Ambergris was working with introns. Anyone who has read the agenda for the Biogenetics Conference knows that much. If you want the details on his research, you should speak with Grace Nguyen.”
Sixteen
Production Studio
WXNY, Channel 10
Queens, New York
Introns.
With a few discreet inquiries, Flavia Veloso easily identified the woman who had clashed with the protesters outside the Millennium Tower—Dr. Grace Nguyen. Digging for background information on the hotheaded young scientist had been just as easy. A quick review of the press packet for the International Biogenetics Conference revealed that Dr. Nguyen, a geneticist with Triad Genomics, was slated to give a joint presentation with Dr. Joshua Ambergris on introns.
Introns?
Flavia’s cameraman, Randy, was holed up in WXNY’s production studio, editing the film of Dr. Nguyen’s hostile exchange with the protesters and adding Flavia’s voice-over to the footage. With a little luck, and creative editing, they just might snag the lead story on the ten o’clock local news.
While Randy worked his magic with the footage, Flavia was determined to learn as much as she could about Dr. Grace Nguyen. Her first step was to hunt down WXNY’s science and technology correspondent. After adjusting her push-up bra for maximum effect, she cornered Donald Ebersole in his cubicle on the third floor. He was busy at work on a ham and egg breakfast sandwich.
“Hi, Donald,” said Flavia, giving him her best smile. “Do you have time for a favor?”
Ebersole set his breakfast sandwich down on the sports section of yesterday’s New York Times. He hiked up the bifocals on his nose with a greasy index finger. His narrow head was crowded between two large ears.
“You are asking for my help? My pleasure. What can I do for you?”
Ebersole took a quick slug from a mug of lukewarm coffee and a surreptitious leer at Flavia’s cleavage.
“I need to tap into that encyclopedic storehouse of knowledge in that brain of yours. Some background info for an assignment I’m working on,” she said.
Flavia retrieved a chair from the next cubicle and sat, crossing one slim thigh over the other.
Ebersole grinned. “Flattery, my dear, will get you everywhere.”
Flavia flipped to a blank page in her pad, armed with a ballpoint pen. “Donald, what can you tell me about introns?”
“Introns,” repeated Ebersole. He searched his mind for information. He wanted to make a good impression on the attractive young reporter.
“Well, introns are also called junk DNA. They’re long sequences of DNA in the human genome. Scientists don’t really know what introns do. They don’t appear to serve any useful purpose.”
Flavia was puzzled.
“Back up. More basic. Science wasn’t really my thing in school. What exactly is DNA? I mean, I know the basics, but what is it really?”
Ebersole leaned forward and cracked his knuckles.
“Okay. Let me give you a brief overview to get you oriented. Two minutes on genetics. It’s like this. High school textbooks refer to DNA as the blueprint of life. It exists in every single organism, from the smallest virus to the largest mammal. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the chemical inside our cells that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms. It’s passed along from generation to generation.”
“Right,” said Flavia. “Genes. Heredity. I remember that much.”
“The interesting question is this: what is it about DNA that makes it the key to heredity?”
“The double helix?” Flavia ventured.
“Exactly. See, you know more than you realize. Two intertwined spirals form what looks like a long, thin, twisted ladder. This is called the double helix. This structure enables DNA to reproduce itself.”
“Reproduce itself?”
“Yes. Interesting, is it not? DNA can make a copy of itself, a twin, if you will, to pass along to new cells or to a new generation.”
Ebersole took another sip of coffee, patted Flavia on the knee,
Sixteen
Production Studio
WXNY, Channel 10
Queens, New York
Introns.
With a few discreet inquiries, Flavia Veloso easily identified the woman who had clashed with the protesters outside the Millennium Tower—Dr. Grace Nguyen. Digging for background information on the hotheaded young scientist had been just as easy. A quick review of the press packet for the International Biogenetics Conference revealed that Dr. Nguyen, a geneticist with Triad Genomics, was slated to give a joint presentation with Dr. Joshua Ambergris on introns.
Introns?
Flavia’s cameraman, Randy, was holed up in WXNY’s production studio, editing the film of Dr. Nguyen’s hostile exchange with the protesters and adding Flavia’s voice-over to the footage. With a little luck, and creative editing, they just might snag the lead story on the ten o’clock local news.
While Randy worked his magic with the footage, Flavia was determined to learn as much as she could about Dr. Grace Nguyen. Her first step was to hunt down WXNY’s science and technology correspondent. After adjusting her push-up bra for maximum effect, she cornered Donald Ebersole in his cubicle on the third floor. He was busy at work on a ham and egg breakfast sandwich.
“Hi, Donald,” said Flavia, giving him her best smile. “Do you have time for a favor?”
Ebersole set his breakfast sandwich down on the sports section of yesterday’s New York Times. He hiked up the bifocals on his nose with a greasy index finger. His narrow head was crowded between two large ears.
“You are asking for my help? My pleasure. What can I do for you?”
Ebersole took a quick slug from a mug of lukewarm coffee and a surreptitious leer at Flavia’s cleavage.
“I need to tap into that encyclopedic storehouse of knowledge in that brain of yours. Some background info for an assignment I’m working on,” she said.
Flavia retrieved a chair from the next cubicle and sat, crossing one slim thigh over the other.
Ebersole grinned. “Flattery, my dear, will get you everywhere.”
Flavia flipped to a blank page in her pad, armed with a ballpoint pen. “Donald, what can you tell me about introns?”
“Introns,” repeated Ebersole. He searched his mind for information. He wanted to make a good impression on the attractive young reporter.
“Well, introns are also called junk DNA. They’re long sequences of DNA in the human genome. Scientists don’t really know what introns do. They don’t appear to serve any useful purpose.”
Flavia was puzzled.
“Back up. More basic. Science wasn’t really my thing in school. What exactly is DNA? I mean, I know the basics, but what is it really?”
Ebersole leaned forward and cracked his knuckles.
“Okay. Let me give you a brief overview to get you oriented. Two minutes on genetics. It’s like this. High school textbooks refer to DNA as the blueprint of life. It exists in every single organism, from the smallest virus to the largest mammal. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the chemical inside our cells that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms. It’s passed along from generation to generation.”
“Right,” said Flavia. “Genes. Heredity. I remember that much.”
“The interesting question is this: what is it about DNA that makes it the key to heredity?”
“The double helix?” Flavia ventured.
“Exactly. See, you know more than you realize. Two intertwined spirals form what looks like a long, thin, twisted ladder. This is called the double helix. This structure enables DNA to reproduce itself.”
“Reproduce itself?”
“Yes. Interesting, is it not? DNA can make a copy of itself, a twin, if you will, to pass along to new cells or to a new generation.”
Ebersole took another sip of coffee, patted Flavia on the knee,
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