15 Nov
2015
15 Nov
'15
2:49 a.m.
On November 14, 2015 8:43:49 AM Georgi Guninski <guninski@guninski.com> wrote:
On Sat, Nov 14, 2015 at 10:20:04AM -0500, dan@geer.org wrote:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-ear-made-with-van-gogh-dna-1= 80957230/?no-ist .... Using DNA extracted from a stamp licked by the artist, as well as cell samples collected from van Gogh's great-great-grandnephew, Strebe and team created "Sugababe," an artificially grown ear suspended in a clear gel.
Definitely don't believe usable human DNA on a stamp can survive over 120 years unless very carefully preserved since the beginning.
Every time I see someone lick an envelope, I tease them for contributing to the global DNA database. Maybe the joke isn't that funny anymore. -S