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Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a molecular cytogenetic technique developed for the analysis of chromosome imbalance in tumors and constitutional chromosome abnormalities. It is based on the analysis of genomic DNA and has the advantage over conventional karyotyping in that it does not require that metaphase chromosomes be obtained from the test material. The application of CGH to single cells requires whole-genome amplification of the DNA to provide sufficient DNA for use as a test sample. This approach has been used successfully to identify aneuploidy in single fibroblasts, amniocytes, and buccal cells that were known to be trisomic. CGH can also identify chromosome errors in single blastomeres from early embryos and in first polar bodies. We have analyzed biopsied blastomeres from embryos conceived by in vitro fertilization using CGH in a clinical preimplantation diagnostic program in which euploid embryos are selected for transfer. This has resulted in established pregnancies in patients with recurrent implantation failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-zone gel filtration chromatography, combined with analytical-scale columns and fast run times, provides a useful system for the study of protein-protein interactions. A computer simulation (SCIMMS, or Simulated Chromatography of Interactive MacroMolecular Systems) that replicates the small-zone behavior of interacting proteins has been developed. The simulation involves an iterative sequence of transport, equilibration, and diffusion steps. This chapter illustrates the use of the simulation to study the homodimerization of rapidly equilibrating immunoglobulin light chain proteins and for determination of association constants. The simulation can also be used to study heterogeneous interactions, kinetically controlled interactions, and higher-order oligomerization, and it can replicate large-zone and Hummel-Dreyer conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the regularly scheduled conference, the organizers made available a large sunny conference room for the remaining participants to continue discussion. The main topics were the structure of the Local Bubble and the properties of the Galactic X-ray halo. Here we try to summarize the main points of those discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's views on the role of lesbians and heterosexual women in the politics of representation. Feminism is a politics, it is about power and the way in which power is embodied, expressed and negotiated. Specifically, it is about the inequitable power relations of two groups, men and women. However, it is abundantly obvious that sex is not the only axis across which power is differentially assigned, rather, there are many such axes. White has more power than black, male than female, heterosexual than homosexual, adult than child, able-bodied than disabled, and so on. Black, gay and feminist theories have challenged the notion that such binarism is "natural," a transparent taxonomic practice merely reflecting a pre-existing "reality," insisting rather that such attributes as health, sanity, intelligence or strength are discursively allocated to one or other of each set rather than being essentially inherent in masculinity, whiteness or heterosexuality. Both feminism and poststructuralism, indeed, recognize that this process of discursive allocation socially constructs concepts such as gender, race, adolescence or sexuality itself.

A foreword to the book "Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility," by Kathleen A. Dolan, is presented.

This article presents information on the book "Lesbian Studies: Setting an Agenda," by Tamsin Wilton. This book offers an adequate theoretical or political framework for lesbians and lesbianism. This book provides an academic approach to both gender and the erotic, clarifying the damaging influence of heterosexism and examining lesbian treatment in sociology, feminism, psychology, social policy, cultural studies, film theory and history.