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Show ees a oo oe The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH/NATION Study Targets Genetics-Behavior Link Friday, D 24, 1999 the muscles contract. Then, when exp-2 potassium channels open, potassium flows out, quickly re- Utah, Texas researchers say mutant worms offer clues to complex human traits BY LEE SIEGEL ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE A study by Utah and Texas researchers shows how one genetic mutation can change a simple mutation all the way out to the in behaviorit causes.” The study “is really terrific,” said Cori Bargmann, an anatomy and biochemistry professor at the paves of California, San ous genes influence complex hu- esteea said it is one of'a few cases where scientists traced a single creature's feeding behavior,raising hope for learning how numerman behaviors. The researchers in the study created mutant worms that were unable to eat and swallow food properly. “We've shownit’s possible to draw a direct line between a specific gene and a specific aspect of behavior,” said University of Utah geneticist M. Wayne Davis, principal authorof the study published today in the journal Science. “If we can take what we learn in the worm — which is a very simple animal — we can move up to understanding how more complicated behaviors in more complicated animals like people are made up of smaller behaviors, each controlled by separate genes. We eventually will be able to see the lines linking human genes to human behaviors.” Science's editors said the study “demonstrated, with unprece- dented thoroughness, the ripple effect of a specific genetic genetoits effect on the transfer of electrical signals in muscles and, ultimately,to a visible behavior. If genes are words in the com- plex language of biology, learning howonegeneaffects a simple behavioris a necessary step toward revealing how many genesaffect complex behaviors, she added. “If you want to understand a new language, you don’t want to start with the works of Shakes- peare,” Bargmann said. “If you're trying to learn to read, [the children’s book] ‘Goodnight Moon’ is theplace to start.” Davis, a postdoctoral fellow in biology, washired by the U.of U. last summer. He conducted the research for his Ph.D.thesis at the University of Texas Southwestern ledical Centerin Dallas. The study involved Caenorhabditis elegans, a nonparasitic nematode worm that has only 1,000 cells and is as long as a dimeis thick, Davis said. “They live in the dirt; they hang out in compost heaps,” he said. “They eat bacteria and de- caying matter.” One worm produces 200 offspring in four days, so millions can be raised in the laboratory for genetic studies. Last year, C. elegans becamethe first animal to have its genome, or genetic blueprint, completely decoded. Davis and his colleagues studied a worm gene named exp-2 — the second gene found to influence the expulsion of feces from the worm’s intestine. When the gene is mutated a certain way, the worms cannot defecate properly and becomeconstipated. The same mutation prevents the worm from laying eggs or eating properly. Davis’ research team discov- ered the gene by pinpointingits location and linking its mutant formsto various abnormalities. Exp-2 orders production of a protein, Fourof the proteins form a tube-like “potassium channel.” Each of the worm’s muscle cells has hundreds of such potassium channels. Whensimilar “calcium channels” open, electrically charged calcium ions flow into muscle cells, increasing the voltage so ducing the voltage so the muscles relax. When a normal C. elegans worm eats, the pump-like contrac- tion and relaxation of muscle cells in its tube-shaped mouth and throatallow it to suck in water and bacteria from surrounding soil, then spit out the water while swallowing the bacteria, Davis said. Davis compared normal worms with two kinds of mutant worms, creating the mutations — which are birth defects — by kesparent worms in a toxic chemical. In onekind of mutant, the ‘eXxp2 gene became hyperactive. As a result, potassium flowed out of muscle cells prematurely, so the worms’ it muscles began to relax before fully contracting. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — In a ChristmastimegesWorld War II when he and others refused to load live ammunition following a deadly ex- plosion at a naval storage facility. Eighty-year-old Freddie Meeksof Los Angeles is one of only two known survivors of the 50 men sentenced to prison and hard laborfollowing the incidentat the Port Chicago Naval Magazine near San Francisco. He alone formally sought a pardon. ‘The 1944 explosion killed more than 300 men, and the subsequent standoff between black sailors and white officers inspired the TV movie “Mutiny.” Lawmakers, veterans and the NAACP had argued that the sailors were victimsofracial prejudice, and the Navy agreed with them in a 1994 review ofthe case, thoughit did not overturn their convictions. Meeks, in failing health, said he had wondered whether he wouldlive to see the day his namewascle “J knew we had a good presidentandI figured he would aees right thing, and he did mutantwormsate, “we've shown genes could not eat at all and you can makespecific changesin a single gene that lead to specific changes in the voltage of muscle died. Worms with one mutant gene had trouble sucking iin water and bacteria so “they ate very poorly,” Davis said. Thescientists created a second mutation in which the exp-2 gene did not work at all. Such worms could contract their throat muscles, but could not relax them. Those worms sucked in bacteria and water, but could notspit out the water, which dribbled out slowly. “They eat very inefficiently,” Davis said. “They starved all the time.” are partly appreciate it.” The pardon for Meeks made up our mind — yougo back, you might be blownto pieces. So wedidn’t go back.” Thearrested sailors were held on a barge On July 17, 1944, two transport ships carrying ammunition exploded at Port Chicago, killing 320 men and injuring 390 in told us, “You know you could be shot.’ But we until they were tried and convicted for mutiny. president signed Thursday.It had noofficial effect In the 1994 review, the Navysaid it found no grounds to overturn their courts-martial and said the military had already shown le- niency by reducing their sentences. Meeks’ original sentence was reduced from 15 years Freddie Meeks confinementand hard labor to 17 months. Clinton noted that Meeks had participated ing disease, which cripples young fish and leaves them swimming Davis’ Texas co-authors of the study were geneticist Leon Avery, postdoctoral fellows Richard Fleischhauer and Joseph Dent, and neuroscientist Rolf Joho. WomanArrested at Border THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BURLINGTON, Vt. — A woman arrested at the VermontCanadian borderhasties to an iniev ties in Europe and Algeria, fed. eral prosecutors said Thursday. The disclosure came as prosecutors argued successfullyin federal court to keep Lucia Garofalo and Bouabide Chamchi in jail. Both were arrested Sunday at a number,the court paperssaid. “This latter telephone number . Was reportedly associated with a person underinvestigation for the theft and sale of dynamite stolen in Ontario,” said a document submitted by Assistant U.S. AttorneyTristram Coffin. Neither Garofalo nor Chamchi had an opportunity to speak during the proceeding. The court documents, citing intelligence sources, said the Al- signed to load bombsontoships. The following day, white officers were given 30 days leave. But a commandertold the ment of Colored People urged the president to “pardon the Port Chicago trial survivors, re- bomb-related arms dealer who resides in 2 zerland and is connected to Two-thirds of those killed were blacks as- black seamenthatthey had to resumeloading ammunition, and he threatened to shoot from onestate to another — takes precautions. Thedisease is caused by a par- asite that attacks the fragile bone structures of baby trout, interfer- zona and its $664 million sports fishing industry have been now affects trout at in 22 namely trout anglers traveling tion,” Davis said. “We may learn something about how they work from how this worm gene works.” gerian Islamic League was founded and directed by Mourad Dhina. ing with their ability to feed and avoid predators. The disease could turn up unless the public — “There are lots of genes that regulate the rate of heart mo- World War I. The ships and a pier were destroyed. incircles, could infest and devastate Arizona’s trout populations. ‘The disease has devastated blue ribbontroutfisheries in Colorado, Montana and other westernstates this decade. So far, Arispared, Arizona is the only western state free of the disease, wildlifeofficials said. But the Arizona Game and Fish Departmentsays the disease cal activity of worm muscles resembles the role other potassiumchannel genes play in pumping by humanheart muscles. remote border crossing in northeastern Vermont. Their arrests, combined with the arrest of an Algerian manin Washington state last week on imprisonment. The National Association for the Advance- store their benefits and make survivors’ benefits available to the widows.” ‘ish officials are closely monitor- PHOENIX — Arizona wildlife officials fear the incurable whirl- ing the feeding behavior,” Davis said, Hesaid exp-2's role in electri- in the “extraordinarily difficult job of picking up human remains” following the blast and completed his military service after what was the worst domestic loss oflife in why Arizona Game and Arizona Officials Fear Infestation of Trout Disease That's hatcheries for the disease. ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS cific changes in the way those muscle cells act, thereby chang- “Wejust wanted somerelaxation, and they wouldn't give us none,” Meeks said. “They on the records of the other 49 convicted seamen. cells, which in turn lead to spe- Has Terrorist Ties, Feds Claim anyonewhorefused. the right thing with this pardon,” Meekstold The Associated Press, i was oneof three dozen the By comparing how normal and Wormswith two of these mutant Clinton Pardons Sailor Convicted After WWII ‘Mutiny’ ture, President Clinton on Thursday pardoned a sailor court-martialed for mutiny during re 4 Photos by TrentNelson/The Salt Lake Tribane U.of U. geneticist M. Wayne Davis, above,is the principal author of the study that shows how a simple gene mutation can affect behaviors. His subjects were tiny worms shown in the lab dish below. draws its name from the tail- hatcheries. The disease didn’t take hold in the East because that region has manyfree-flowing streams. But in the West, it festered in slow- flowing, dammed waters, a prime habitat for the worm that carries “Our fish egg sources are scrutinized for disease and any con- tributing hatcheries must be certified as disease free,” said Larry Riley, the department’s fisheries branchchief. Anglers are also being asked to theparasite. Though the disease has not take precautions. doomed fish. Fish that survive been found in Arizona, officials may develop head Sete or twisted spines. worry parasite infestation could the water and to thoroughly clean chasing motion that afflicts the states. The parasite was broughtinto the United States in the 1950s in fish from Europe. It worked its devastate large natural reproductionsites like Lee’s Ferry, the renowned rainbow troutfishery on the Colorado River south of Lake Powell. “It’s irreversible,” said David way from the East to the West as fishermen stocked streams with Cohen, state conservation direc- their favorite sport fish. Eventually, the parasite got into trout glers’ group. “Once yougotit, you gotit.” tor for Trout Unlimited, an an- Wildlife officials caution them to avoid throwing fish remains in and disinfect their equipment and clothes after fishing. There are no known cures for the disease. Only one drug, fumagillin, has shown any promise, and it’s impossible to get enough of it into an Infected river to do any good. ib Dan aleeGee hatcher- charges, have stirred fears of terrorist attacks. At the same time, the State Department has warned that U.S. citizens abroad should be cautious over the holiday weekend because of possible terrorism. “Dhina has been identified from other sources of information as an Algerian international nizations sponsoring a neuter aof terrorist acts in Europe and Algeria. Dhina is reported to be actively involved in the shipmentof In court documents, prosecu- tions,” was driving to Brahim Mahdi, a member of the Algerian Islamic League, whose leaderis said to be connected to “organizations spon- plosives or materials used to make them from samples taken from Garofalo’s car in Beecher said ioecell phonehaveandlinked the she soring a numberofterrorist acts in Europe andAlgeria.” That information came from American intelligence sources, which the prosecutors did not identify. Garofalo’s cell-phone account was opened by Mahdi,and the car she was driving when stopped at the border Sunday night was registered in his name, they said. Prosecutors also said U.S. and Canadian authorities were investigating a land line telephone <i count connected to There were calls from that i. count to another Montreal Falls. Two dogs trained to detect explosives had indicated the possibility of explosives in the right rear fender. Chamchi was oe hed without bail pending tri cause the court found he aaa substantial risk of flight. Garofalo will be in court again Dec. 30 to continue the detention hearing that Thursday. “There are a number of connections with other organizations that we have concerns about,” said U.S. Attorney Charles Tetalaff. He did notidentify the other organizations. Accused Bank Robber Requests Exam for Cultural Insanity PITTSBURGH — A black man is innocent by reason of cultural insanity caused by longtime expo- sure to racism. Blaine Gamble, 60, of Philadel- For those HARD-TO-SHOP-FORfriends, relatives, accomplice and robbed tellers at gunpoint. 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