Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Voyage To Sequence DNA From the World's Oceans

Posted by simoniker on from the blub-blub dept.

joehoya writes "Wired has an extensive article about an expedition with the goal of discovering new microbial species and new genes in the world's oceans. The expedition is led by J. Craig Venter, who is best known for his involvement in the race to sequence the Human Genome. This is a really fascinating expedition with a pretty high geek quotient. I know, as I set up many of the computer and other electronic systems aboard, and traveled with the expedition as far as the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. In fact, you can see me (ok, the side of my head) in one of the article's pictures, next to the Captain while helping to take a sea water sample."

15 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. The ultimate goal here is... by darth_MALL · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sharks with frickin lasers on their heads.

  2. How can we take this scientist seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    He seems to have no regard for the risk of skin cancer. When you walk around naked on the beach all day you should at least wear sunscreen.

    That said... can I have his job?

  3. Yikes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    In fact, you can see me (ok, the side of my head) in one of the article's pictures, next to the Captain while helping to take a sea water sample.

    So that's what they're calling it nowadays, eh? ;)

  4. Taking a risk? by xCepheus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, the submitter is really brave saying that he can be seen in one of the pictures. Pretty soon legions of young, nubile, slashdot-reading, geek chix0rz will be flooding his inbox with requests for... well you fill in the blank.

    1. Re:Taking a risk? by sarah_kerrigan · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hello,

      Pretty soon legions of young, nubile, slashdot-reading, geek chix0rz will be flooding his inbox with requests for... well you fill in the blank

      Requests for taking part of the expedition, of course 0:-) (ok, offtopic, come to me...)

      Kisses
      --

      --
      You'd stumble in my footsteps (Depeche Mode, "Walking in my shoes")
  5. Re:This could have a big impact on computing by solive1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    And then we can store data in cows, and before you know it a RAID array will have turned into a pack of hot dogs.

    On a serious note, I don't really know much about this, but anything that can make AI advances possible is worth the research in my opinion. Then we may actually have robots that will do what we ask without being programmed, and we'll have robot assistants and such. Just hope that what happens in I-Robot doesn't happen to us when we reach this stage.

  6. Watch out for the Klingons! by RobertB-DC · · Score: 3, Funny

    Better get those DNA samples from the oceans before the Klingons get there. They'll get their sample and fry the place. Bastards.

    (What TNG episode was that, anyway? Google is not my friend today!)

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  7. Re:Nooo... by Sloppy · · Score: 1, Funny

    We will all be sorry when they clone Cthulhu!

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  8. The last frontier by spirit_fingers · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, they want exotic new microbes? They need look no further than my kitchen sink. I've got several new species popping up every day. I will insist upon splitting the patent royalties, however.

  9. Karma Whore! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    In fact, you can see me (ok, the side of my head) in one of the article's pictures, next to the Captain while helping to take a sea water sample.

    1. Get my picture taken next to someone famous.
    2. ???
    3. Profit!

    Step 2 must somehow involve Slashdot.

  10. Re:Patents? by Ichijo · · Score: 2, Funny
    How can one patent what has existed for thousands or millions of years in nature is beyond my comprehension...
    God has some pretty nasty ways of defending his patents. We had better watch where we tread.
    --
    Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
  11. Near-infinite amounts of energy? by sssmashy · · Score: 3, Funny

    The great majority of Earth's species are bacteria and other microorganisms. They form the bottom of the food chain and orchestrate the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients through the ecosystem. They are the dark matter of life. They may also hold the key to generating a near-infinite amount of energy, developing powerful pharmaceuticals, and cleaning up the ecological messes our species has made.

    Interesting article, despite the breathless hype that is typical of Wired science articles.

    How might these organisms hold the key to "generating infinite amounts of energy"? A cluster of H2S-metabolizing worms around a geothermal vent? Or have those deep-sea molluscs discovered the secret to cold fusion?

    1. Re: Near-infinite amounts of energy? by sploxx · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's depends on how you define the "near" operator(*) for infinity.
      Maybe, they work with a definition that makes the few hundred kJ by burning a lump of algae an "near-infinite" amount :-)

      (*) - Remember the good old altavista.com days? There certainly was such a thing!

  12. First they put phenylphaline in the pool... by DavidBrown · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...and now they're goin' to do DNA testing of the ocean. Where the hell can I pee now?

    --
    144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!
  13. Totally offtopic, but futurama quote nonetheless by LiquidMind · · Score: 2, Funny

    Professor: "I'm sorry Fry, but the anchovy has been extinct since the 2200s."
    Fry: "What???"
    Professor: "Oh my, yes. Fished to death. Just about the time your people arrived on earth, wasn't it, Zoidberg?"
    Zoidberg: "I'm not on trial here!"

    --
    This sig contains repetition and redundancy.