March 7, 2000

New York Jets reportedly have been talking to other teams about trading Keyshawn Johnson, one of National Football League's top wide receivers, to Baltimore Ravens for 5th selection over-all in upcoming college player draft; photo (M)

Dr Sydney Brenner, who played a lead role in solving mysteries of genetic code and protein synthesis between 1953 and 1966, is again in forefront of genomic research with his invention of a novel group of techniques for analyzing very large sets of DNA; his invention, put into practice by Lynx Therapeutics of Hayward, Calif, is based on anchoring DNA fragments to microscopic beads by combinatorial chemistry; photo (L)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority is accused of censorship and threatened with federal lawsuit after it rejects proposed subway advertisement depicting crowded rush-hour scene; ad, which Straphangers Campaign and Regional Plan Assn had hoped to post in 2,280 subway cars during April as part of $500,000 campaign to promote transit improvements that would ease crush, ran afoul of MTA rule against bus, subway and commuter train ads that would harm agency's commercial interests; photo (M)

Clyde Haberman NYC column discusses how Presidential candidates of both parties have embraced Christianity and are using it as election issue; reaction of atheists discussed (M)

Two New York City police officers and former officer are convicted, Federal District Court, Brooklyn, of covering up brutal assault on Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in Brooklyn stationhouse in 1997 following his arrest; Charles Schwarz, Thomas Bruder and Thomas Wiese are each found guilty of conspiring in dozens of telephone calls to obstruct justice by making up story for authorities to cover up Schwarz's role in attack; defense lawyers still maintain former officer Justin Volpe, who pleaded guilty at first trial in May 1999, attacked Louima alone; plan appeal; charges against defendants reviewed; photos (M)