Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect SCR004.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

S.C.R. 4

             1     

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING

             2     
UTAH'S NOBEL PRIZE WINNER MARIO

             3     
CAPECCHI

             4     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Chief Sponsor: John L. Valentine

             7     
House Sponsor: Greg J. Curtis

             8     
             9      LONG TITLE
             10      General Description:
             11          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the
             12      achievements of Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
             13      Medicine.
             14      Highlighted Provisions:
             15          This resolution:
             16          .    recognizes Dr. Mario Capecchi's gene targeting research that won him the 2007
             17      Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; and
             18          .    recognizes Dr. Capecchi's many accomplishments that led to his winning the Nobel
             19      Prize.
             20      Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22     
             23      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             24          WHEREAS, On October 8, 2007, University of Utah professor Dr. Mario Capecchi was
             25      awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research into gene targeting;
             26          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi shares the prize with Sir Martin J. Evans of Cardiff
             27      University and Oliver Smithies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;


             28          WHEREAS, according to the Nobel Foundation, the award was "for their discoveries of
             29      principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem
             30      cells";
             31          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi's work in developing a mouse model that is now used in
             32      hundreds of labs around the world is what singled him out for this honor;
             33          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi has said, "in terms of our genetic content, mouse and human
             34      are 99.9% the same. So whatever we learn in the mouse is going to be directly applicable to
             35      the human";
             36          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi's research makes possible a more comprehensive study of
             37      diabetes, cystic fibrosis, heart and neuropsychiatric diseases, and cancer, and the development
             38      of treatments to fight them;
             39          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi and the University of Utah's Department of Genetics have
             40      brought extraordinarily positive recognition to the research community in the state of Utah;
             41          WHEREAS, University of Utah President Michael Young said that Dr. Capecchi's gene
             42      targeting research "truly has changed the course of medical research," and added that
             43      Capecchi's work has helped University of Utah researchers discover the genetic predispositions
             44      to more diseases than any other university in the world;
             45          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi's development of "knockout mice" technology, the ability to
             46      alter specific genes in mice with embryonic stem cells, has allowed researchers to model
             47      hundreds of diseases, including cancer;
             48          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi, who previously taught at Harvard University, said he came
             49      to the University of Utah in 1973 because he knew that he would be able to focus on ongoing
             50      research projects, rather than having to produce short-term results;
             51          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi's accomplishments are even more extraordinary in light of
             52      the suffering he endured in his early childhood years in his native Italy;
             53          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi suffered through the Nazi occupation when his mother, a
             54      writer and poet who wrote against Nazism, and was taken away by the Gestapo;
             55          WHEREAS, when money left behind for others to take care of him ran out, he was
             56      abandoned on the streets at three years of age;
             57          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi's mother survived the Dachau Concentration Camp and
             58      spent nearly a year and a half searching before she found her son, and then moved with him to


             59      the United States; and
             60          WHEREAS, Dr. Capecchi's accomplishments bring great honor to the entire state of
             61      Utah:
             62          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             63      Governor concurring therein, recognize Dr. Mario Capecchi for his pioneering efforts in gene
             64      targeting that have resulted in his winning the 2007 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.
             65          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize
             66      Dr. Capecchi's life of service that has greatly improved researchers' ability to understand
             67      diseases afflicting humans and develop treatments to fight them.
             68          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Mario
             69      Capecchio, the University of Utah's Department of Genetics, and University President Michael
             70      Young.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-15-07 9:14 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]