Helix

In Catholic school we had to stand in rank 'n file and pledge. So my friends and I would sing the NoFx version. Much more fun.

Haha yeah I passed the acid test of politics: spelling.

Well sort of, he was at Cetus when he developed PCR. I'm talking about independantly coming up with something and then striking a deal with a biotech.

Right or you can not directly work for a biotech but rather have a deal where you do the research and they pay you for the rights to sell it.

Well if your lab was working on an anti-cancer therapy, you could get a (lucrative) contract with a biotech to sell the therapy to them. Basically I mean strike a deal where you (as a researcher) do work and get paid (a lot) by a biotech company.

Right well I think it's clear from my posts that I am for GM. (I don't want to speak for bascule, but his arguements seem to suggest the same.)

There would still be genetic diversity. I can't think of anything more diverse than intorducing new genes. There would be so many new paths for evolution to take. With the normal genome, the options are limited to the genes present and how natural selection can act upon them. Imagine how adding more genes would effect the genome. The new options would lead into many new types of expression. Lack of genetic diversity? Opposite, actually.

isn't "leet" 1337? You have 1336.....that's "leeg".

I meant using the centrifuge to seperate different parts of fluids. Yes, I am aware that a potato is not a fluid. Do you take me for a republican?

Well if by crap you mean it costs a lot for small products, it's because of labor costs. In America we have labor laws so workers have to be paid over $.50 a day. That raises an employer's costs to make the good, which in turn brings up the price. Also there are laws regulating working conditions, which also raises costs (if you doubt the need for this read The Jungle by Upto Sinclair.) These kind of things jack up the prices of everyday items if they're bought in America. That's why most products (consumer products) are imported. Most Americans have serivce jobs (i.e. doctor, lawyer, teacher, police officer, waiter, assassin etc)

I have been thinking about health foods and their actual benefits. Then figs caught my attention. They are billed as being "healthy," but what positive attributes do they actually contain? What vitamins and minerals are in them?

Or blood. Any fluid with multiple parts really. The only things you really need are a medium (to grow the bacteria/organism), microscope with sufficient magnification, container for bacteria, bacteria itself. That's the bare-bones was to do it.

No, a centrifuge is not essential or even usefull in dealing with a microscope. But here are some good books: Osborne Internet linked complete book of the Microscope (osborne) Scientific American Amateur Biologist (little dated though) Adventures with a microscope (Headstrom) Cliffs Notes Microbiology (actually pretty good if not archaic) Learning about Microbes: A laboratory manuel (EPBASM) Also search the internet, it is a great source.

Not planting crops in Siberia and Alaska doesn't have to do with temperature. It is a challenge because of the soil, or lack thereof. The soil in the tundra is dry and relativley un-fertile. Partly right. It is not specific to adding genes, it is any way of genetically modifying. And how do you know what evolution will bring? How do you know how things will evolve. Viruses can swap parts of genome creating totally different traits that under your logic "could never happen naturally." Evolution brings different things for different species, so how do you know what will happen? In light of recent scandals involving the FDA, the government would not overlook anything. Vioxx was put on the market wrongly and caused increase risk of hear attacks. For a while drugs have been having potentially lethal side effects and the FDA is starting to take heat. And for a new controversial science like GM, they would spare no expense researching the potential problems and outcomes. Which they are. I harldy think your portrayal of people's mindset is accurate. For many because America is doing this is reason to research the possible negative outcomes. True but what you're describing isn't second guessing, it's all out refusal. From what I gather, you don't think the extensive research is enough and want your own proof. What kind of proof do you want? Who knows, seeing as how you avoid answering. So, while I agree with what's stated it isn't what you're doing. Yes a scientific idea. Einstein's theory was just that but it was still rooted in scientific basis based on previous research. Germ theory was, again, a theory, but it was based on scientifically proving wrong what others thought was right.

The answe is a combination of Zyncod and Sayonara's. Yes most don't live within the eye of the immune system but also it is in our best interest to not kill them. Evolution has steered our immune system to ignore the little helpers.

Here's the secret to immortality....ready? Keep breathing.

Interesting, in an old experiment book I have it details using Gro-light bubls to help grow plants (the actual experiment is focused on determining electromagnetic waves' effects on plants, the blub jsut helps them grow). Still seems like artificial light can help plants grow, just has to be the right type.

Well I'm not paid to do this (sadly) so I'm not an expert. However I have made many mistakes in a narrow field, so I count partially. If your goal is to support bacteria growth then you just need what's essential for life. If your concoction contains all that, then good. Try Ward Sci, though, I got nutrient agar from them for a song. Hope I could help.

No problem. I am researching telomerase for a long term project. It's an interesting subject. If you have any question you think I could answer send me an e-mail: will1790@gmail.com

No, thats a sci-fi mentality. So a gene protecting something from the cold can spawn growth? That's completely ignoring basic rules not only of genetics but of logic. What would happen if you have people pennicilin? Or flew a plane? Or ventured into space with cosmic raidation? People didn't know then but we do now. You make history. You help humanity.

Yeah I can asnwer that question: Almost Nothing. But that's if you don't become a scientist and team up with a biotech company. Then considerably more.

What side effects? You've mentioned them quite a bit but I haven't heard one. Can you actually bring forth one valid negative side effect that has been backed up by sufficient scientific evidence? Even if you can find one, or even two, would that outweigh feeding starving people or making medicine more easily accessible (via inserting med's in food {could be used to help the hungry/poor as well})?

Right, absolultely right. And GM crops that produce significantly more food would be good. We are an intelligent species (supposedly) so why can't we put a dent in world hunger?