CTL 26 suction not quite what I expected (brand new)

[Random Orbital Bob]

LOL..  I can sense your better half's passion for genetics.  Funny she should mention CRISPR too because on the main evening news here in the UK, one day last week, there was a report of a small cohort of patients with a rare congenital disease that would likely end up fatal (like M.N.D but I can't remember the name of it).  Scientists have been building on the work started by two exceptional female Nobel prize winners, Doudna and Charpentier to provide an in vivo cure essentially, but by injecting the CRISPR technology into the blood directly.  How on earth it finds its way to the relevant DNA strand, edits out the unwanted base pairs and then repairs it again having begun its journey in their arm is staggeringly brilliant.

So I'm no expert as your Missus clearly is but I do have a degree in biology, hence the interest in the science.  This CRISPR genome editing method is extremely exciting in terms of what it might deliver in the future and the fact it was in the news just this week, curing people of a rare and awful disease where previously there was no hope, is amazing.  Its also a really young technology which I think has reached this already useful position after only a decade or so.  it really does hold real promise of targeting all sorts of errant aspects of our genetic code, including cancer.  Mmm, maybe it could "edit out" my beer belly too!!

Anyway, all the best to you both

Rob

Good evening Bob

I just read your latest musing to Mrs. Z and she had a solid laugh.  She feels you have a good background and are ready for more research. She suggests you look into something called "CRISPR" as a way to accomplish your goals (her words, not mine).  I asked what is "CRISPR" and got the university-level lecture and quickly had my eyes roll back  [scared] which is an indication that I am ready to move on to something less esoteric  [big grin]. My better half is thrilled when I make gemeli pasta for dinner because it looks like a double helix.  So you can see what gets her interest where I am just happy that my homemade sauce turned out well LOL.

Very kind of you both Rob...please give her my best

Maybe we've accidentally hit on the fundamental genetic reason why Yorkshireman and the Scots are notorious for being thrifty with cash.....its hard wired into our genetic code.  Those early Mendelian geneticists missed a few protein base pairs in their research.  Its not just A, C, G and T.  There's also B-A-S-T-A-R-D too.  If we could only edit that section out, we could become passive, serene and joyful every time we walk into a big toolshop  

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[Random Orbital Bob]

Yes, that makes perfect evolutionary sense....it may also explain why I like vodka served at minus 5!!

Very kind of you both Rob...please give her my best

Maybe we've accidentally hit on the fundamental genetic reason why Yorkshireman and the Scots are notorious for being thrifty with cash.....its hard wired into our genetic code.  Those early Mendelian geneticists missed a few protein base pairs in their research.  Its not just A, C, G and T.  There's also B-A-S-T-A-R-D too.  If we could only edit that section out, we could become passive, serene and joyful every time we walk into a big toolshop  

Actually this is partially true, albeit most of it is cultural.

Societies living in harsh climate historically went through a natural selection that preferred self-control and orderly, planned conduct as this was simply necessary to survive. You can see the same traits in all the Nordics, Russians, etc. etc.

Whereas in mild climates there was less risk of the nature killing you by cold/weather and more risk of other people killing you. So opportunistic, more aggressive and immediate-reaction focused traits were preferred against "self-discipline" traits so critical in harsh climates.

You would probably find more in common traits between the Scotts and the Finns or Russians than you will between them and the (South) English.