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Show sFy- - LOCSl Monday, February 4, 1991 The Daily Herald, Provo, Utah A7 Doctor Tight to save babies I simply must share a little from the recent genetics news. It has to do with two religious groups and a couheart-warm- er ple of debilitating genetic eases. Maple syrup urine disease is so called because its victims' urine has the very distinct odor of you guessed it maple syrup. It has fancier names, but MSUD works very well. It is due to a defect on our 19th chromosome, has several variant forms, is known from many different countries and even in rats and mice. But our concern today centers on the Mennonite colonies of Pennsylvania. They are among those with the most severe form of the disease; the newborn afflicted suffer from lethargy, poor growth, vomiting, and death within a few days. And they have the world's highest known rates of the disease; it affects about one of every 176 children born in the community. If identified at birth, the condition can be treated with considerable success by giving the child a diet low in three specific amino acids (normal compo- nents of protein). But identification must be done early, and that demands medical personnel and equipment readily at hand. Our second condition is a tongue-tripp- er rdul v I Vis dis- called glutaric aciduria (GA); this one also has to do with a protein component, associated with defects on chromosome 15. Untreated, its vic- tims suffer weak muscles, breathing difficulty, enlarged liver, a body odor that resembles sweaty feet, and early death. Most die within the first few days of life; a few make it into childhood. But it too responds to treatment by special diets. And though also known in a variety of human groups, including the Louisiana Cajuns, we focus on it today among Pennsylvania's Amish people. Both these diseases are caused by recessive genes, meaning that afflicted persons must get two defective genes, one from each parent, to be affected. Persons with only one defective gene are perfectly healthy. But if two such "carriers" marry, about of their children, on average will be afflicted. The reasons for MSUD being high among the Mennonites, and GA among the Amish, are well known. Both groups represent evolutiontwo ary principles: founder effect and inbreeding. The populations in this country were founded by rather small groups, and a least one person in each was carrying for MSUD the defective gene among the Mennonites, GA among the Amish. As the populations grew, young adults found their mates one-quart- er among their respective communities, so that very often they were marrying their own relatives. This pattern brings recessive genes into 'double-doscombinations much more frequently than when marriages are between e' Having genetic disese does not make these groups unique, all ethnic groups of course have one or more of the thousands of genetic diseases known, and if you don't have J Jeff ery 1 SCIENCE SOCIETY & any obvious ones in your own extended family, just wait your turn will come! The only thing remarkable about these conditions among the Mennonites and Amish is the rather closed nature of the comminutes and the thoroughness with which the conditions can be traced genealogically. But medical facilities are not exactly flush among these religious communities. The two groups have been much studied by geneticists, but have not always been given the medical help they merit. This surely was the case with MSUD and GA. But a few years ago, a young named pediatrician Holmes Morton came into the communities, and found therein his own personal 'magnificent obses- sion'. He felt literally driven to establish . a clinic that could meet the needs of the commu-nite- s for at least these, and hopefully other, diseases. First priority was a facility for screening all newborns for the conditions, so that remedial diets could be developed for those needing them. But he could find little money. Repeated efforts went without reward. At last he applied for a second mortgage on his own home, to begin the construction of his dream clinic. And it was there, 18 months or so ago, that the Wall Street Journal gave the coverage. And story front-pag- e of course American readers responded. Contributions came in from at least 37 states. A Philadelphia architect donated his services, working with an architect in the local area. They planned a building that the Mennonite and Amish people and could build themselves this past fall, in a modern recommurun of an they did just nity barn-raisin- g, that. Dr. Morton has been screening what children he could ever since coming to the area. newAmong the borns he found was Barbara now 14 months old and doing well. Her grandparents, Jacob and Naomi Stoltzfoos, donated three acres of land for the clinic, and their home served as operations base for the recent "clinic-raisin- g day." The Men- nonite and Amish farmers showed up in force, and using their highly-practice- d m construction techniquies, had the major parts of the building solidly formed in just 10 hours taking out time for dinner in the large Stoltzfoos' kitchen. Dr. Morton has funds on hand to run the clinic for several months at least, though clearly he is embarking as much on faith as on solid footing. But I have a hunch his clinic will work. He is not yet another Albert Schweitzer, but may well be making his own distinct mark in medical history. We can only wish him well. Herald PfeotoPsi trick J. Krohn Carolyn Hunt stands by her tree that has pictures on it of area soldiers. She has another tree to honor soldiers feat have died in the war. ienola woman sh ows support for troops By PATRICK CHRISTIAN Herald Staff Writer GENOLA Carolyn Hunt doesn't care if her rural Utah acre does become the "Middle East War National Forest" she's doing whatever she can to demonstrate support for allied troops. She's already decorated one living Christmas tree outside her rural Genola home. She put yellow lights, and yellow ribbons on it and has been slowly adding photos of soldiers who are serving in the Persian Gulf war. "If I run out of room, I have another tree I can decorate," she said. And there's room for even more trees. The mother of five said she doesn't have a loved one or know anyone in the Middle East, but nonetheless cares strongly for the troops. "I just pray that they'll all be OK," She said. But she knows wars don't always go that way. So she has added a "blue tree," with blue lights for the names or photos of those who are killed. "I've also been thinking of a green tree for the POWs," she said. amendment to the public safety services agreement between the cities of Orem and Vineyard will come under consideration at the Orem City Council meeting Tuesday. Vineyard city officials have requested the agreement be changed to require Orem's City Attorney to provide prosecution services for Vineyard. The City Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at 45 N. State St, Orem. Assistant City Manager Stewart Taylor said, "We provide police services already for Vineyard. If police action is taken we provide the doucments that are needed for prosecution." The Legal Service Department has filed 1,014 criminal charges for the first six months of this fiscal year, Taylor said. This is an increase of almost 30 percent over the comparable period last year. "We don't provide any prosecution services," he said. "We'd just rather not commit to provide the extra service. If you'll recall (Public Safety) hired three additional officers in the last year, and it has By SONNI SCHWINN public hearing in about six weeks. The Utah Transportation Commission last week gave final approval for laying a main sewer line along the west shoulder of U.S. 40, for about three miles north of the Mayflower junction. The line will Officials still expect cave tours to begin as previously scheduled on May 4 By JOHN BEST Herald Correspondent TTMPANOGOS AL MONUMENT CAVE - NATION- Smoke filled American Fork Canyon as firefighters from two agencies battled to save the National Park's historic Timpanogos Cave Visitors Center early Sunday morning. According to fire officials the fire was too far gone by the time help arrived, and the building was a total loss. Fire alarms inside the visitors center were activated at 2:55 a.m. Sunday. Park personnel stationed in American Fork Canyon immediately called the Alpine City Fire Department. Alpine firefighters arrived shortly after 3 a.m. "When we arrived the building was engulfed in flames and smoke," said Alpine Fire Chief Craig Carlisle. The Alpine Fire Department called Pleasant Grove for back up help and the two crews battled the blaze before finally controlling the fire. After 8 a.m. crews were dousing hot spots in the totally destroyed visitors center. Mike Tranel, Chief Ranger for the Timpanogos Cave National already created an increase in the number of actions that are prosecutable." Vineyard Mayor J. Rulon Gammon said, "Where their officers are providing the service, it would just be easier to provide prosecution." Since the services agreement was put into place, there have been only two cases which have required prosecution, Gammon said. Currently, the city has an attorney on retainer to provide prosecution services. not interfere with the highway, so it doesn't have to be installed before construction on the southbound lane begins this spring. But the project engineer, Jim Olson, Eckhoff, Watson and Preator Engineering, said laying the pipeline Police investigating possible shoplifting ring Orem police are still investigat- ing what may have been a large shoplifting ring operating in the Utah County area over the last several months. More than $3,000 worth of merchandise was discovered while detective Bob Conner was doing a routine check on a report of a firearm fheft at a local store. Conner found the merchandise and believes two adults and several juveniles were working together to shoplift all the items. AUTO BURGLARIES - Provo and Orem police report up to 15 vehicles were burglarized Friday and Saturday resulting in several thousand dollars in damage and stolen items. In Provo, Lt. Craig Geslison said four vehicles were broken into on N. Piute Drive Friday between p.m. Approximately $2,200 in Her mother Beula J. Hodgson also volunteered to help her. "We'll take down the tree and return the photos when the soldiers come home," said Hodgson. They are asking that the photos envebe sent with a lop to Carolyn Hunt, 1190 S. State Street, Genola 84655 or Beula J. Hodgson, 782 S. 1240 East, Spanish Fork 84660. "The tree is especially beautiful at night," said Hodgson. & Monument said, "the lobby, the auditorium, the museum and offices of our visitor center are all destroyed." Tranel said major losses are the building, computers, and radio equipment. Displays in the museum were also destroyed. Tranel said, "Our major geological collections are in another building. The displays in the museum that were destroyed are not as valuable." The visitors center was constructed in 1965. County Fire Marshal Tom Wroe was called to the scene along with the state fire marshal. Tranel says an inspector from the National Park Service will also investigate the blaze. Wroe arrived early Sunday to begin his investigation. He concluded the cause to be an electrical fault. Heat tape used to melt ice along the southeast portion of the roof caused the extension cords to overheat and short, which ignited the combustible wood roof. Wroe estimates the total dollar amount lost in the fire to reach $500,000, including the building and its contents. Tranel says cave tours were "We feel like it would be much easier to hire (Orem) to do all of the prosecution as well as the public safety work," he said. The assistant city manager and the city attorney have developed necessary changes for the amendment and a fee schedule for the City Council's consideration. Taylor said, because of the resources and time that frequently must be committed to provide prosecution, it's recommended that the City Council not pursue the amendment request. Alternatives presented at future public hearing Herald Correspondent Several alternaHEBER CITY tives for transporting and treating sewage for Jordanelle developments are being identified for final studies and will be presented at a ar vide supplies to laminate the photos to protect them from the weather. Fire destrovs Timo C ave isitors center Orem to look at services agreement amendment An She got the idea during protest week a week she said there demostra-tion- s were several anti-wthat she watched on television. They angered her, she said. "I saw all these stupid protestors, and said I've got to do something to show support for our troops." Hunt said she has been asking families and loved ones of soldiers to send her photos of those fighting in the Middle East. In one week, she's received about a dozen. She said the owner of a print shop in Payson volunteered to pro items were taken and another $400 was done in damage to broken windows to enter the vehicles. In Orem, detective Gerald Nielsen reports 12 vehicles were burglarized taking a yet to be determined amount of money and items Friday and Saturday. Nielsen said two adults have been charged in connection with the burglaries but they are still under investigation. occasionally interfere with traffic, so he would prefer to install it before the highway is opened. One of the transportation commission's stipulations is that once the pipeline is in place, no additional sewer lines may be connected. Therefore, the Jordanelle Sewer Advisory Council has tried to contact all the developers who are planning to build in the area to be sure connecting points are properly located for their projects during the initial construction. The commission also stipulated that there must be no manhole covers above the level of the road and that the engineers must work closely with Department of Transportation engineers in designing the pipeline alignment. All connections along the line must be approved by the department. would The Timpanogos Cave Visitors Center was destroyed in a Sunday morning fire. scheduled to begin this spring on May 4. "We still plan to be in operation by that day. We will have a temporary ticket booth, and probably no visitors center, but tours will continue. The rest rooms, snack bar and gift shop were separate from the main building joined only by a roof structure. Council to consider program participation its By CHRISTI C. EVANS Herald Staff Writer Provo Municipal Council members will consider adopting a resolution Tuesday beginning city participation in a regional program encouraging recycling efforts. Also, council members will e rate study potential increases for garbage collection. Council Chairman Steve Clark said the recyling ordinance is the beginning of an environmental education program to make the public more environmentally conscious of what happens to their garbage. "It will basically kick off an education program in helping residents of the city get acquainted and used to and acclimated to recycling," Clark said. "We're going to look at new ways of recycling within the city-wid- city." Council members will discuss the resolution during their 6 p.m. study meeting Tuesday and consider adopting the resolution in their 7 p.m. regular meeting. Both meetings will be held at the Provo City Center, 351 W. Center. The resolution is being considered as the city begins operation of the new solid waste transfer station in Springville. Provo began processing waste through the station today along with four other south Utah County cities. are transporting trash to the new Bayview Landfill near Elberta after it is compacted at the transfer staSemi-traile- rs ; tion. While recycling efforts may be coordinated with the transfer station, operation of the station may mean increases in garbage fees within the city . Clark said the council would discuss proposed rate increases within the sanitation department during its study meeting Tuesday, but no action will be taken until Feb. 19. The council will probably be asking citizens to limit the amount of trash they put out for collection, Clark said, to reduce the environmental impact. "As recently as two years ago, we were telling our citizens to they could put as much garbage out as they wanted. Now, we're asking them to conserve and limit the amount of refuse they put out," Clark said. In other business, the council will consider adopting a resolution of support for United States military activity in the Persian . Gulf region. t |