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Assesses the way Caltech handled two apparently unrelated cases of alleged scientific research fraud in the lab of biologist Leroy Hood. Comparisons to how the so-called Baltimore scientific fraud case was handled; Apparently falsified research paper figure of two research postdocs, Vipin Kumar and James Urban; Kumar's defense of his actions; Hood's decision to notify various agencies and universities involved with Kumar; Lingering concerns about Caltech's handling of cases.

Reports that two leaders in genetics and evolution are calling for an urgent effort to collect DNA from rapidly disappearing indigenous populations. Genetics of aboriginal populations; General plan; Funding. INSET: Scientific split over sampling strategy, by L.R.;Yanomami people.

Reports on new life for the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Human Genome Project, eclipsed by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) genome effort, until David Galas began work last year as DOE's associate director of health and environmental research. Broadening the genome project's vision; Principal goals of genome project; In-house peer review; Support for Galas's efforts. INSET: Refocusing biology at DOE, by L.R.;LBL Genome Center to try....

Examines what went wrong with the US National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP). After ten years of conducting extensive surveys and building elaborate computer models NAPAP never got around to answering questions about the costs and benefits of control strategies. INSET: How bad is acid rain?, by L.R.;Going for broke on a megamodel....

Exposes the trend of rapid publication in scientific journals and the lengths both editors and authors go to beat each other into print. The quick pace of discovery and technological advances plus the bitter competition between journals exacerbates tensions among investigators. INSET: Lessons from physics..

Discusses the ways in which efforts to map the genome of the nematode `Caenorhabditis elegans,' known as the worm project, by researchers in England, is expected to help the human genome mapping project. Genetic analysis; History of worm study; Work on genetic linkage map; Role of yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs); Funding; Future research.

Describes the advances and setbacks an unusual collaboration of six groups have experienced in their search for the gene that causes Huntington's disease, a collaboration that began six years ago. Hereditary Disease Foundation; Start of collaboration; Discovery of chromosome 4; Use of markers; Problems in finding gene; Personnel problems. INSET: Three steps forward, two steps back, by L.R..

Describes the attempts of California authorities to define a vaguely-worded Proposition 65 into legislation both environmentalists and industry can live with. INSET: A risk worth worrying about..

In Goiania, Brazil, scavengers, removing a cylinder containing l40 curies of cesium-137 from an abandoned cancer therapy machine, caused the second worst radiation accident in history on September 13, 1987. How bone marrow specialist Robert Gale proposes treatment for the 244 exposed victims.

Investigates the controversy over whether DNA fingerprinting is ready yet to be used as evidence in court cases. Assertions that there is no data evident on genetic variation among ethnic groups; Comments by proponents of DNA fingerprinting; Details of battle between proponents and opponents of DNA fingerprinting; Debate centering on different standards of proof; Problems with `biological melting pot'; Finding a middle ground. INSET: Was Science fair to its authors?, by L.R..

Discusses attempts by researchers in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to abandon their risk assessment model for dioxin. Scientists want to predict dioxin's risk based on a molecular understanding of how the chemical works. INSET: High dioxin dose linked to cancer, by L.R.;Monsanto studies....

Examines four projects just beginning that could make or break the human genome project by achieving or failing to achieve faster times and lower costs in genome sequencing. Call for factor of 10 improvement; Motivating scientists for boring and mundane work; `Genome fellows'; Manufacturing approach; Divisive issue of sequencing accuracy; Cost of different degrees of accuracy; Confidence statements on sequences; When to deposit sequence data in data-base.

Relates the history of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a leading institute for molecular biology research, as it turns 100 years old. Lab's future discussed; Expansion under director James Watson; Phage Group; Tumor viruses studied; Place for young scientists; Criticisms of environment; Growth and stability at lab; Watson's possible resignation; Appointment of Bruce Stillman as assistant director.

Examines the numerous problems caused by the invasion of foreign organisms in United States waters, particularly the zebra mussel. Rise in ballast-borne invasions; Reasons zebra mussel is such a pest; Disruption of lower food web; Factors in population fluctuations of zebra mussel; Possible legislative control measures. INSET: Why do some invasions succeed?, by L.R..

Discusses efforts by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator William Reilly and his Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to focus the agency's resources on the riskiest environmental problems, rather than political ones. `Unfinished Business' report; Board committees; Use of report to set 1992 budgets. INSET: Ranking the risks proves contentious, by L.R..

Recounts the race to find the gene that causes neurofibromatosis (NF) by two former collaborators, Francis Collins of the University of Michigan and Raymond White of the University of Utah, who later parted ways on the research. Description of NF gene; Applications in diagnosis and cause of disease; Looking for expressed genes; Problems in research; Finding the right gene. INSET: The first piece in the NF puzzle, by L.R..

Discusses plans proposed by animal researchers to control fat in cattle, increase milk production and fight disease through the gene mapping information being researched in the human genome project, from which the animal researchers are hoping to get some funds. Benefits of genetic linkage maps; Examples of companies' projects; Obstacles in mapping; Advantages of animal researchers. INSET: Plant maps, public and private, by L.R.;What to do with an....

Describes the many questions to be answered before a general public screening program for cystic fibrosis can begin, such as who should be screened, at what age, and by whom? The success of the Tay-Sachs screening program and the failure of the sickle cell anemia screening programs are discussed. INSET: One worked.;The other didn't..

Summarizes a dispute among scientists on the magnitude, rate, and timing of the depopulation of New World Native American societies by the diseases of Old World explorers. Dispute over numbers; Lack of evidence; Earlier decimation; Examples; North American estimates. INSET: Large numbers, big assumptions..

Reports on the confrontation between James Watson, head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) genome project, and Japanese scientists, from whom Watson has threatened to withhold the complete DNA sequence of the human genome, unless the Japanese contribute funds to HUGO, the international human genome organization. INSET: Japan and the SSC: Congress raises a flag, by M. Crawford..

Outlines a new proposal by scientists using the results of different, seemingly incompatible, mapping techniques for the Human Genome Project. Common language for maps; Sequence tagged site (STS); Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Discusses the reasons that oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez into Alaska's Prince William Sound is expected to have a particularly severe effect on seabirds, marine mammals, and fish. Quantity; Enclosed area; Subarctic conditions. INSET: The legacy of past spills..

Describes the conflict between the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) and activist Jeremy Rifkin over human gene therapy, and its potential benefits and abuses; Discusses numerous ethical questions raised by proponents and opponents.

Discusses studies into the speed in which North American trees can migrate to escape the effect of greenhouse warming.

The US is currently leading the world in an effort to map and sequence the human genome. But at a recent meeting, international scientists made clear their intent to reach the forefront in genome research. INSET: A sequencing reality check..

Reports on how the earth's biology will be affected by the predicted greenhouse effect. According to a meeting of scientists sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, biological diversity will diminish.

Discusses how rapidly increasing deforestation coupled with many animal and plant species on the verge of extinction has biologists calling for an immediate `quick and dirty' survey to chart the biodiversity of the planet. Cost; Difficulties; Triage policy debate.

Discusses borrowing pandas. Lawsuit brought by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums against the Toledo (Ohio) Zoo for practices involving pandas; Background; Details; Larger questions about pandas; Endangered species; Commercial gain; China's role; Conservation groups.

Report of the Vietnam Experience Study, a massive epidemiologic study being completed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Findings of few deleterious physical effects but showed the war's psychological toll to be substantial; Details of findings; Description of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Controversy over Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS); Interpretation of study's results.

The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) in its summary of its 5th year; $300 million study shows minimal effects from acid rain on crops and forests; only a small number of lakes have been acidified. Scientists are not happy with the political slant, selective reporting, oversights and phraseology of the report.

Microbial ecologists and microbiologists are beginning to discover an array of microorganisms with the ability to biodegrade PCBs. DCB1 will be used to try to clean-up toxic chemicals, first by enhancing the performance of nonengineered microorganisms and later by endowing them with new capabilities through genetic engineering.

Current developments in the human genome project--how researchers and bureaucrats are coming to terms with the organization and funding of the sequencing project. National Science Foundation and National Institutes for Health stands on how to fund, administer and implement biological project.

Discusses efforts to resolve the questions surrounding the patenting of gene sequences. Scientific and biotech groups denounced National Institutes of Health efforts to patent gene fragments of unknown function; Inter-agency working group chaired by Mary Clutter, National Science Foundation; International genetics community opposed to NIH's moves; NIH director Bernadine Healy group member; More.

Examines the question of how to make conservation attractive to the developing countries that hold most of the world's biodiversity. Costa Rica's National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio); Arrangement with Merck, the pharmaceutical giant; Other countries interested; How INBio started; Functions and goals; Critics and other viewpoints. INSET: The drug industry goes green, by L.R..

Looks at the reasons James Watson has resigned as head of the genome effort at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Watson's claims that NIH director Bernadine Healy forced him out of position; Initial conflict between Watson and Healy over Healy's plans to patent gene fragments; NIH's claims about Watson's financial holdings in biotech firms and conflict of interest; Complaints about Watson from financier Frederick Bourke.

Examines the contents of a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report on the technical and social issues surrounding forensic DNA typing. Previous problems with DNA fingerprinting; NAS committee's solution to dispute over statistical methods used to interpret a DNA match; Changes in quality of DNA evidence used in court cases; Debate among committee members on sample matching; Committee's approach to population substructure problems; Other recommendations.

Looks at continuing controversy over the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) efforts to patent gene fragments one of its researchers, Craig Venter, is sequencing. NIH recently applied for a patent for over 2000 gene fragments, in addition to the hundreds it attempted to patent last year. Description of sequencing technique; Criticism led by academic scientists; Comments regarding position of NIH director Bernadine Healy in controversy. INSET: The advisory committee protests..

Reports on the controversy that has arisen over plans of United States businessman Frederick Bourke to start up a private DNA sequencing company. Bourke's efforts to hire Genome Project experts John Sulston of England and Robert Waterston of theUnited States; Complaints by officials of the Medical Research Council (MRC) of England; Bourke's comments; Benefits of a private DNA sequencing company; Benefits for Bourke; Response of Sulston and Waterston.

Discusses the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) entry into the fight that has erupted within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over its plans to patent gene fragments. Details of patenting issue; Criticisms from James Watson, head of the genome effort at NIH and other genome experts; Comments on fight by NIH Director Bernadine Healy; Controversy over which agencies should be involved in solving controversy; British CDNA project controversy.

Looks at research aimed at discovering the role of phytoplankton, the ocean's microscopic plants, in the world's food web and the global carbon cycle. Original suggestion that iron dumped in the ocean could reduce global warming; Small-scale experiment on iron in open ocean; Ocean's role in carbon cycle; Apparent inefficient carbon pump in Southern Ocean; Supporters of iron-dumping suggestion; Criticisms; Test plans.

Reports the results of an investigation that examined the connection between coral bleaching and global warming which did not indicate any proof of the greenhouse role. Other possible causes; Recommendation of long-term monitoring.

Describes the approach being taken by Craig Venter of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke who feels that expressed genes are more useful to the Human Genome Project and the cost is only a fraction of what it would take to sequence the entire human genome. Details; Comments by other sequencing experts.

Reveals that molecular biologist Richard Roberts at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has provided a computer program to help investigators rid errors from DNA sequence databases. Roberts' new program is called DETECT and finds potential frameshift errors.

Describes the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) an ecological SWAT team put together by four of the world's foremost tropical biologists to do quick and dirty surveys of disappearing tropical forests. Support from systematists and conservationists; Setting conservation priorities; Origins of RAP; First mission to Bolivia; Results of first mission; Second mission in Ecuador; Criticisms of RAP.

Reveals the unanticipated furor that erupted over a Banbury Center dioxin conference run by the Chlorine Institute. Participants were angered when they learned that a public relations firm hired by the Chlorine Institute was circulating a `consensus' summary of the meeting.

Explores the funding difficulties and political skittishness over abortion that have halted plans for a cystic fibrosis (CF) screening pilot program in the United States. Abortion issue facing Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Lack of funds from National Institutes of Health (NIH); Lack of other funding sources; Testing by companies and medical centers. INSET: CF gene proves uncooperative, by L.R..

Explores the similarities in the views of two groups on opposite sides of `big' science, in the guise of the Human Genome Project, and molecular biology. Critics were recently invited to speak to a Genome II meeting. Critic Bernard Davis' complaints about project; All-out sequencing concerns; Criticisms by Don Brown; Objections to targeted research; Comments by Genome project leader James Watson. INSET: Hood seems likely to head Berkeley Genome Center, by L.R..

Reports on Congressional scrutiny of the genome project's funding as well as criticisms from other scientists due to a perception that its budget has grown too large and too fast in a time of research funding cutbacks. Budget without justification; PR problems; Response by genome scientists; Specific criticisms; Expected results of funding cutbacks.

Examines the controversy surrounding a study done by British scientist Martin J. Gardner, that links a higher incidence of leukemia in children with their fathers' exposure to low-level radiation at the nuclear plants where they work, and which contradicts data from the 40-year studies of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, atomic bombs. Reasons for study; Differences between types of exposure; Criticisms of study.

Discusses the recently discovered problems in the development of a DNA test to screen for the hereditary disease cystic fibrosis. Researchers now say the gene mutations, discovered last summer, are much more complex than anticipated. Mutations unaccounted for; Genetic screening questions; Guidelines for population screening.