wanted to create a more for- you have to pay for the gas. And if you The book details the broad range of top- mal means of providing this information.” bump into someone, you have to deal with ics covered in the course—negotiating a fac- Course participants and other grant the consequences.” ulty position, hiring and firing staff, mentor- recipients will be given a copy of the book to To help smooth the way for new investi- ing, time management, and more. Such keep handy as a lab resource. In the interest gators, hhmi and the Burroughs Wellcome challenges as establishing research collabora- of reaching a broader audience, the publica- Fund (BWF) joined forces to publish a tions and sorting through the technical nuts tion has also been made freely available for book—Making the Right Moves, A Practical and bolts of university administrative policy downloading from the hhmi Web site Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs are also addressed. (www.hhmi.org/labmanagement). The Web and New Faculty. The new resource is “This stuff seems like it’s a big secret, but version features videos of course keynote designed to demystify pertinent issues not it’s not,” insists Maryrose Franko, a senior pro- presentations as well as live links to other typically addressed in formal grad- informative sites. uate and post-graduate education. The book “is not meant to be The book grew out of presen- comprehensive or prescriptive,” tations and discussions at a course Bruns points out, “but we think developed and sponsored by both it’s a good starting point from institutions and held at hhmi in which we are planning follow-up July 2002. The five-day course had activities.” The two institutions 128 participants who were current are now in the midst of organiz- or former recipients of grants ing a similar course, to be held in from hhmi or BWF. All were 2005, which will have a new either newly appointed academic slant. In addition to training faculty members or senior post- newly minted scientists, invita- doctoral researchers hoping to tions will be extended to several benefit from the wisdom of experi- institutions, societies, and associ- enced investigators who were once ations that are interested in in a similar position. organizing similar courses for “As investigators, we don’t their own constituents. Lessons teach graduate students and post- learned through this “train the docs the kind of lab management trainers” approach will be pub- skills they need when they lished as a supplement to the become, essentially, the manager of current guidebook. a small business,” says Peter J. “The ultimate solution is for Bruns, hhmi’s vice president for such a course to be offered by grants and special programs who home institutions,” says Bruns. “It was also on the faculty at Cornell should become part of the stan- University for more than 30 years. dard education for scientists.” Considerable time and effort — MARY BETH GARDINER DIGITAL SIENNA NEWTON/RAW ADAM 2 hhmi bulletin | spring 2004 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Global Science KAY CHERNUSH KAY s the recent crisis involving transmis- home countries of South Africa and Australia.