A time for birth

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 20

A time for birth

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The right time for a baby to be born has traditionally been thought to have been dictated by hormonal changes in the' mother. These changes would produce contractions of the uterus which would expel the. baby. However, over the last decade or so a trail of research has been leading to the conclusion that it is the hormone balance in the foetus which alters and thus initiates birth. This research began in a seemingly unlikely area — the mountain sheep pastures of the western United States. On the 8.8. C. science programme (Concert radio tonight at 7.30) a researcher at the University of California shows how certain sheep research has thrown light on the active role of foetal hormones in the birth process. Other topics in this week's programme are animal research in Western Australia which is helping in the study of muscular distrophy and a re-opening recently. of the controversy as

to whether characteristics acquired in an organism's lifetime can be passed on to offspring as part of the genetic make up. The Gentry Who were the "Southern Gentry” of New Zealand? Elizabeth Alley for Radio New Zealand questions Stevan Eldred-Grigg (Concert. 8.25 p.m ). He states: "A , lot of people still think they were tough Scottish stock or even dinkum Aussies . . .

Most of them were uppermiddle class Englishmen with significant dashes of blue blood, but in New Zealand they led such a life of luxury that stories of their fabulous wealth abounded, even at the court of Queen Victoria in London.”

Radio play “Last Summer” by Rog. Hall. Every Christma> Harry, a South Island doctor, and his family spend their holidays at a Central Otago cottage. Harry likes to. organise everyone's fun. But his son and daughter are growing up and now breaking away from such ties. Harry feels deserted and hurt. However, the deepening family crisis is averted at a terrible price when a tragic accident ensures this will be their last summer together Schumann Tonight's programme on Concert at 9.02 is the final in the series of which new recordings by the Philharmonia Orchestra of the four Schumann symphonies have been featured. Riccardo Muti conducts the Symphony No. 4 in D minor.