Evening star., 1931-06-18
BY DIR. REGINALD G. HARRIS,

BY DIR. REGINALD G. HARRIS,
Director, the Biological Laboratory, Cold
Spring Harbor.
(CopyriEht, 1881, by the Associated Press.r
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N. Y.
June 18.-Producing more or less
strange new types in animals and
plants, oftener than they would ordi-
narily arise, Is one of the most inter-
esting present developments in biology.
This is done by certain light waves.
Biologists have found that almost
any animal or plant brought into the
laboratory, or cultivated extensively,
will produce new forms from time to
time. These are found to breed true.
The changes which they show are in
Nelited and are called mutatiorS Many
which would not survive Natures COM
petlave struggle ale found and kept,
through close observation and care, in
the laboratory or in the plant nursery.
These mutations, Of course, are the
basis Of many of the varieties of do
mesticated animals-dogs, for example
and of plants, such as corn. They are
considered one Of the chief causes OF
evolution.
May Change Tendencies.
Many experiments to bring about mu-
tations, by changing external condi-
tions, have failed. But lately 1t has
been found that the frequency with
which given animal or plant will n1u-
tate may be considerably increased by
treatments with X-rays or with radium
emanations. Thus in the fruit fly, which
has been used extensively for expert
ments in heredity, X-rays have in
creased the rate of mutation 500 times.
Biologists have found one of the tools
by which inherited tendencies may be
changed.
Prof. H. j. Muller of the University
of Texas is one of the biologists who
has outStandingly demonstrated this,
although a number Of biologists in diff
ferent laboratories are working with
this method and have already added
many data concerning various animals
and plants.
suprarenal glands is giving up its secret
as a result of scientific research by
biologists. Extracts of this gland have
been produced in the laboratory, which
give the sufferer from Addison's disease
a new lease on life. Until recently a
person afiicted with Addison's disease
had little to look forward to but the
worst. Tests made at the Mayo Clinic
with an extract from beef suprarenal
glands give the patient considerably
more hope.
OUTSIDE FUNCTION unknown.
But what the outside of the supraren-
al gland usually does to keep most OF
us from Addison's disease and death was
still not known. Very recent experiments
seem to be pointing the way to the
answer, and that seems to be con-
cerned with internal breathing.
All cells Of the body breathe with
che aid of the blood. They take oxygen
from the blood and give back carbon
dioxide. When the cortex OF the
suprarenal gland is not working right,
1t now appears from experiments, the
blood will not receive carbon dioxide
from the cells as it should.
If the exhaust of a motor Is closed
off, the motor will not run. If the
carbon dioxide exhaust of the body is
anterfered with, the body runs badly or
not at all. The excess carbon dioxide
left In the cells causes acidosis and
In turn other complications.
There are many biologists and many
Laboratories who deserve credit in re-
searches upon the suprarenal cortex.
The extract used at the Mayo clinic
Is the discovery of Drs. w. w. Single
and j. j. Pf1ffner; and the University
OF Iowa, the biological laboratory at
Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y and Prince
ten University have all served as places
in which these men have carried on
their researches.
Other Recent Developments.
There are other biologists in other
laboratories who have worked with
more or less success upon this and
similar problems. Indeed, no discovery
Is made in biology which is not based
upon the foundation of biological re-
search the world over and into which
the work of many minds and many in
Btitutions has not gone.
Other recent developments in biology
ARE discoveries of potent extracts of the |
female sex glands and of the male sex
glands, great advance in the knowledge |
of the functions of the pituitary gland |
in controlling growth and the appear
ance of sexual maturity and additional !