Computer May Depict Early Ancestors
The time may not be far off when the computer will tell us what our earliest ancestors looked like, according to Robert Sokal, professor of statistical biology in the KU entomology department.
Sokal, a pioneer developer of numerical taxonomy, a method for classifying organisms with high speed computers, is now attempting to discover the past through the electronic data processing.
The results could fill many of the gaps in the present theory of biological evolution.
THE PROJECT, pointly carried out with Prof. J. H. Camin of the same department, involves measuring the sizes, shapes, markings, and other characteristics of recent organisms. Then, one makes simple assumptions as to how these traits evolved.
For instance, one may suppose that three teeth developed from two. Or, in assuming that five digits were primitive in vertebrates, one may consider any changes since then evolutionary.
The computer, at the same time testing the validity of these assumptions, creates "family trees" that show the evolutionary process in the fewest number of steps.
SO FAR THE method has been
applied to bees, plants, flies and snakes. Answers have been quite reasonable, according to Sokal, particularly in the fossil groups. Eventually, he said, an authority on physical anthropology will apply the method to the evolution of man.
The problem now, he continued, is to gather the data fast enough for the computer. One possibility is optical scanning,
Daily Kansan
If there's a black blip, the computer says 1. If there's no blip, it says 0. Organisms, then, may be compared by their patterns of blips.
where the computer works with images like the "blips" of light and dark from a TV camera.
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Tuesday, January 11, 1966
SINCE KU doesn't have a scanner as yet, Sokal has simulated one using IBM cards as a mask. Together with F. James
Rohlf, newly appointed associate professor of statistical biology at KU, he has been able to create useful classification of organisms from such "automatically" generated data.
Sokal's research is under the auspices of a $302,604 five-year grant given last year by the U.S. Public Health Service. The grant covers five areas of study, all of which require the use of com-
Krzyzanowski Spells Citizen Foreign Students, Faculty from China to Mexico Bring International Knowledge to KU's Campus
KU has been an active participant in the exchange of universal knowledge. From its Heart of America location, each year KU sends students and faculty abroad and in turn leavens its population with international students and faculty members.
Four per cent of the student body at KU today is represented by 542 students from 85 nations. Nearly twice that proportion of the full-time faculty and library staff has foreign origin.
COMING FROM 26 nations,73 full-time faculty and library staff positions are filled by persons who are not citizens of the United States.
Some of these members are visiting for a single year, while others have been and will remain in the visiting status for several years. Others are acquiring U.S. citizenship and at that time will qualify for tenure.
Jerzy Krzyzanowski, associate professor in
the Slavic Language and Literature department, first came to the U.S. in 1959.His native country is Poland.
BEFORE COMING to KU in the fall of 1964, Krzyzanowski taught Slavic language courses at Berkeley, Michigan and Colorado.
"I like Lawrence very much. Since the Slavic Language and Literature department is rapidly growing I hope it will have a bright future," he said.
He is acquiring U.S. citizenship while serving as a visiting associate professor.
NATIONALIST CHINESE comprise the largest group with 12 serving on the faculty and library staff. There are nine from West Germany, seven from Great Britain. India is represented by five faculty and library staff members while Canada is represented by four members.
THESE INTERNATIONAL faculty members serve in 27 departments on the campus.
puters and statistical biology. The field of numerical taxonomy, included in the program, has aroused the attention of biologists all over the world.
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"THE COLLEGE JEWELER 809 Mass.
WARNING TO PATRIOTS
"If you are ever going to buy a gun, buy it now. Communist organizations that usually have good sources of information are expecting Johnson to be next president and Hubert Humphrey to be the next vice-president. Once this election is over they expect to be able to operate openly without any government interference whatsoever" ("On Target" April 1, 1964, page 1 & 2)
"On Target" is a Minuteman publication
Mr. Robert Depugh Leader Of The Minutemen
4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.12, 1966 Forum Room, Kansas Union
Minority Opinions Forum