Health NewsWhat's in A Name ?
As Shakespeare went on to say "that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet".
Or if you happen to be in biotechnology sweet might not be the word you would use.
Take the conference I'm attending in Montreal right now: 'The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing - Linking Biotechnology, Chemistry & Agriculture to create a new value chain'.
Enough to strike fear into the heart of some consumers who worry about what geneticists and chemists gone bad. The same goes for the term Synthetic Biology.
In a morning presentation on Synthetic Biology yesterday, Eleonore Pauwels pointed out that in her study of American and European press coverage of Synthetic Biology, the term has proved to be an unfortunate way of describing the science. A science which we don't mind using when we need an insulin shot or if we contract malaria. Both generally accepted treatments are a product of Synthetic Biology.
Eleanore Pauwels presents at a breakout session at the World Biotechnology and Bioprocessing Congress in Montreal.
Orchid Species and DNA
This weekend an artist friend gave my family a couple of awesome cards. She prepared the originals by exposing a Yellow Lady’s Slipper orchid laid over photographic paper or film negative to X-rays. The results were truly amazing. I wanted to learn more about these fascinating flowers. Orchids fascinate many people. There are some individuals whose passion for orchids is so great that their hobby is growing orchids. These folks call themselves orchidists.
What can we learn from Marrella?
It is always amazing the way genetics and the absolutely central role played by DNA comes into discussions. Last night, I attended a Chautauqua at the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre. Chautauquas are informal education gatherings of people for educational purposes. Last night, Burgess Shale guide David Moore led us through a very entertaining and informative presentation on “100 Years of Scientific Exploration and Discovery in Yoho National Park”.
