Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-16
BY WILLIAM GRIGG
Star Staff Writer

The creation of life from
chemicals and the control Of
the inheritance of plants and
animals-and maybe man-ap-
pear to be readable goals to
scientists here today for the
annual meeting of the Bio
physical Society.
The scientists have had evil
dence for less than a decade
that there is a universal code
of heredity. Yet, already this
field of study is booming-as
evidenced here by reports from
about so scientists, each with a
new clue, a new idea or new
tool.
One new achievement, for
example, is the isolation re-
ported yesterday of a specific
heredity-meSSenger, ribonucleic
acid. Ribonucleic acids carry
the hereditary code.
The isolation was reported
by DR.. E. K. F. Bautz and
DR.. Benjamin D. Hall, both Of
the University of Illinois and
both in their late 20s.
Heredity Theory Complex
The work of these young men
and of pioneers like England's
DR.. Francis H. C. Crick, who
also spoke at the meeting at
the Sheraton-Park Hotel, pre-
sents a picture of heredity far
more complex than the genetic
theories OF the Austrian abbot,
Gregor Mendel, a century ago,
But this more complex pic
ture looks as though it can
be tinkered With-controlled.
Some predict the code of
heredity will be understood
within a year.
Some believe that remedies
for inherited disorders may
follow the breaking of the code
Here. on the brink of this
breakthrough, is how scientists
believe heredity works:
The individual cell is the
fundamental unit carrying the
process called life. In each cell
are genes, the units of .4eredity
passed on from parent to child
which govern the manufacture
of proteins by issuing instruc-
lions chemically. The genetic
headquarters lies in the nucleus
of this living cell.
Genetic Material Described
The genetic material itself
is made of long. twisted mole
cules of deoXyribonucleic acid,
which scientists shorten to
DINA"
DINA has submits which are
bases called adenine, guanine
cytosine and thymine.
The other end of the assembly
line is in the protein factories
called ribosomes which lie out
side the nucleus but within the
living cell.
The chemical instructions are
carried from the genetic mate
rial, DINA, to the protein fac
tories by ribonucleic acid, called
RtsA.
Some scientists speak of RNA
as molds or dyes made from
DINA for use in the factories.
RNA, like DINA, has four sub
units. Scientists call the sub
units letters in the genetic
message"
The protein molecules being
manufactured have a chain
like sequence of 20 acids of a
group called amino acids.
A particular arrangement Of
the four bases of the DINA ano
RNA, scientists believe, calls fol
the amino acids in the protein
molecules to be arranged in 6
particular way. The protein!
are all-important to the natur,
of@the cell and to the ANNA
oreplant it is a part of.
When scientists speak Of
cracking the hereditary codt
they mean understanding whar
arrangements of the four base.
ofNDNA and RNA result il
what arrangements in the i'm
portant protein molecules.
It is possible, DR.. Cricl
says, the entire code may b,
understood within year.
Man will then have opened .
whole roomful of new knowl
edge about life and reproduc
ton. With this knowledge
SOME scientists believe, maj
eventually will be able to ere
ate. simple life from chemicals
control plant and animal he
redity and correct mans owl
heypditarv diseases