UO E-clips, Oct. 10

Fitness in a changing world: genetics and adaptations of Alaskan stickleback fish (Science Daily): The stickleback fish, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is one of the most thoroughly studied organisms in the wild, and has been a particularly useful model for understanding variation in physiology, behavior, life history and morphology caused by different ecological situations in the wild. On biological levels from molecular and genetic to developmental and morphological, and finally ending with the population level, it has proven far more complex than even imagined. ... Genetic mapping work on Alaskan stickleback was conducted by William Cresko at the University of Oregon and supported by the National Science Foundation. [NOTE: Cresko authored a perspectives article published in today's issue of the journal Science, in which he discussed new research findings by non-UO scientists that appeared in the journal.]

Colleges get out vote (Register-Guard): The clock is ticking for those planning to vote in the November general election, with first-time voters facing a Tuesday deadline to register. Not wanting to take any chances, thousands of new participants already have registered -- especially younger voters. Of the 2,123,652 Oregon voters registered as of Thursday, nearly 8 percent -- 167,066 -- have registered this year, according to the secretary of state’s office. And nearly six in 10 registered voters 20 years old or younger are newly registered this year. ... David Frank, dean of the Clark Honors College and director of the university’s forensics program, said he often overhears his students in the classroom talking about voting.

UO student investors beating the market (KVAL News 13): With the close of another tough day on Wall Street -- the Dow fell below 9,000 points for the first time since 2003 -- it seems even the pros don't know what to do. Maybe they should head back to school. After all, it's not easy to beat the market six years running. But some University of Oregon students have done just that -- and their investments are weathering the storm as the market heads downward. Seniors Milad Sedeh and Bryce Stadick help run the University of Oregon Investment Group, and manage nearly $1 million in real money. "We take our jobs very seriously," Sedeh said. (Watch video)

Some University of Oregon dorms lack overhead fire sprinklers (KVAL News 13): Overhead fire sprinklers are something you see in just about every big building but where you won't see them might surprise you.Three residence halls on the University of Oregon campus - Bean, Riley, and Earl only have them in basement. "These were built before the code required it," says Chuck Campbell, U of O's Fire Protection Manager. "And to go back and retrofit would be a tremendous amount of money." (See video)