Cats Are Not Peas:
A Calico History of Genetics
Guest Speaker – Laura Gould
Premiere Fogarty wines will be available. We request a
donation of $5.00 per glass. Light hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks will be
provided.
In 1984, Laura Gould and her husband Severo Ornstein decided
to move to the western side of the Skyline, and purchased a 7.5-acre lot on
Bear Gulch Road, with a nice view of the sea. In 1986 they moved into the
house they had helped to build - and the rodents moved in as well. Without
these vermin, her book Cats Are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics would
never have been written (as explained in the Preface to its 1st edition):
My journey began in a
brightly lighted garage where evidence of country mice was all too visible.
Cats, we thought, we must get some cats - working cats who would patrol the
property and keep the vermin at bay. A small and simple thought, reasonable
and straightforward, easily implemented. Who could have foreseen its
consequences?
In happy ignorance, we
visited the local animal shelter and selected two kittens, George and Max,
and the choice of George turned out to be the random event responsible for
this lengthy odyssey; for George was a calico cat - a male calico cat - and
calicos are invariably female. He was a genetic anomaly, a manifestation of
something that isn't supposed to happen, a creature so rare that even most
vets have never seen one.
Laura will read selections from the newly-released 2nd
edition, which includes a lengthy Addendum on cloning and genetic sequencing,
two new areas of research in which cats have had significant roles to play.
She will also discuss what it means to write serious science starting from
initial ignorance, and compare the different tactics used when doing research
in libraries (as for the 1st edition) vs. staying at home and prowling the
World Wide Web (as for the 2nd). All sorts of questions are welcomed.
Many thanks to the friendly folks at Thomas
Fogarty Winery for once again hosting our spring meeting.
