Yet another "sorry I couldn't be there" note (at least I have only two more months of Tuesday night classes!) That video was stunning. I've forwarded it to half a dozen biologists.
-- Jonathan Sherwood Sr. Science & Technology Press Officer University of Rochester 585-273-4726 On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 8:37 AM, Eric Scoles <[email protected]> wrote: > > Yes, thanks from me, too -- I really wanted to be there, I'm sorry I had to > leave. Maybe we can get a panel together sometime, and promote it more > heavily. Nancy and Mark for a start. Any other gene-iacal suggesticons? Get > some real speculative juju moving. Other than Alicia (would it be awkward > being on a panel with your manager?), do we have any biologists? > > > > On 2009-02-04, Pat Rapp <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Thank you for the summary, Nancy. I am so disappointed that I had to miss >> it! >> >> ----- Original Message ----- *From:* [email protected] >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 04, 2009 6:58 AM >> *Subject:* Re: DNA in action! >> >> >> Last night's R-Spec meeting was fascinating -- it was too bad that only >> seven people could make it. Mark Zahn, Alicia's boss, spoke about >> Biodefense. He slanted his talk toward practical knowledge for SF writers >> who want to include weaponized genemods in their stories, and he did a >> wonderful job. >> >> He talked about which pathogens best lend themselves to modification >> (Ebola, for instance, has a very small genome and produces only eight >> proteins, which means there's just not *room* enough in the cell to fit a >> lot of extra, genetically engineered stuff.) Mark covered the assembly of >> viruses using sequencing data and "off-the-shelf" sections of DNA. He >> talked about the origins and spread of epidemics. I hadn't known that the >> natural host for influenza was an Asian species of duck, and that the way >> vaccine makers guess at which strains of flu will hit in a given winter is >> by examining ducks in late summer. >> >> The talk also covered what you need for a rogue genemod lab to weaponize >> pathogens: off-the-rack equipment, experienced talent, and no more than a >> few million dollars. What the Russians may or may not have been doing in >> this regard was discussed, including a recommendation for Ken Alibek's scary >> book BIOHAZARD (which I have read -- it's horrifying). Mark finished with >> an overview of surveillance techniques used to spot and track epidemics so >> that appropriate measures can be taken, including quarantine if necessary. >> >> Thank you, Alicia. It was terrific. >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL >> Music<http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000001> >> . >> >> >> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
