Proposes a hypothesis suggesting that parts of the central nervous system that contain norepinephrine and dopamine are dynamically interrelated under stressful conditions in a compensatory way. (MLH)

Makes a case for stressing the beneficial aspects of gene propagation, and answers many questions about the potential hazards of this research. (MLH)

Rod-isolation techniques show that light-adapted human rods detect flicker frequencies as high as 28 hertz, and that the function relating rod critical flicker frequency to stimulus intensity contains two distinct branches. (MLH)

Reports the detection of magnetic fields associated with the flow of electric current in the human brain in response to electrical stimulation of the fingers. (SL)

Discusses some of the bioethical and legal questions related to in vitro fertilization of human eggs as a means of alleviating the suffering of infertile couples. (JR)

Discusses the optimality of natural selection, ways of testing for optimum solutions to problems of time - or energy-allocation in nature, optimum patterns in spatial distribution and diet breadth, and how best to travel over a feeding area so that food intake is maximized. (JR)

Discusses research in the use of hormones and viruses to control insect populations. Although entomologists do not think that pheromones, hormones, and viruses will completely replace more conventional chemical insecticides, they will become increasingly important and will reduce our dependence on traditional insecticides. (JR)

Provides a historical development of efforts to explain biological phenomena in terms of chemical substances present in living organisms. (MLH)

Outlines the present situation regarding government sponsored training grants for graduate education in the sciences. Training grants and medical ethics have become inextricably linked in the course of efforts to get a training bill passed in Congress, and at this point, the bill is still under consideration. (JR)

Examines new directions in ecological research in which ecologists are analyzing systems with theoretical models and are using descriptive studies to confirm and extend their studies. The development of a model relating to species equilibriums on islands is now being applied to problems of conservation of wildlife in national parks. (JR)

Discusses a report issued by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences that recommends a reduction in federal sponsorship of pre- and postdoctoral research in basic biomedical and behavioral sciences. (MLH)

Considers the definition of learning as usefully applied to lower animals in instances of trained food-aversion behavior as a viable instance of associative learning. (SL)

The author describes specific examples of the use of technology in science such as fiberoptic spectroscopy to observe galaxies and conduct three-dimensional maps of the universe. Adduces the following examples of technology influencing scientific investigations: gene cloning, gene sequencing, radioimmunoassays, patch-clamping of neurons, scanning…

Discusses the applicability and advantages of using yeasts as popular and ideal model systems for studying and understanding eukaryotic biology at the cellular and molecular levels. Cites experimental tractability and the cooperative tradition of the research community of yeast biologists as reasons for this success. (RT)