Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 2-8-1996 Washington University Record, February 8, 1996 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, February 8, 1996" (1996). Washington University Record. Book 713. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/713 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington University Publications at Digital Commons@Becker. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Record by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Becker. For more information, please contact [email protected]. cCT8 'ON X08 WASHINGTON vianwvs sw UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS Vol. 20 No. 19 Feb. 8, 1996 Medicine, HHMI to develop library of mouse genes To speed the identification of genes related to human diseases and to aid in the understanding of basic biological processes, the School of Medi- cine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) are collaborating to identify and partially sequence the major- ity of mouse genes. Researchers plan to generate as many as 400,000 partial sequences of genes that are expressed during the embryonic and fetal stages in an effort to survey the entire set of mouse genes. The availability of these gene fragments, or expressed sequence tags (ESTs), should accelerate the rate at which HHMI researchers and other biomedical scientists find disease- related genes as well as genes that control normal cell function. The $2.3 million two-year project will be conducted at the School of Medicine and will be directed by Robert H. Waterston, M.D., Ph.D., James S. McDonnell Professor of Genetics, head of the Department of Genetics and pro- fessor of anatomy and neurobiology. Waterston's research group will begin the mouse EST project with gene librar- This 1957 photo shows Washington University engineers at an early computer printer on the right and a woman operating a ies thaj contain samples of nearly all key-punch machine on the left. Nearly 40 years later, Washington University's 125-year-old School of Engineering and Applied embryonic and fetal mouse tissues. The Science is highly regarded for its computer science prowess and ranks among the top five nationally in computer networking. libraries, developed by Bento Soares, professor of genetics at Columbia Univer- sity, with support from the National Center for Genome Research, will pro- 'Service to Society' vide a source of genetic material in which individual messenger RNAs are copied to form complementary DNAs (cDNAs). Engineering school gears up for 125th anniversary celebration Waterston's research team will sequence T^^^T^^ he 1995-961 995-9fi academic yearve.ar marks projectsnrniects in 1995,1 995 accordingar.corriinp totn U.S.I IS News are influential in helpinghelnintr studentsstudent? join the segments of the individual cDNAs to the 125th anniversary of the & World Report. work force. create the ESTs. Washington University School of • A national ranking of 20th among Washington University's engineering Genetic data to go on line Engineering and Applied Sci- more than 300 engineering schools in professors are making their marks in the ence, one of the nation's oldest engineering graduate-sponsored research programs. traditional engineering disciplines and "Once the sequences are completed and schools. The school has chosen this spring • Sixth among all schools in the num- across a wide spectrum of interdiscipli- verified they will be made available semester to celebrate the milestone with a ber (seven) of National Science Founda- nary programs and research, such as immediately via the Internet. This re- host of lively events, all falling under the tion graduate fellowship awards. biomedical, computer, environmental and source will be of great value to geneti- anniversary theme of "Service to Society." • The attraction of top students to the materials science engineering. cists and developmental biologists who "The events are planned to involve school from high schools around the For instance, Washington University are using mouse models to seek clues to everyone in the Washington University country. scientists and engineers, led by Jerome R. basic biological processes and the genetic engineering community, and they're in- • Since 1974, the incorporation of Cox Jr., Sc.D., the Harold B. and origins of human diseases," said Purnell tended to be fun as well as informative and several alumni-sponsored programs that Continued on page 8 W. Choppin, M.D., president of HHMI. inspirational," said Christopher I. Byrnes, "This collaboration is an excellent oppor- Ph.D., who in 1991 became the eighth tunity to make these important data dean in the engineering school's history. available to scientists around the world." "The school has many important accom- 125th Anniversary Schedule of Events "HHMI should be commended for plishments, with many more to come, and making this research collaboration pos- March 12: Annual School of Engineer- more lighthearted collection of events it is a mainstay of academic life at Wash- ing and Applied Science Alumni featuring paper-airplane and egg-toss sible," said Waterston. "These results will ington University. Nearly 25 percent of the provide immediate access to many mouse Achievement Awards dinner, America's contests, among others, will be held in bachelor's degrees earned here are in Center, St. Louis. the afternoon, Lopata Hall Gallery. genes for investigators worldwide. They engineering, and our alumni have made also will be invaluable in interpreting outstanding contributions in engineering March 22: Honors Banquet recognizing April 3: There will be a lunch and sequences generated by the international and technology throughout the nation and engineering honors students. (Campus awards ceremony for the undergradu- Human Genome Project." the world." location to be announced.) ate engineering designs. (Time and The ESTs will come from throughout After the founding of the University in March 27-April 3: Engineering Week at location to be announced.) the entire mouse genome and subse- 1853, the O'Fallon Polytechnic Institute — Washington University. May 3: Lecture and 125th anniversary quently can be used to create genetic what was to become the School of Engi- banquet. The ceremonies begin at Continued on page 6 March 27: Gala Birthday Bash lun- neering and Applied Science — began cheon for engineering students, faculty 4 p.m. in Edison Theatre with a lecture offering evening lectures, elementary exten- and staff, Lopata Hall Gallery. Hosted by Robert Galvin, chairman of In this issue ... sion courses and practical shop experience by Christopher I. Byrnes, Ph.D., dean of Motorola Corp., and William Braun, aimed at St. Louis laborers who wanted to the school, the bash will be an opportu- senior vice president and director of improve their technical skills. The O'Fallon nity to celebrate the school's long exist- research and development for Seasonal swings 2 institute, located on the fourth floor of a ence and to appreciate its history and Motorola. After the lecture, a reception People who suffer from winter mood now defunct building at 17th and Washing- contributions. The Society of Women open to the University community will changes are likely to have family ton streets in downtown St. Louis, was the Engineers Pageant will be held in con- be held in Bowles Plaza, Mallinckrodt members with the same problem University's first principal department. In junction with the Birthday Bash. Center. Later that evening, the anniver- the 1870-71 academic year, the School of sary banquet will be held at The Ritz- Fostering independence ....3 Engineering officially was inaugurated. March 29: The Association of Graduate Carlton hotel in Clayton, where Braun Engineering Students will hold a "re- Julio V. Santiago, M.D., teaches Today, the school occupies nearly 170,000 will receive the school's first Award for square feet in six Hilltop Campus buildings. search day." (Time and location to be Excellence in Engineering and Tech- diabetics to assume a larger role in announced.) This day also kicks off the managing their disease Byrnes noted that the school has made nology in recognition of his contribu- many recent strides that have advanced its undergraduate student design competi- tions to Motorola. tions. Streamlining the process ...6 reputation. Among them are: Some of the above events may be by • A growth in patents issued from 10 in March 29: Student dance, 10:30 p.m., Patrons of Washington University invitation only. For more information, 1983 to more than 50 in 1995. Lopata Hall Gallery. Libraries now can renew materials call 935-5363. • The receipt of more than $21 million via the Internet April 2: The Engineering Olympics, a in research funding for engineering 2 Washington University Record Medical Update Researchers find genetic link to seasonal mood swings School of Medicine investigators ality, it was certainly more likely that his also are crucial. While they found that weight, social contact, energy level and have found that people who or her twin also would be affected. But 29 percent of the risk is genetic, the rest mood tended to occur together. If one suffer from seasonal mood with identical twins, the link was even of the risk lies in environmental factors. twin had those seasonal symptoms, the changes are likely to have family stronger. What we found suggests that "There is evidence from clinical other twin was at risk for all of them as members with the same problem. genes play an important role in determin- research to suggest that this condition well. They also found very little differ- In the January issue of the Archives of ing whether or not someone experiences may be triggered by changes in the ence between men and women in the General Psychiatry, the researchers re- seasonality," Madden explained. environment, such as reductions in sun- risk for seasonal changes.