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Science, photography, wine and the wilds..Molecular Animations
Alex over at The Daily Transcript linked this great animation of the central dogma (DNA to RNA to Protein) of molecular biology, and I thought it fitting that it was done right here in little old Melbourne. The WEHI-TV group at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have a great site with plenty more videos and animations that are as accurate to the current understanding of these processes as anything I’ve ever seen. Great work!
Quote of the Day
I’ve been a little crazy with getting a decent start on a major project, but last night I found at least an hour to catch the last episode (ever?) of the great Canadian tv series, Regenesis. Think of a more intelligent CSI with molecular biologists. The final frame of last nights episode, just before fade to black, was this quote:
“Science has made us gods even before we are worthy of being men”
Jean Rostand – French Biologist (1894-1977)
I’ll go into some of the implications of this at a later date, but it makes me ponder the questions surrounding what cognitive and intellectual skills has humanity picked up that allow us to transcend our biology? Language certainly. The augmented memory and cultural transfer functions of writing. But when it comes to the ability to break apart complex, seemingly disparate sets of information and remodel them so as to understand the system, does anything have the scientific method beat? I’d welcome your comments.
Belief in God childish, Jews not chosen people: Einstein
I always knew Eienstein was batting on the side of the rational:
“The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.
“No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this,” he wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.
From Belief in God childish, Jews not chosen people: Einstein – ABC News
Macnification – microscopy image management for macs
Just found this software for managing microscopy images on macs. I think I’m in love.
DNA Replication Video
How could I go past this. Bad music, bad humour, and science. Just like me!
GMO Africa » GMOs and organics can alleviate food crises
Busy with planning experiments at the moment, but here is a great blog article extolling multiple food technologies to alleviate food shortage in the developing world. Its from a blog I have only just discovered, GMO Africa.
Finally! Great, moderate journalism!
At last, there has finally been a well researched and forward thinking journalistic article the promotes the moderate view of plant biotech benefits.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200310/rauch
Jonathan Rauch, I congratulate you!
Rancilio Silvia Mod
Now this is my kind of mod. Ditch the Wii controller, and give me remote access via networkmodule that I can switch on and off from the lab or office.
Considering the Silvia that I have isn’t mine, I might have to do some explaining to its owner first.