100 year old time capsule could reveal evolution of bacteria - Polidicks

[quote] Way back in 1897, someone from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City buried a time capsule stuffed with bacteria in one of the building's cornerstones. It was lost for well over a century. But in more recent years, New York University made plans to tear the building down and discovered the long-lost capsule in an architectural report. When the building was finally demolished, NYU bacteriologist Martin Blaser grabbed the tube and cracked it open. The capsule contained bacterial spores of the strain Clostridium perfringens (although back then it was known as Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus). It's still found on virtually all humans (this sample was taken from a 23 year old patient) and was once associated with gangrene. Nowadays modern medicine, and especially the widespread use of antibiotics since the 1928 discovery of penicillin, has kept the microscopic critters at bay -- outside of the odd bout of food poisoning. But that's exactly what interests Blaser: have these microorganisms changed in the last 144 years? "We've had 70 years of antibiotics, so the question is, have there been new changes in the bacterial genome from the time of that organism," he told The Wall Street Journal. The plan is to wake the bacterial spores up from their glass-encased slumber (bacteria can go into hibernation and survive for eons without moisture), culture them, extract the DNA and subject it to whole genome sequencing. Then, by comparing the results to the DNA of more modern members of this species, Blaser and his team can determine if there have been any substantial changes in the genome. Blaser will begin investigating the bacterium's DNA over the coming months. We're looking forward to finding out what he discovers.[/quote] [url]http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-10/07/bacterial-time-capsule[/url] Sweet. Fuck yeah science.

[quote]But that's exactly what interests Blaser: have these microorganisms changed in the last 144 years?[/quote] Wouldn't that be 114 years?

This is why time capsules are useful.

[QUOTE=Kinversulath;32681924]Wouldn't that be 114 years?[/QUOTE] The 1 and the 4 are next to each other. It's a easy mistake to make

Imagine if someone found one of these with smallpox in :v:

They should make a lot more time capsules for stuff like this.

[QUOTE=The mouse;32682089]Imagine if someone found one of these with smallpox in :v:[/QUOTE] Or black plague.

If there is a difference, will this provide valid evidence of evolution?

What's the matter of putting another one, you still won't dig it up before in 100 years. And then the thing that would be discovered in it (For example; longer life) would not be neccessary for us, since we would be [b]DEAD[/b]

[QUOTE=Confuzzed Otto;32682377]What's the matter of putting another one, you still won't dig it up before in 100 years. And then the thing that would be discovered in it (For example; longer life) would not be neccessary for us, since we would be [b]DEAD[/b][/QUOTE] wow dude that's a good catch! i mean sure fuck our children and their children lol

[QUOTE=JinkoMK;32682364]If there is a difference, will this provide valid evidence of evolution?[/QUOTE] sure but it's not needed. we've observed evolution happening in our lifetimes already

[QUOTE=JinkoMK;32682364]If there is a difference, will this provide valid evidence of evolution?[/QUOTE] evolution is just survival of the fittest and such. Its already been proven.

[QUOTE=kaven;32682255]Or black plague.[/QUOTE] black death is still around you know.

[QUOTE=kaven;32682255]Or black plague.[/QUOTE] Bubonic plague still exists in many parts of the world. It is now easily treated with antibiotics, so if someone displaying symptoms can get to a hospital within 24 hours, they will almost definitely be fine. Smallpox, on the other hand...

[QUOTE=Mysterious Mr.E;32682466]evolution is just survival of the fittest and such. Its already been proven.[/QUOTE] Natural selection is survival of the fittest. Evolution is the passing of traits with change onto offspring.

[QUOTE=kaven;32682255]Or black plague.[/QUOTE] "Oh my God, I have an incredibly recognisable and easy to treat disease!"

[QUOTE=kaven;32682255]Or black plague.[/QUOTE] noooooo dont remind me of penumbra :(

[QUOTE=bobsmit;32682541]Bubonic plague still exists in many parts of the world. It is now easily treated with antibiotics, so if someone displaying symptoms can get to a hospital within 24 hours, they will almost definitely be fine. Smallpox, on the other hand...[/QUOTE] It was vaccined into extinction once, it shouldn't be too hard to be done again, especially as these kinds of capsules are controlled when opened most of the time and the guy would very easily be sent in a hospital It wouldn't have time to spread enormously before being cured

[QUOTE=Stockers678;32681974]The 1 and the 4 are next to each other. It's a easy mistake to make[/QUOTE] yeah if you use the numpad

[QUOTE=The mouse;32682089]Imagine if someone found one of these with smallpox in :v:[/QUOTE] We'd start pumping out the vaccine against and wipe it out.

I don't think there is a cure for smallpox, there is a cure for the Bubonic Plague though.

[QUOTE=Mr.T;32683356]I don't think there is a cure for smallpox, there is a cure for the Bubonic Plague though.[/QUOTE] If infected people are vaccinated within a few days, the symptoms may not emerge at all, or be significantly lessened. Antivirals may also help, but it's not really known as they significantly developed after the widespread eradication of smallpox.

Just make sure Nicholas Cage stays away from it

Suddenly they unleashed small pox again.. God knows what kind of other unknown bacterias living in there.

[QUOTE=BCell;32683729]Suddenly they unleashed small pox again.. God knows what kind of other unknown bacterias living in there.[/QUOTE] I don't think it's just like a jar full of bacteria or something, rather it's all labeled and sealed.

[QUOTE=MuTAnT;32690696]I don't think it's just like a jar full of bacteria or something, rather it's all labeled and sealed.[/QUOTE]Weird, I was under the impression the bacteria was just in there because it's been sealed and the bacteria was in the air After all they said it was spores and spores go through the air

[QUOTE=CakeMaster7;32690743]Weird, I was under the impression the bacteria was just in there because it's been sealed and the bacteria was in the air After all they said it was spores and spores go through the air[/QUOTE] 1897, the more I think about it the more I think I'm wrong but what I [b]meant[/b] to type was that I'm pretty sure they already know what's in the capsule without opening up some fucking smallpox or something.

Can smallpox and black death even live that long out in the open?

Well it doesn't matter because if it's Smallpox we have House to fix it

[QUOTE=Yogurt;32691412]Well it doesn't matter because if it's Smallpox we have House to fix it[/QUOTE]I loved that episode where the people got the smallpox from a jar