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Ray Cats Proposal: Difference between revisions
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[http://mentalfloss.com/article/27476/ray-cats-artificial-moons-and-atomic-priesthood-how-government-plans-protect-our Ray Cats article] | ''One day in a nuclear age | ||
They may understand our rage | |||
They build machines that they can't control | |||
And bury the waste in a great big hole | |||
Power was to become cheap and clean | |||
Grimy faces were never seen | |||
But deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen | |||
We work the black seam together | |||
We work the black seam together'' | |||
So, what sort of notice do we need to put on a nuclear waste dump to warn future generations for twelve thousand years? According to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Interference_Task_Force Wikipedia: Human Interference Task Force ]] part of the answer may be "Ray Cats". (see also [http://mentalfloss.com/article/27476/ray-cats-artificial-moons-and-atomic-priesthood-how-government-plans-protect-our Ray Cats article]) | |||
The "Ray Cats" idea was originally written in german [[http://www.semiotik.tu-berlin.de/menue/zeitschrift_fuer_semiotik/zs-hefte/bd_6_hft_3/ title=Lebende Detektoren und komplementäre Zeichen: Katzen, Augen und Sirenen]], but sadly I don't speak german and I haven't yet found a copy of the paper. | |||
So, "Ray Cats" should glow in response to radiation, becoming biological radiation sensors. | |||
Clearly, this is a job for synthetic biology and an obvious iGem project candidate. | |||
Previously, we discussed the possibility of creating a radiation sensor, but discarded it on the basis that this would be difficult with powerful ionizing radiation, but perhaps we should re-examine thsi assumption now that we have a powerful motive. | |||
Our novel additions to this line of thought follow: | |||
(1) Toxoplasma could be used as a vector to infect the world cat population with our modification as part of a plan to ensure that it is widely spread and not lost due to evolution. | |||
(2) Since Toxplasma is likely to require a lab above BSL1 we should look at doing initial work in an alternative host, such as an E.coli K-12 strain. | |||
