Genome Coup Opens Door WASHINGTON, D.C. Now that the history-making venture to decipher the structure of near ly ali the genes in a little mustard family plant called thale cress or mouse ear cress is complete, plant researchers are intent on finding out what job each of those 25,000 genes performs. “This remarkable accomplish ment,” said U.S. Agriculture Sec retary Dan Glickman, “may pave the way for increasing agri cultural productivity by improv ing crop yields and quality to help maintain a global food sup ply and protect the environ ment.” Among the investigators pur suing that ambitious goal is Athanasios Theologis, a senior scientist with the Agricultural Research Service in Albany, Calif., and adjunct professor at the University of California, Ber keley. Theologis co-authored one of several research papers in the very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you! The Paul Mueller Company and your Mueller distributors: NIA IYLV PE Longacre Electrical Service Inc. Ag Division Bally, Pa. 19501 PH: 610-845-2261 * Keith’s Refrigeration Service Martmsburg, PA 16662 PH: 814-793-2783 To New Discoveries December 14 issue of the journal “Nature” that document his team’s success and that of co investigators in elucidating the structure, or “sequence,” of all of the genes in the diminutive plant known to botanists as Arabidop sis thaliana. Researchers finished the project three years ahead of schedule. Theologis is based at the Plant Gene Expression Center, which is jointly operated by ARS and the University of California. The Arabidopsis sequencing work that is considered to be the first complete, publicly available cata log of the structure of all of the genes that come into play during the life of a flowering plant from seed to flower to fruit. Scientists hope to discover the traits that these genes control, such as resistance to attack by in sects or diseases. Once those genes are identified, scientists may be able to shuttle them into plants that lack natural protec- During this season our thoughts turn gratefully to those who make our business possible. * Rufus Brubaker Refrigeration Manheim.Pa 17545 PH; 717-665-3525 OR Quarryville, Pa 17566 PH: 717-786-1617 OR Myerstown, Pa 17067 PH; 717-933-4711 OR Mitflmburg, PA PH: 1-800-330-6639 ivi u e: l. l. i=: r THE MILK COOLING SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS tion, or they may be able to re tool the genes to enhance their effectiveness Arabidopsis has been the guin ea pig for these gene-sequence in vestigations because it has a much smaller amount of genetic material than familiar crop plants such as corn or wheat. Knowing the structure and the function of Arabidopsis genes helps reveal clues to the form and function of genes in all flow ering plants, as well as genes of other forms of life. Theologis worked with scien tists at Stanford University and at the University of Pennsylvania to determine the sequence of the genes of one of the five chromo somes in Arabidopsis. Investiga tors in the United States, Europe, ancf Japan sequenced four other Arabidopsis chromosomes. USDA’s Cooperative State Re search, Education, and Exten sion Service helped fund the work. *j//q(JJJXH4y U/lc/tJOfU' /a/ju/(j e<xpe/'(ejtce f/e ( / ( > { /’ /one a/u/feace f/a/ m f/e fwte //texi/fi/uj * Martin’s Refrigeration Service Fayetteville, Pa. 17222 PII: 717-852-2783 * Lyco Dairy Service Cogan Station, PA PH: 570-494-0708 570-966-1396 * Fisher & Thompson Belleville, PA PH: 717-935-7422 of G/w'S'/nui'S'. % MARYLAND * Priest’s Refrigeration Hagerstown, MD 21742 PH: 301-797-3921 * MUELLER Star Dealers are committed to using all Mueller replacement parts and to continued training for up-to-date equipment and technological changes. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 23, 2000-A35 Checkoff Capitalizes On Demand For Beef DENVER, Colo. The Beef Promotion Operating Committee recommended the largest budget amendment ever for demand building programs at a meeting Dec. 6. The $6,642,000 fiscal 2001 budget amendment will be used to support checkoff-funded beef promotion, research, consumer information and foreign market ing efforts. These funds resulted from three sources: 1) the amount by which FY2OOO record checkoff revenue exceeded pro jections; 2) the amount by which the Beef Board’s administrative expenses came in under budget; and 3) a number of Beef Board projects that were completed for less than the amounts approved. “The amendment, and the plan for fiscal 2001, is focused on helping the industry continue to build beef demand,” said Beef Board Chairman Les McNeill, who serves as Chair man of the Regional Manager PA, NY, New England Robin Shirley Hampton, NY PH: 518-282-0040 Regional Manager MD, DE, VA Frank M Bird Jr ILA, GA PH: 706-789-3928 dieted to exceed $53 billion, an increase of $3 billion from 1999. After nearly two decades of de cline, demand has been on a up swing for nearly two years.” The recommended budget amendment includes funding for Promotion, $1,870,000; Research, $2,585,000; Consumer Informa tion, $1,800,000 and Foreign Marketing, $387,000. “The budget amendment in cludes funds for additional beef safety and nutrition research,” said McNeill. “Research is a long term commitment of checkoff dollars to assure consumer confi dence in beef. It’s important to develop the science to support the nutritional benefits of beef and the science to enhance beefs safety and eating quality.” In other action the Operating Committee approved an Author ization Request for $185,000 from the U.S. Meat Export Fed eration for additional beef promotion efforts in the Japa nese market. Japan is the largest market for U.S. beef. It also ap proved a $70,000 Authorization Request from the American Na tional Cattle Women to support the National Beef Ambassador Program. The Ambassador pro gram involves training young spokespersons to deliver mes sages about beef and the industry to consumer audiences. Operating Committee. McNeill is a cattle feeder from Pan handle, Texas. “Beef de mand for the third quarter of 2000 was up about 6 per cent when compared to the third quarter of 1999. And for the first time ever, consumer The Operating Committee was created to bring state and nation al beef checkoff dollars together. The Operating Committee ap proves checkoff program plans and contractors. Programs authorized by the Operating Committee must be approved by the USD A before work can be done. Contractors with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board work on a cost recovery basis. They are reimbursed after work is done and the out-of-pocket ex penses are incurred and do not to make a profit. expendi tures for beef in 2000 are pre- got milk?
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