North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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)f ' - ' - ' ' 5port5 for their own sake. From a campus perspective it quietly flourished. Erirollment up to 1978 had increased at a modest pace. The University possessed a good base for academics, especially in the scientific and technical fields. In the areas which determine national prominence in an aca- demic program — research grants and respected faculty — many engineering and life science departments already qualified. The collections of D.hl. hill Library were improving markedly. In student entertainment, singer Mike Cross was gaining a devoted following with packed shows at Stewart Theatre. Furthermore, students and faculty dared to drive once again across the It was always tough making that trek across campus to class at eight o ' clock, but it always felt so good when you got out (above). You felt like just making the effort was all worth it, and you always felt more comfortable asking someone for help knowing that you had always been there (right). 8 Opening

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Lab technician Casey Kopczynski isolates DNA, the cell ' s mechanism for recording genetic characteristics. Qenetic research provides disease-fighting tool 5tUnning advances hawe been made by researchers at 5tate and other universities in the manipulation of genetic traits of plants and animals In December 1 982 scientists had succeeded in transferring a genetic trait of rats into mice, fter transplanting a regulatory gene (one which regulates rat growth) into fertilized mouse eggs, the growth trait of the rat was passed on to some of the mice. By manipulating regulatory genes, scientists may one day be able to produce crops and liwestoch with ideal traits such as faster growth, higher yields and more resistance to parasites or adverse climates, according to Dr. John Q 5candalios, head of the Genetics Department at5tate The transfer of the rat growth hormone gene points out a critical issue in genetic engineering, he said. The desirable growth trait of the rat did appear in some of the mice, but the scientists could not predict or control the growth rate of the mice. Putting a useful gene into an organism does not guarantee a useful change, he said With regard to plants, much noise has been made about transferring genes to malie corn that needs no fertilizer, 5candali05 said. But will that trait be expressed at the proper time, in the proper place In order to regulate growth and other traits, we have to understand how the cell ' s genetic activity is regulated In his studies with corn, 5candalios began with the basic questions: how does a plant cell know whether to become a leaf cell or a root cell? how does the simple plant cell hnow when to tjecome a more complex root cell? f nd what determines the number of root cells produced? 5candalios believes that regulatory genes send signals to other genes, which recognize the signals and respond, triggering changes in the cells. But if these precise cell changes are disrupted, the wrong signals are given or the right signals are misinterpreted, birth defects, cancer, abortion or any number of genetic disorders can result in humans and animals; in plants, abnormal plant or seed growth or premature aging may occur If scientists can eliminate or correct these abnormalities at a genetic level, they will be dealing with abnormalities at their source, not just treating the symptoms From the development of hybrid corn to modern techniques for detecting diseases, genetics has affected human society more than any other science, 5candalios said We are progressing so rapidly, there ' s no telling what we may discover in the next five to 10 years. — Susan Talanda Opening 7

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B - . ■ Lj f Graduate student Robert Ma compares gauge readings on the gasif ier with computer readings. Coal conversion helps reduce air pollution Behind the storefront windows of nddicH tiaii looms a mysterious collection of pipes and wires. To the right, computer terminals display a stream of readings from 96 sensors. Since 1978 the facility — called the Pilot Coal Qasifier I Gas Cleaning Facility — has been helping scientists find more efficient ways to convert coal into commercially useful gases and other compounds. Converting coal Into methane or hydrogen gas before burning is a more controlled chemical process than current coal-burning practices, said Dr. J.K. Ferrell, State professor of chemical engineering and head of the pilot plant. Mhough hydrogen yields only 75-80 percent of the original energy content of the coal, the gasification process allows certain by-products to be removed before combustion, resulting in systematic reduction of atmospheric pollution and possible income from the sale of the by-products. Water Is added to the finely ground coal, and the mixture is raised to high temperature and pressure, where It reacts to form carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and numerous other compounds. While the processes of gasification are fairly well known, the technology of gas cleanup is not as well developed. Commercial Installations across the country have begun to conven many organic (carbon-containing) compounds into gases. The Tennessee Valley fituthority is converting coal to ammonia for fertilizer, methane Is produced by a plant in north Dakota, carbon monoxide and hydrogen are burned in a gas turbine to produce electricity in Southern California and peat Is being gasified in a Washington Co.,n.C., facility. Under grants from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, Ferrell and his team of faculty and graduate assistants have sought the best ways to extract sulfur and metallic compounds from the gas. hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide are major pollutants from coal-fired power generating stations and remain major headaches for utilities trying to comply with federal emission guidelines (See feature on add raln| The gasifier is not run continuously but operates In a series of day-long runs with different mixtures and conditions. An analysis team studies the reaction products for various compound contents, then the cycle is started again with a different recipe. Only preliminary results have been published, but this project could become a model for commercially practical gasification plants on a large scale. Almost limitless coal supplies in the U.S. will be use ess unless ways are found to control the associated harmful sulfur and metal emissions Into the atmosphere. -W.J.W. Opening 9