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Distributed Dirt Digging for Life-Extension Research
ReasonAtFightAging writes "When was the last time you really looked down at the ground you walk upon? The soil from your backyard - or the next street over, or a nearby graveyard, or the park across the way - could contain the key to advancing real anti-aging science: bacterial enzymes capable of repairing biochemical damage that accumulates with time and leads to age-related disease. So the dirt you stand on could contain a scientific breakthrough, and scientists want you — all of you, all around the world — to send a sample for analysis! One of the funding organizers notes: 'We're working hard to secure more funding to bring more manpower onto the project, so there is no danger of your sample being discarded because the researchers are swamped!'"
I'm going to submit a sample from stringfellow superfund site!
Yes, I knew there was a reason I live ~10 miles from it.
Grump
Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
Since I work in this domain, let me tell you that this is total rubbish. It takes years and millions of dollars to properly analyze one "dirt" sample.
This is just a publicity stunt to get some cash, or funding.
I'll do it for cheesy poofs.
The first thing I thought of was: They want to recieve samples from all over the world (aiming for biodiversity), in order to build a huge DNA library (as is their stated goal) and, presumably, file patent applications and be granted patents (I did not find any IP policy on the sites I briefly browsed). Then, who would benefit from it all???
The donations they are inviting (free labor), that aim at obtaining biodiversity, look like a biopiracy effort, wherein the idea of appropriation and "exploitation" with lack of due compensantion is the main point - through patenting including.
May I add, I think compensation isn't due only to the source of biological samples, and not only through economic compensation. There should be compensation regarding the (public) access and use of such DNA and the ensuing developments based on it's discovery, for there's quite a part of discovery rather than invention in such sort of research. (Shouln't DNA be considered public domain?).
One of the problems is that the patent systems don't account for differences among scientific and techonological fields, treating all alike. Therefore such simplisitc and generalized approach built into the patent systems benefit some while others suffer.
That isn't funny, that is the point! Bacteria from graveyards are specially adapted to breaking down animal compounds, some of which may be useful in creating anti-aging therapies.
Disclaimer, I am not a member of this research group, but they are in the same building.