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Special to The Dallas Post
Everyone is somewhat familiar
with Morse Code from experience
with Scouts or from watching old
westerns on television. A series of
dots and dashes (in groups of three)
code for each letter in our alphabet.
One can transmit a message of any
length or complexity using only
these two symbols, the dot and the
dash.
A similar coding system is used in
our bodies. Molecules called DNA
are responsible for controlling our
development and function. DNA is
the hereditary material passed from
one generation to another. It is like
a blue print. From its coded infor-
mation the magnificent structures
of our bodies develop over a period
of a few months from single cells
into creatures containing billions of
cells - liver cells, nerve cells,
muscle cells, etc. Each of these
cells needs to work perfectly and in
harmony with the other cells so that
we function normally. Millions of
chemical reactions need to be con-
trolled for this to happen. How does
DNA do it? DNA codes for the
assembly of amino acids into pro-
teins. There are many types of
protein molecules coded by DNA,
among them a particularly impor-
tant type, the enzymes. Enzymes
control almost every chemical reac-
tion that occurs in our bodies. How
we develop and function depends on
these chemical reactions. If DNA
can control the making of enzymes,
it can control all of the reactions
that make us work.
DNA is composed of two long
chains containing four types of links
which, for simplicity’s sake, will be
called A, G, C, and T. each chain
may contain hundreds of thousands
of links. The two chains are comple-
mentary. Where A appears. in one
chain, T appears in the other;
where G appears in one chain, C
appears in the other.
As an example, think of two long
lines of students. One line faces the
other. A black male student in one
line faces a black female in the
other; a white female student in one
line faces a white male student in
the other. When it is time to make a
new copy of the “DNA,” the two
lines are separated. Each one can
be used as a template or pattern
from which to make a new comple-
(TO AGE 12)
mentary chain. Across from each
black female, a black male must be
placed; across from each white
female a white male must be
placed.
Since the two chains are comple-
mentary, DNA can be reproduced
very accurately generation after
generation. The need for this accu-
racy is simple. If the copying
process were sloppy, the DNA
would contain mistakes that would
result in bad enzymes and genetic
defects could result.
Each section of DNA that codes
for a protein is called a gene. A
single DNA molecule may contain
thousands of genes. DNA is not used
directly for the assembly of pro-
teins, rather it serves as a master
copy from which large numbers of
smaller approximately gene-sized
“messenger” RNA molecules are
made. RNA contains the same
coding information that DNA does
since it too is a chain made of four
types of links.
These four types of links in RNA
must be used to code for twenty
different amino acids. Like the dots
and dashes of Morse Code, the four
links in RNA must be arranged in
groups of three to get enough codes
for all twenty amino acids. For
example, CAG codes for one Amino
acid; AGC codes for another.
In organisms like man, DNA actu-
ally contains extra links that do not
code for amino acids. After RNA
has been made from DNA, it must
be “processed” to remove this extra
material. Consider the following
analogy: “Now is the txycl aryle
mcqrp xnime. for all good men to
come to the aid of their country.”
The extra material ruins the mes-
sage and must be edited out. If the.
xycl aryle meqrp xn is cut out and
the sentence is spliced back
together, it reads ‘Now is the time
for all good men to come to the aid
of their country.” The processed
RNA can then be used to assemble
amino acids into proteins. The
reason DNA contains this extra
material is not known; but much
research is being conducted in an
attempt to find out.
(Joe Jeffers, Ph.D. received the
Ph.D. in molecular biology and
biochemistry from Purdue Univer-
sity. He teaches chemistry and biol-
ogy at Ouachita Baptist University
in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
VARIOUS
AREAS
OF
BACK
MOUNTAIN
Lehman reps
APTI
The third Annual Youth Salute
kick-off luncheon was held at Con-
vention Hall, Pittston. The National
Council on Youth Leadership coordi-
nator, John Rygiel of the Rygiel
Studio reported an excellent turn
out. The luncheon was sponsored by
Mr. Sam Falcone of Falcone Bever-
age.
Counselors, teachers and princi-
pals of all local high schools were
invited to learn more about this
year’s Youth Salute. Schools repre-
sented were: Bishop O’Reilly, Riv-
erside, Seton Catholic, West Side
Vocational Technical, Tunkhannock
Area, Coughlin, Wilkes-Barre Voca-
tional Technical, Crestwood, Bishop
Hoban, Hanover Area, Meyers,
Wyoming Valley West and Dallas
Area.
The program works in this way: a
local high school junior, who will be
a senior next year, is nominated by
a counselor, principal, teacher, cler-
gyman, or parent to be the local
Youth Leader of the Year.
PIAA ATI ASI IT TI TID.
SUSIE REDMOND
MARK WILLIAMS is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Williams of
Hunlock Creek. Mark is involved in
Field Band, Concert Band and
Brass Choir. He also enjoys read-
ing, model building and bottle col-
attending college where he will
major in the science field.
-0-
LAURA WENDEL is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wendel of
Lake Silkworth. Laura is involved in
the Student Council. She is also a
member of the tennis team. Laura
enjoys dancing, swimming, and
skiing. Laura’s future plans include
attending college to major in psy-
chology. 0
MICHAEL KIRCHNER is the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Bert W. Kirchner of
THOMAS STEPANSKI
Harveys Lake. Mike will be attend-
ing L.C.C.C., his major being Culi-
nary Arts. In school he is a member
of both the golf team and the Ski
Club. In Mike's spare time, he
enjoys skiing, playing golf, and
cruising the square in his Porsche.
DANA HENNINGER is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Dana Henninger Sr.
Dana plans on attending college but
he’s undecided of his major. In
school, Dana is involved in track
and cross country. His events
include 2 mile relay, 1 mile run, half
mile run, and the mile relay.
-0-
THANK YOU to the Booster Club
for a successful dance that featured
“The Great Rock Scare” which was
held on Thursday, March 13.
Dr. Thomas F. O'Donnell, Execu-
tive Director, Luzerne Intermediate
Unit 18 announces that full scholar-
ships will be awarded to high school
students from across the state to
attend the newly created Pennsyl-
vania Governor’s School for Agri-
culture (PGSAg) at the Pennsyl-
vania State University in University
Park this summer.
High School sophomores and jun-
iors, including the handicapped,
who have demonstrated exceptional
ability in the sciences and who have
a high interest in any aspect of
agricultural science may apply for
the scholarships to attend the five-
week residential program which
will run from June 29 through
August 2.
Those identified to participate will
study select areas in the science of
food, agriculture and natural
resources. Course offerings not gen-
erally available in students’ home
schools will include robotics, remote
sensing, applied market policy, sil-
viculture, nutrition, food biochemis-
try and environmental resource
management. Field trips, labora-
tory experience, guest speakers,
career workshops, and leadership
training are also scheduled for the
summer’s activities.
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education and the
state’s intermediate units, the full
scholarship include tuition, room
and board, and classroom supplies
and equipment. All interested stu-
dents should initiate the application
process as soon as possible. Contact
guidance counselors or the local
intermediate unit for information
and application materials.
The deadline for students’ guid-
ance counselors to have submitted
applications to the Pennsylvania
Department of Education is 3 p.m.,
April 18, 1986. Students may apply
to more than one Governor’s School.
Arthur P. Pupa, Supervisor for
the Special Education Department,
Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 is the
liaison for the Pennsylvania Gover-
nor’s School for Agriculture.
RNAPII III IOI INS
RNS
-Extra Curricular Activities
APRIL
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