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S eptember 27, 2012
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
Hospital approval meeting dates set
LIGHTING STRIKES
Town halls will address concerns over expansion by Svetlana Ozden news@dailylobo.com
Meeting dates have been scheduled to address community concerns that postponed the final approval of a $146 million adult-care hospital. The Board of Regents, UNM Health Sciences Center and UNMH representatives announced on Tuesday that three public meetings will be held next week to allow for public comment the adult-care hospital. The meetings will be held in community centers in the Bernalillo County area. On Sept. 17, UNM representatives sent a letter to the State Board of Finance seeking to postpone the final approval of the hospital after members
see UNMH PAGE 3
Nick Sanchez / Daily Lobo Will Phillip hangs strings of lights in the bosque Saturday night to prepare for Bosque Lights. Bosque Lights was an event hosted by “Nobody” and promoted through social media. See full story on page 8.
Scientists unzip fruit f ly genes CAPS has come
to Casas del Rio
Muscle research may have applications for humans
by Ardee Napolitano news@dailylobo.com
by Mikayla Griego news@dailylobo.com
UNM researchers can now manipulate specific muscles in fruit flies, which may lead to the ability to manipulate human muscles in the future. About two years ago, a group of researchers from the biology department explored fruit fly muscle identity and found that fibers in fruit fly flight and jump muscles can be converted into different kinds of muscle. Researchers were able to manipulate the muscles by using genes to convert muscles from one type to another. UNM professor and Biology Department Chair Richard Cripps said muscle identity research will allow researchers to better understand fly gene networking. He said the information may be used to benefit other organisms, including human beings. Cripps said the project is a basic study of developmental biology, which could allow researchers to better understand human development. “The project is based upon trying to understand how a cell decides to be one type of muscle versus another,” he said. Cripps said that research began after a genetic screening about genes that control the flies’ flight muscles. He said the screening showed that muscle fibers could be
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 117
issue 29
To accommodate the growing number of people using UNM’s Center for Academic Program and Support, the tutoring program decided to start a branch in the Casas del Rio dormitories during the beginning of this semester. CAPS is an on-campus program that provides various academic resources to students. “CAPS is getting very large,” CAPS Director Michelle Steiner said. “Zimmerman (Library) is getting very crowded, the SUB is getting very crowded, and these areas continue to increase in size.” Nick Sanchez / Daily Lobo Steiner said that CAPS decided to Research assistant professor Anton Bryantsev demonstrates the research process for a include a tutoring area in Casas del study on fruit flies in an attempt to learn how muscles work in the human body. Researchers Rio, the new student housing builduse genetic modifications to manipulate muscle movements and convert muscles from one ings on campus, to accommodate type to another. students living in the dorms, especially freshmen. She said that freshmen genetically altered to take on the ac- 15-person team consisting of re- who are struggling to adjust to college tions of other muscles. search professionals, post-doctor- life particularly benefit from their proResearch assistant professor ate researchers and graduate and gram’s environment. Students don’t Anton Bryantsev said that although undergraduate students, was spon- have to be freshmen or living in Casas flies and humans are different, their sored by the National Institutes of del Rio to take advantage of the new molecular mechanisms have similar Health. The NIH granted $800,000 CAPS location. processes and because fruit flies for the project. “CAPS is one of those commuhave fewer genes than humans, they Bryantsev said that because the nity organizations where we have a are much easier to work with. funding came from the NIH, is it ex- community of learners,” she said. “It’s “Flies are our favorite genetic pected that the research will one day an informal peer to peer interaction, models,” he said. “They’re easy to generate practical applications for hu- which makes it more comfortable to work with and they have a 100-year- man beings. He said the research may students.” old history of genetic research.” help researchers better understand According to Steiner, about 30 The project, which includes a students have been attending CAPS see Muscle PAGE 3
Like a beautiful butterfly See page 5
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FOR YOUR EARS See page 10
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study groups in Casas since it opened about six weeks ago. She said that although this is a great starting number, it is still not as busy as the locations in Zimmerman and the SUB. “It takes a while for a location to become publicized, to resonate with people, and for people to find it,” she said. Steiner said that CAPS hired four student tutors and one student manager to work in Casas, and that two of the student tutors conduct online tutoring, while the other two facilitate the student groups. She said that the Casas branch focuses on lower-level courses, including Math 100, Math 121 and English 102, because freshmen usually take these courses. “That center in Casas del Rio is a real conglomeration of partnership,” she said. “We’re doing a good number of things there for freshmen.” Steiner said CAPS utilizes its own funding for the Casas branch and that the University didn’t allocate funding to CAPS for the expansion. “Right now, we are using our budget as it is to fund Casas del Rio,” she said. “But I believe that if that’s a very successful space, then perhaps we’ll get some money to enhance and develop there.” For more information about CAPS and tutoring schedules, visit
caps.unm.edu
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