Some guy in the 1960s mucking around thermal ponds studying the extremophile bacteria that grow there is how we managed to isolate Taq polymerase, which was a necessary step in figuring out how to use DNA evidence to solve crimes. - ThreadSky

caulimovirus.bsky.social • 21 days ago

Some guy in the 1960s mucking around thermal ponds studying the extremophile bacteria that grow there is how we managed to isolate Taq polymerase, which was a necessary step in figuring out how to use DNA evidence to solve crimes.

Reposted from Kevin M. Kruse

Whenever you hear someone sneer about scientific research that seems useless to them — “they’re studying the spit of lizards?!” — remind them that’s exactly how we got Ozempic.

globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

Comments

astill73.bsky.social•21 days ago

📌

spindlypete.bsky.social•21 days ago

i don't know how to explain to people that all the stuff we have is just combinations of different stuff we found around and somebody at some point figured out how to combine them and now we have space shuttles yknow? like those didn't just materialize. we started with fire

justin207.bsky.social•21 days ago

Honestly just tell them to play Stardew Valley or Minecraft.

caulimovirus.bsky.social•21 days ago

I think this pattern of thinking starts in school when some students, either frustrated or bored with their assignments, lash out and say “I’m never gonna use this stuff!” And the only way they will know with 100% certainty that they’ll never use that stuff is if they never learn it to begin with.

spindlypete.bsky.social•21 days ago

right! you can't know what parallel universe you who DID learn the stuff might be doing with it! maybe something awesome!

zclaude.bsky.social•21 days ago

Another critical step in the development of PCR: The abuse of LSD by one Kary Mullis, PhD

sammygmdphd.bsky.social•21 days ago

He was doing it at a pool in Yellowstone. Just goes to show how important travel funds are

atinymanatee.bsky.social•21 days ago

Abstract knowledge produces all kinds of results, I mean that's presumably one of the reasons why tenure exists

ridertoast.bsky.social•21 days ago

The single most important use of PCR thank you Doctor

bobsalamander.bsky.social•21 days ago

You didn't let him finish. Figuring out how to use DNA evidence to solve crimes is how we got the hit CBS show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

kwholesaler.bsky.social•21 days ago

Disappointing to see our fav come out in favor of forensic pseudoscience.

ridertoast.bsky.social•21 days ago

Everywhere around Gary Indiana they’re saying Daryl loves the boys in blue. “ may I hug and kiss you, Officer” he says.

otorhinosaur.bsky.social•21 days ago

He’s angling to become the Gary Polygraph Guy

rszasz.bsky.social•21 days ago

Gotta find biology that works in crazy places, then you can block all the normal stuff and turn the extreme on and off !

jordansmed.bsky.social•21 days ago

I’m sure the taq part isn’t important anyway

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply