Monday, August 25, 2008

Keeping a PCR machine in your freezer?

I have always found science interesting and something I could pursue with a passion. So, when I saw the headlines on CNN - "DNA testing uncovers suspect sushi" - you can imagine just how curious I was about it. Firstly, because DNA testing was fun. Secondly, because I love sushi.

Anyway, my concern with this article was not in the main point - which was what fish was used for sushi - but rather on these paragraphs:


He said the process [PCR/DNA sequencing] could become as common as GPS.

"Many people are working on miniaturizing it, bring the cost down and the speed to process up," he said.

"Sequencing is a chemical process. There is no reason why we can't check the food on our plate [and] send the signal out to a database electronically. GPS used to be as big as refrigerators and only used by the government. Now it's a common application in a phone."

The students worked under Jesse H. Asusubel of Rockefeller University, a champion of DNA bar coding.

They say the project wasn't work. "It didn't feel like a chore. It wasn't time-consuming at all," Stoeckle said. "I'm hoping to get more public interest so it can become cheaper and more common."


Okay... so they want to check the food on their plate and send the signal out to a database electronically... whatever for? While finding out what I eat may be nice but honestly, would I really want to know everything that goes into my mouth?

I might end up not eating at all.

Learning microbiology and genetics have really made me force myself to eat everything with one eye closed because the knowledge of what I'm eating and might possibly be eating... really isn't very appetizing.

And they want to find out what they eat in their plate and send out the information?

Let's look at it another way... what they're trying to say is that it is possible to put a PCR machine in everyone's homes and have everyone use it to do DNA analysis.

The way PCR works is such that you will need a starting material that is able to bind to your DNA sample in order for that DNA sample to be amplified to an amount that is significant enough to study. And even then, only a short segment of the DNA can be amplified. So, you will be looking for specific marker genes that will tell you what exactly are you amplifying. Then, with that DNA sample, you will want to sequence it in order to find out what it is in the first place. You can most definitely do this with PCR as well. But it still is a very separate process. Not only that, the preparation of the DNA sample is also a different process which may require a number of other reagents (besides those you need to use for the PCR) and possibly a centrifuge.

Right, so they want them to make it common and put it in people's homes just to get it cheaper.

Suppose all that was possible and suppose everyone had a PCR in their homes. What if it was used on a blood sample? It can be done easily, surely. What if that DNA obtained from that sample was purposely placed all over the place? In a crime scene for instance?

Human nature isn't very easy to predict and it's very easy to be skeptical. It's also just as easy to be naive and want to believe in an ideal world where everyone's nice and kind.

Still... if it were to be made common, let it be made common in all health care industries and perhaps food industries and obviously in the scientific communities and academic institutions. At least, let it be made common for people who know what they're doing and are expected to be the most ethical and the most ideal; even if they may not entirely be.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Apologies for That-Which-Was-Lacking

It seems that many have been waiting for my updates and I haven't been able to give any. My apologies.

I didn't get to blog about the birthdays of Yi Voon, Pui Ming, Yi Peng and Yi Mei, and I didn't get to blog about Malacca, and I didn't get to blog about Rami's visit, Famine-30...

Lol!

Looks like I haven't been updating for far too long! (But I am updating at our LEO club's blog... go check it out!) I've actually bloged about Famine 30 and other LEO club related events there (duh... it's LEO club's blog...)

Well, I'll let you in on what I have upcoming for the rest of this month =)


Tomorrow, I will be working for L&CSC for the morning to get extra pocket money. Hehe. (It's actually nice earning money and once you do, taking money from my parents felt weird and disloyal... lol...) Oh! After that, Chian (and maybe Voon) will take me to a salon to finally get a good hair cut! All in preparation for August 30th.

The Monash Ball. It's going to be interesting. The theme is Mardi Gras and there's an after party at Euphoria. We're holding it in Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa's Grand Ballroom this year. My dress arrived today too~! (Of course I won't show it to you now!) =P

I'm leading edification again tomorrow. I really pray that what I say doesn't lead people astray x.x I'm only currently regaining bit by bit the passion I had before and right now, I'm really enjoying doing things for God. I'm still trying very hard to talk to my good friends about my faith in Him who is above all things. (If you think I'm talking about you, hehe... I also don't know what to say...) But... being a Christian is something I'm happy about... and most of the time, I don't know how to truly express my feelings. I think, my friends just pick it up without me having to say much... something I'm actually grateful for. =X

On Sunday, the new worship team recruits are going to meet up at my worship leader's home to finish up our training module. It's been implemented awhile back to ensure that every new recruit knows what we're getting ourselves into. (Our church really takes our ministries seriously... maybe that's why I always find it difficult to accept when I encouter people who doesn't know when to be serious. Because, I get that there are times when jokes are appropriate and when fun and games are important but... if it's put into a serious situation, I really find it difficult to accept.)

I'll be buying nasi lemak for all of them to eat. Hehe.

On Tuesday I have an oral presentation on a specific surgical wound infection that was identified in one of our lab sessions as being caused by Staphylococcus aureus. I'm too lazy to explain what is it but I might put up the presentation on slideshare.com after the presentation for fun. Haha.

There will also be a physiology test on Wednesday... guess at what time? It's at 2pm when I will be in immunology lab. Does that sound familiar? Class clashes are really annoying. They're inconvenient to everyone and inappropriate too. The only thing I could do was to email our lecturer and set up and appointment to fix this. Looks like I'll be studying ahead of everyone (which... isn't entirely a bad thing.)


Hmm... looks like I've made another lengthy wordy post with literally no pictures at all. Should I promise a picture post next? Nah...

Monday, August 18, 2008

Elephant in the Lab!

Ever wondered what would students do in laboratories? Here's an example of that-which-had-happened when students attend a three hour lab but have 2.5 hours of incubation time...

Elephant in Lab! Click to see more!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Today...

August.08.2008:Friday
+ added link to Links Out +
+ slept from 4pm till 8pm +
+ couldn't wake up even when parents called +
+ has so much to do but no will to do it +
+ I need help o.o +

August.07.2008:Thursday
+ returned Rami her envelope +
+ looked out of the Westin from the 13th floor +
+ found out the Pavillion looks like it was half done +
+ was stuck in uni because of rain +
+ realized I haven't updated on a lot of recent events +
+ is busy yet free yet not in the mood to blog +

August.06.2008:Wednesday
+ today's Yi Peng and Yi Mei's birthday! (celebrated Sunday evening) +
+ hung out with Rami at medan and One U +
+ haven't seen Rami in 3 years! +