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ZEN Energy bill

3 genes
linked to and the art will test
multiple of lawyering
sclerosis Pelosi’s
Mutations may
increase risk of command
developing disease Democrats in auto states oppose
By Sabin Russell increasing gas mileage standards
Chronicle Medical Writer
By Zachary Coile
New DNA scanning technolo- Chronicle Washington Bureau
gies, which have uncovered genet-
ic traits tied to a growing list of hu- Washington — Democrats, in taking back the
man ailments, have spotted three House from Republicans, promised to tilt the nation’s
gene mutations that may raise the energy policy away from oil drilling and toward effi-
risk of a person developing multi- ciency and cleaner sources of energy. This week their
ple sclerosis, the most common pledge will be put to the test.
neurological disease among young As the House starts debate on its energy bill, Speak-
and middle-age adults. er Nancy Pelosi must decide: Will she push a measure,
The discoveries strengthen the opposed by electric utilities, to re-
widely held but unproven theory quire them to produce 20 percent of
that MS is an autoimmune disease their power from renewable sourc-
in which infection-fighting blood es? Will she allow a vote on a major
cells mistakenly attack the protein increase in fuel economy that’s be-
sheaths that protect our nerves. ing fought by autoworkers’ unions
In three papers released online and a few powerful Democrats?
Sunday, international teams of re- “When you talk about energy
searchers report how new experi- policy, there is the car piece and the
ments have reconfirmed the role of electricity piece,” said Marchant
one gene in raising the risk of MS, Wentworth, legislative representa-
and stirred suspicions about two tive for the Union of Concerned Sci- Nancy Pelosi
other immune system genes that entists, who has been lobbying the told environ-
may contribute to the disease. Democratic leadership. “You need mentalists she
“I think these studies, together, both for an energy-efficient policy.” supports
really change the landscape of mul- The Democratic speaker from raising fuel
tiple sclerosis research,’’ said Dr. San Francisco has told environ- economy
Stephen Hauser, chairman of the mentalists she supports raising fuel standards to at
UCSF Department of Neurology. economy standards to at least 35 least 35 mpg.
He was lead author of the study re- miles per gallon and requiring util-
leased Sunday by the New England ities to generate 20 percent of their
Journal of Medicine, and also a power from renewable sources such as wind, solar or
contributor to one of two studies al- biomass by 2020.
so published online by the British But neither measure is part of the energy bill now,
medical journal Nature Genetics. and Pelosi has not committed to bringing the propos-
Multiple sclerosis strikes wom- als to the floor as amendments — although she’s lean-
en twice as often as men and afflicts ing toward putting the electricity standard to a vote.
about 400,000 Americans and 2.5 Pelosi is balancing her desire for a new, greener en-
million people worldwide. Suffer- ergy policy with her fear that if the bill tries to go too
ers are plagued by chronic and pro- 1 PELOSI: Page A9
Michael Macor / The Chronicle

gressive symptoms, ranging from

muscle weakness and fatigue to
complete loss of mobility.
Hauser’s study involved an in-
1 GENES: Page A8
THE WORLD INSIDE
SOCCER WIN THRILLS IRAQIS
MS at a glance Tens of thousands of Iraqis poured
1 Affects the central nervous into the usually treacherous streets
system.
to celebrate a rare moment of joy
1 Believed to be an autoimmune
disease in which infection-fighting Legal eagles find meditation a stress solution and unity when the national team
cells mistakenly attack the sheath won Asia’s most prestigious soccer
that protects nerve fibers in the By Heidi Benson Mary Mocine, Recent studies reinforce the results of a
brain and spinal cord.
tournament. A6
Chronicle Staff Writer a former 1990 Johns Hopkins University report
1 Symptoms vary, but among the labor lawyer,
most common are bladder and Mary Mocine, a 63-year-old Zen had to slow showing that lawyers suffer higher rates STUNNING LOSS FOR
bowel dysfunction, blurry vision, down after a of depression than those in other pro-
dizziness, loss of balance, fatigue, priest and former litigator, teaches divorce and
JAPANESE LEADER
muscle weakness, slurred meditation to burned-out attorneys at fessions. Prime Minister
an illness.
speech, mobility impairment.
weekend retreats at Tassajara in Big Sur She found
Depression is often preceded by Shinzo Abe, right,
1 Afflicts an estimated 400,000
and Green Gulch Farm at Muir Beach. peace in chronic stress, and with work hours es- led his scandal-
Americans and 2.5 million world-
wide. “I speak two kinds of language — law
meditation calating and public perception of law- stained ruling co-
and is now a yers in a nosedive, some members of
1 Most people are diagnosed practice and Zen practice,” said the Zen priest. alition to an un-
between the ages of 20 and 50;
sunny, linen-clad founder of the Vallejo the hyper-rational legal profession are expectedly severe
MS strikes women twice as often
as men. Zen Center. looking East for relief. Meditation, yoga defeat in parliamen-
Sources: National Multiple Sclerosis Her work couldn’t be more timely. 1 MEDITATION: Page A8 tary elections. A3
Society, National Institutes of Health

CHASING AARON

Fans’ next best hope — rub Dodgers’ nose in it

By Carl T. Hall In Sports ment to the fans lined shoulder to shoulder atop the
Chronicle Staff Writer outfield wall.
1 The game: Bonds went 1-for-4, For a brief moment, breathing stopped. Every-
Baseball history took a detour toward hostile terri- and the Giants were 8-5 losers to body was on tiptoes, gloves at the ready.
tory Sunday as fans at AT&T Park glumly watched the Marlins, who battered Matt “It was coming right at me, and it looked like a
Barry Bonds go without a home run during the last Morris to overcome a 5-2 deficit. basketball,” said Robert Engert of Santa Rosa.
game of the Giants homestand. Bonds will continue his Hank But the wind blowing in from the bay kept on
The Giants lost the game, too. Aaron chase when the Giants blowing the wrong way, and the hopes for something
begin a six-game Southern Cali-
It was a sour way to send the team packing for special wilted into the waiting glove of Florida Mar-
fornia trek Tuesday night at Dodg-
accursed Los Angeles, even if Bonds remains just one er Stadium.
lins outfielder Jeremy Hermida.
away from tying Hank Aaron’s career record of 755 Even Giants deities like Will “The Thrill” Clark
home runs. 1 Ray Ratto: After Tuesday’s and Roger “Humm Baby” Craig, who were on hand
A sellout crowd of 42,965 watched the controver- trading deadline, the Giants as part of a tribute to the 1987 Western Division
Michael Macor / The Chronicle
sial King of the Cove manage nothing splashier Sun- you’ve come to know and grouse champion team, didn’t bring the mojo needed to get
Boaters in McCovey Cove are denied as Barry Bonds fails to hit about almost surely will be the
day than a high fly ball to right field. Bonds over the hump.
same as they are today. D1
the record-tying and -breaking homers that could be worth a mint. It broke Bonds’ bat, and brought a surge of excite- 1 FANS: Page A9

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