Cockroaches Daubed With Yeast As WMD Sensors?

Our Man In Redmond writes "OK, yeah, it sounds weird, but it just might work. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have come up with the idea of attaching genetically-modified yeast to the back of a cockroach - or a cockroach-sized robot - and using the yeast to detect chemical or biological agents. The story's in today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer. They point out some other possible nifty uses for the yeast-based technology, like detecting diseases by having a patient blow on a piece of paper 'printed' with the yeast."

Comments

Problem solved!

[obsidianpreacher]

Fear not, terrorists, I've got your solution! Just make your WMD in really, really, really bright laboratories! Problem solved!

*mumble mumble* ... what? Crap, I'm sorry ... gotta go ... some nice men in suits are here and need to talk about some "Patriot Act" or something ... I'll see you in about 20, I guess ...

And how will this pan out?

[screwballicus]

1) Cockroaches fail to find evidence of WMDs.
2) Government asserts non-cooperation on part of regime under inspection with cockroaches conducting said inspections.
3) ???
4) Democracy!

Yeast Based Technology

[jawtheshark]

other possible nifty uses for the yeast-based technology

Yeah, I know one "nifty" technology based on yeast: it's called "beer" and has been around for thousands of years. Hoooray for yeast! ;-)

Need a name for this critter

[arvindn]

I suggest cockroach + robot = "cockrobot" :)

As an added benefit: "I, for one, welcome our new cockrobot overlords" has a nice ring to it.

Detecting WMDs...

[MosesJones]

Has become the new "Star Wars" angle for research. Looking for new Funding ? Unsure that it will get approved ? Well see how it could possibly be applied to WMD, it doesn't have to be sensible, it just has to be enough to get the funding. After all there are people of billions of dollars out there who can't find WMD, so your research not doing it either won't change anything.

This is for the diagnosis of illnesses, pure and simple. And at 2am in a bar when the funding review was at 10am the researchers had an idea.

Let's focus, people

[writertype]

Weapons of mass destruction. Biological outbreaks of plague. Medical sensors. Bah.

There is one purpose for which yeast, and yeast research, should be put. Beer. Better beer. Beer that tastes great, but is less filling. Beer that I can drink until snookered, then wake up from the next day, hangover free.

Beer.

Any questions?

Getting the coackroaches back

[rf0]

OK this is cool You send the coachroaches out into an area where there is WMD. How do you check the yeast? Have the coachroacges on a really long leash? :)

Rus

Doctor

[jabbadabbadoo]

Doctor: "Sir, can you blow on this piece?" (points on a piece of papers, but the patient doesn't notice.)

Patient blows.

Doctor: "Ehmmm. You have herpes."

Patient: "What? One blow, and you say I have herpes?"

Now that's too much

[varjag]

So, the USA not just destroys Iraqi infrastructure to stone age, they now want to flood the ruins with yeast-infected cockroaches?

No limits to human cruelty..

I for one..

[Channard]

.. welcome our new bread-making anthrax-detecting apocalypse-surviving insect overlords.

Re:My baker isn't a terrorist

[peterpi]

Why not have him take the 4-step Dubyamatic Terrorism Survey?

1. Do you have skin darker than a manilla envelope? If no, go to (4)
2. Do you have a beard? If no, go to (4)
3. Congratualtions, you are a terrorist!
4. Unfortunately, you are not a terrorist this time. We encourage you to take the Dubyamatic Terrorism Survey again at a later date.

Re:Aaah

[LordLucless]

The Australian population in general would no doubt be much obliged if you send Steve Irwin out after WMDs.

"Crikey, it's a big one, look at the plutonium on that-" [Camera pans out, mushroom cloud silently expands to the clouds, and another Aussie stereotype dies a long-awaited death]