#73 - Historic Day in Science and Medicine - Patent a gene? yes or no?

DNA Helix Glass Pendant Necklace by BigHelmetHead on Etsy, $26

Today while chatting with my awesome boss, I learned that today is a historic day in science and medicine! Why??

Today the Supreme court will hear a case to determine whether or not a person or company can patent a gene.

Myriad Genetics is seeking patent for two genes related to hereditary breast cancer - BCRA1 and BCRS2.

My personal view is that this should not happen because there is a law in place that you cannot patent "products of nature". My genes (and your genes) are products of nature...so get off Myriad Genetics.

I worry that if we allow companies to patent genes then treatments that would be fairly inexpensive will soon become expensive. Also, where's the limit...if you can patent my genes can you patent other things that are technically MINE?

For more on the topic, click here.

What do you think? Sound off! :)

#62 - Origin of the Word Lunatic

Today during our weekly knitting time, I was talking about being amazed how much the moon affects people.  When I was working in the nursing home as a nurse aide, I never kept track of the moon cycles but some evenings when I walked into work, I immediately knew it was a full moon. The patients were very different on those evenings. I remember one evening/night I had a patient who kept telling me something was in her room, another one kept saying someone was pinching her (she was alone in her room), and several yelling and carrying on. As all the nurses and nurse aides scurried around the nursing home trying to calm everyone done, someone said "it happens every time there's a full moon".

Lunatic Pillow by elementees on Etsy, $15.95

The science nerd in me loves the use of the
periodic table elements to spell things! :)

Today I was talking about this chaos during a full moon when a friend said and that's where the word "lunatic" comes from. I'd never really thought about it but once she said it, I knew it must be true. "Luna" is the latin root for "moon". Of course, "lunatic" would have originated from the craziness that a full moon brings on.

Full Moon Behind a Tree Painting by WindingRoadGallery on Etsy, $25

In the 13th century, lunatic meant "affected with periodic insanity, dependent on changes of the moon".

In the old days, people believed you'd go mad if the moon shone on your while you were sleeping. So some people had roofs that came down over the windows of their house.

Other uses/phrases with the word lunatic:

In 1933, "lunatic soup" was Australian slang for "alcoholic drink". For some reason this really made me giggle.

Today the phrase "lunatic fringe" is used to describe extremists and irrational members of a group or society.

#59 - Antique Pewter and Tomatoes

Today while reading about genetically modified foods in a book called Mendel in the Kitchen: A Scientist's View of Genetically Modified Foods by Nina Fedoroff and Nancy Marie Brown  I learned two interesting facts.

1. In the 1700's people who could afford to ate from pewter plates.

Rare Antique Pewter Plate from the 1700 or 1800s from  tennesseehills on Etsy, $100

2. Because foods with high acid content caused lead to seep out of the pewter and cause lead poisoning, tomatoes were thought to be poisonous for about 400 years!

Hand Painted Tomato on Canvas by ThePaintedPicket on Etsy, $25

I'm so glad tomatoes aren't actually poisonous and can't wait to plant some this year! Can you imagine life without pasta sauce, pizza, ketchup, and tomatoes in your salad and on your sandwiches?!

Custom Painted Garden Markers on Wooden Spoons by CatherineLaPointe on Etsy, $5 each