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Editorial: What Have We Learned?
September 3rd, 2005

Editorial: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
August 17th, 2005

Editorial: What Is a Consultant to Do?
July 5th, 2005

Editorial: Six Land Use Petitions in Play
June 25th, 2005

Editorial: Poaching & Plagiarism
June 13th, 2005

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May 24th, 2005

Editorial: Farewell Maureen
May 17th, 2005

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May 10th, 2005

Editorial: Informed Voters Wanted
March 26th, 2005

Editorial: Health Needs Survey Well Received
February 12th, 2005

Editorial: Fire Protection, Fire Insurance and Tax Justice
January 25th, 2005

Editorial: Cedar Key Health Service Survey
January 14th, 2005

Editorial: New Year`s Resolution
December 31st, 2004

Editorial: Do We Need Better Healthcare in Cedar Key?
December 16th, 2004

Editorial: Help Defend Us
October 29th, 2004

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Of Voles and Men

Of Voles and Men

Editorial

The journal Nature, and subsequently the Gainesville Sun, have reported that genetic engineer Larry Young at Emory University has succeeded in transforming males of the eastern vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) from being promiscuous to being monogamous.


The prairie vole (Microtus orchogaster) is a rare mammal species in that the males are monogamous. The gene responsible for vole monogamy was isolated, multiplied, attached to a virus and injected into the brains of young eastern voles.


As a result, eleven of eleven genetically altered young voles that received the genes from the prairie voles were tested and found to be monogamous. Eastern voles that did not receive the genes (the control group) acted promiscuously.


Since a rare subspecies of the eastern vole was found near Cedar Key, as reported in the last issue of Cedar Key News, one might wonder about the habits of our local voles. More likely, one might wonder what this has to with anyone except the voles.


Consider, however, that many mammal species share identical genes for fundamental components such as hormones and enzymes. Humans and chimpanzees share about ninety-eight percent of the same genes. (What a difference two percent can make.)


Heart disease victims accept transplants of pig heart valves to save their lives. There may come a day when we can avoid Alzheimer's Disease or diabetes with the injection of genes into our brain or pancreas. This editorial is not about voles. It is about what science can do to fight and cure diseases.

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