Win-M doens't restore windows back to where they were after hiding, which I believe is what GP is referring to...

KDE4 made me switch to Gnome, not that I dislike KDE4.2, I actually think it is quite nice, it's just too heavy for my aging laptop. After I switched I realized one of the main reasons for me to stick to KDE is Amarok, but recently I hardly play music from my computer anymore. I'm quite pleased with my Gnome desktop now...

He was talking about making *better* coffee, which includes grinding beans on a regular basis to ensure you have fresh coffee...

So, we are all waiting for the Chinese version of this device without all the lockdown and including all the obvious useful fetures?

sequencing software != sequencer, which the actual device to read all those A, C, G and Ts. Although there is the old fashioned manual solution (run it on a gel) it still costs a lot of reagents, not to mention a lot of time.

In theory you're right that you could make a lot of those instruments at home, but I don't think it would work in practice. Besides you're still left with the problem of expensive enzymes, you want to make those yourself too? You'll be busy for years constructing your devices and isolating your enzymes before you can even do your first experiment. And where did you say you got that pipette to accurately add 2 uL of solution?

Don't worry, I have a feeling those nationalists are being protected from reading slander like that ;-)

Actually we share 60% of our genes, not DNA with fruitflies, same for chimps. Which means that for 60% of the genes in our genome you can find a similar gene in fruitflies, although the structure of that particular gene has changed in fruitflies and humans independently over time.

Since neanderthals are much more related to humans one would expect the number of gene orthologs between humans and neanderthals to be between 98% and 100%. All the genes they mapped will probably genes that humans also have, the interesting bits may come from differences in those genes between the two species. And of course the genes that humans have and naederthals not (or vice versa) but my guess is they haven't mapped those yet. It's easier to map a gene if you know what you're looking for (human ortholog).

I wonder if the 10% improvement in fuel efficiency only counts for roads in Boston, how about cities with decent roads?

Maybe so, but when scientists from academia are applying for grants to support their research, these things WILL matter.

I realize for most drug companies the US will be the main market they focus on, but there are other countries with better health care systems, where affordability for patients will be less an issue.

Or, those drugs are cheaper because of the more heavy penalty involved when caught? I'm sure it will affect the price/demand somehow

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I would like to add:

Whether you want to fork up 1000 dollar for your newborn is a though ethical decision and I guess it also depends on your financial situation. If you can easily miss it, why deny your kid a possible cure? But to be honest, since most people don't put their baby's umbilical cord cells in a bank, most research will focus on cures where those are not required, because there's more potential to save lives.

You are quite optimistic about the current state of stem cell research, I think it will take much longer.

I agree though that chances are equally well that, when useful stemcell related cures are on their way, no umbilical cord cells are needed for these. Perhaps somatic cells can be reprogrammed. More likely scientists will find a way to make "more determined" stem cells, for example colon stem cells or hair stem cells, more pluripotent and use these.

So you live in your basement? ;-)

yes I do, I also recognize bad taste when I see it...

The British I guess? We traded (were being forced to trade) New Jersey (and Manhattan) for Surinam with them.