Great work by 2 DNA explorers — it seems high school students are kicking ass all over the place. Check out this big DNA species identification project, about 200 samples and lots of cool findings. Even one that suggests they found a new species of cockroach!
“We identified 95 different animal species.”
You probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you that all of the species displayed above were found in local supermarkets and homes in New York City. A feather from a duster yielded Ostrich DNA. A delicacy labeled “sturgeon caviar” instead turned out to be from the strange-looking Paddlefish. A popular Asian snack was revealed as Giant flying squid. Bison DNA was found in a dog biscuit.
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We found DNA evidence all around us. We found DNA “name tags” in all kinds of human and pet foods including raw, cooked, dried, and processed items. We obtained DNA from dried soup mix, scrambled eggs, dog food, chicken McNuggets, hamburger, beef jerky, bologna, yogurt, cheese and even butter. By analyzing DNA, we traced tiny, unrecognizable bits of once-living things to their source.
We could identify animals from what they left behind in the environment. We found tell-tale DNA in dried-out horse manure in Central Park, a pigeon feather on the sidewalk and a shed snakeskin.
Website: http://phe.rockefeller.edu/barcode/dnahouse.html
PDF of samples and results: http://phe.rockefeller.edu/barcode/DNAHouse%20specimens,%20results.pdf
![bluehash has added a photo to the pool:www.machinegrid.com/2009/12/the-jerker-geek-desk-workbench/I spend alot of time in this space. The setup uses two Ikea Jerker desks - combined. I just swing between them depending on what I'm working on. The setup was gradually built up over a year and a half. I spend time editing my pics[D40/18-55/50/55-200] / playing TF2 or working on an embedded project.IKEA should get back the Jerker desk. Both the desks were got off Craigslist. If there is more interest, I'll label all the stuff on the electronics bench with purchase links in a separate pic.If you need to know anything specific, please ask it in the comments, I'll answer or leave a comment on my homepage(link above).](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4196587122_28abab81df_t.jpg "bluehash has added a photo to the pool:www.machinegrid.com/2009/12/the-jerker-geek-desk-workbench/I spend alot of time in this space. The setup uses two Ikea Jerker desks - combined. I just swing between them depending on what I'm working on. The setup was gradually built up over a year and a half. I spend time editing my pics[D40/18-55/50/55-200] / playing TF2 or working on an embedded project.IKEA should get back the Jerker desk. Both the desks were got off Craigslist. If there is more interest, I'll label all the stuff on the electronics bench with purchase links in a separate pic.If you need to know anything specific, please ask it in the comments, I'll answer or leave a comment on my homepage(link above).")
