Transitions

Published in Probe Volume 6 (Final): July 1996

Susan McCarthy, Coordinator
Plant Genome Data and Information Center
USDA, ARS, National Agricultural Library
Beltsville, MD

Communication links all living organism--from unconscious chemical signals to abstract written concepts. Human communication has changed remarkably in the last 5 years. The latest communication revolution is rooted in the global network called the Internet. We are just at the beginning of this revolution.

An earlier communication revolution was catalyzed by the development of movable type and the printing press. Profound cultural and social changes arose. The Internet may well bring equally profound changes in our time.

Ironically, change is one of the few constants in life. Closing the doors on Probe is a bittersweet transition for the staff of the Plant Genome Data and Information Center. You have been a wonderful audience providing valuable ideas and kind support. Although the newsletter will cease publication, we hope that many of you will remain in contact with us through our listserv.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who helped make Probe a success. Foremost, I would like to thank Dr. Jerome Miksche for giving us this splendid forum. Terry Henrichs has been the creative force in designing and producing each issue from start to finish. JoAnne Meil, Caroline Bigwood, and Marti Asner have provided expert editorial services, a matter of great value to me since my high school teacher assured me that sentence fragments and dangling participles would be the death of me (Mrs. Shanks, you were so right!). Barbara Buchanan scans many sources each month to create an up-to-date and useful resource, the calendar of events. Our graduate studnts, Annette Colbert, Ed Donnald, and Judy Ruttenberg managed the mailing list and distributed requested publications. Ultimately, our authors contributed many high-caliber, timely articles that were so essential to Probes success. My sincerest thanks to all.

While we are closing the door on Probe, we will open a new door to the world of Internet. Please visit us frequently at http://www.nal.usda.gov/pgdic.