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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.
Is this some kind of Hanso Foundation trick?
I'm going to send them dirt from a graveyard!
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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!'"
Shouldn't that be that the researchers are buried?
[rimshot]
Thank you, thank you; I'll be here for the rest of your life!
If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
The irony here is that even if some magical anti-aging component was found in my dirt, it would take big pharma years to purify it, test it, and package it. And then they would sell my own dirt back to me for thousands and thousands of dollars.
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.
Dear Sir:
Thank you for the kind donation of a sample of dirt from your back yard. We are pleased to inform you that we have isolated a fascinating compound from it and consequently we will require a larger amount for further study. We'll bring in the backhoes and dumptrucks around 1:00 this Tuesday.
Sincerely,
The Biodesign Institute
PS - Have you considered getting a built-in pool? Now might be a good time.