Frederick Dahlquist
and Tom Stevens, chemistry,
and Eric Selker, biology,
were elected fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology last
spring. More than 1,300 fellows from twenty-seven countries have been
honored for their demonstrated scientific excellence, originality
and leadership; high ethical standards; and scholarly and creative
achievement. The recent election of these three fellows brings the
total to six UO professors who are fellows of the academy. The others
are biology professors George Sprague, Frank
Stahl and Dick Castenholtz.
Professor Dahlquist
specializes in biochemistry. He researches how bacteria sense their
environment and change their behavior in response to that sensing
(chemotaxis). He also researches how proteins adopt their final three-dimensional
shape. His research may have application to understanding how nervous
systems work. Dahlquist joined the university in 1971.
Professor Stevens'
primary areas of expertise are in biochemistry, membrane transport
and cell biology. His research program uses the common baking and
brewing yeast to study the mechanisms that govern how proteins are
sorted to the right location (subcellular membrane organelle) within
cells. Each subcellular organelle is dedicated to a certain task.
Stevens' studies regarding the biogenesis of the subcelluar organelle
can be applied to understanding the basis for many human genetic diseases.
Stevens joined the university in 1983.
Professor Selker
investigates genetic mechanisms that bear on whether particular genes
or clusters of genes are silenced. Most of his recent work has used
the model filamentous fungus neurospora crassa. A major area
of research in the Selker lab is devoted to elucidating the control
and functions of DNA methylation, a process that modifies the hereditary
material (DNA) and can profoundly affect its function. Applications
of his research may help us understand how defects in methylation
cause some genetic diseases in humans. Selker joined the university
in 1985.
