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December 20, 2011
good vs. bad
A good programmer idiot-proofs his or her software! NCBI! A good programmer never assumes that the user knows what they are doing (in this case, assuming directory paths). With NCBI software, the average scientist will not know certain aspects of IT programming that programmers all know. Here is the difference between a hobbyist and a true IT programmer.
Posted by azileretsis at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2011
command
Today, I was reminded of how comforting a command line is compared to working with people. I know I'm going to discover after doing my professor's project by command line that someone already has a gui developed. Scientists! Befriend some IT people.
Posted by azileretsis at 04:17 PM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2011
rochester
I think I am in love with University of Rochester. I just heard a faculty seminar on CD28 that reminded me the wonder of immunology. This school is definitely past a tipping point.
Posted by azileretsis at 09:58 AM | Comments (0)
December 07, 2011
more or less
In my view, it is highly unlikely that laboratory-modified viruses will be able to cause extensive disease in humans. When humans tinker with viruses, they generally do not know what the virus needs to replicate efficiently, cause disease, and transmit in humans. Consequently, they are likely to introduce changes that attenuate pathogenesis in humans. Nature is far better at producing viruses that can kill – to think that we can duplicate the enormous diversity and selection pressures that occur in the wild is a severe case of scientific hubris. - Vincent Racaniello
I would disagree. I think we have enough knowledge especially of Influenzae at our fingertips combined with the technical tools to make a more pathogenic virus. Also, a Type A personality would take this as a personal challenge. However, I hope Influenzae labs are somewhat controlled.
Just in Time (JiT) in bacteria. Now, if we could just measure the inventory holding costs....
Posted by azileretsis at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)
December 03, 2011
majors
Is it right to limit the choice of a major to only those that can produce a job? I'm tired of meeting Indian and Chinese students who are only studying Science because of their family. They need to be told it is the worst way to get out of poverty. Do IT! If you can't do IT or business, you definitely shouldn't try Science.
I like the idea that viruses use bacteria to their own advantage better than the idea that viruses protect against bacteria infections as discussed in journal club recently. The idea of symbiosis is a difficult theory to test and must demonstrate longitudinal studies.
Calvin and Hobbes snowmen for a good laugh.
Posted by azileretsis at 02:27 AM | Comments (0)