Briefs

Opportunity finds traces of water in Martian
sediments

NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity has sent back signs that may
indicate water once existed on the red planet.

These traces of water are determined from minerals Opportunity
has detected in Martian rocks and sediments.

In order to confirm these traces, Opportunity will have to
physically dig into the soil.

NASA scientists expect that after a period of malfunction, the
Spirit rover should be prepared and will resume sending home data
from the opposite side of the planet.

Riverside study reveals transgenic mosquitoes not as
viable in the wild

A team at UC Riverside has determined that transgenic mosquitoes
““ mosquitoes who have altered genes ““ are less fertile
and healthy than mosquitoes in the wild.

Scientists previously believed transgenic mosquitoes would have
provided a genetic solution in the battle against diseases carried
by mosquitoes, like yellow fever and malaria.

The genes of these so-called designer mosquitoes were altered so
that they were unable to become transmitters of disease.

Theoretically, the altered mosquitoes were to be released in the
wild to compete with mosquitoes with disease-carrying ability, and
eventually to outnumber them.

Unfortunately, the Riverside study has revealed that the
transgenic mosquitoes have dramatically decreased reproductive
abilities, producing less eggs and having lower rates of
survival.

Symposium to discuss the effects of genes and nutrition
on health

The UCLA Center for Society, the Individual and Genetics will
hold a symposium called “Nurturing Our Nature: Genomics, Diet
and Nutrition” on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.

A group of scientists and nutrition experts from UCLA, New York
University, UC Berkeley and Tufts University will discuss the roles
of genes and nutrition in determining the health of an
individual.

These issues will be applied to current concerns such as mad cow
disease and childhood obesity.

The symposium will take place in the De Neve Plaza Lecture
Auditorium.

For more information, please visit the Center’s Web site
at www.arc2.ucla.edu/csig/index.htm.

UCLA Med Center to join study on effectiveness of
epilepsy treatments

In the Early Randomized Surgical Epilepsy Trial, a nationwide
clinical study, the UCLA Medical Center will evaluate two standard
treatments ““ one involving medication, and the other surgery
““ for epilepsy patients.

The study will evaluate the effectiveness of each method to
reduce the occurrence of seizures and other symptoms of
epilepsy.

Eligible patients who are at least 12 years of age will be able
to receive treatment and care from the UCLA Medical Center. The
study will also allow patients to learn about treatments for their
conditions.

Call (310) 267-2880 or visit www.erset.net to find out more
information on the study.

Briefs compiled by Daily Bruin wire services.