Tomatos, Plasmids, and Wheat

I've been thinking of three things lately to blog about.  In attempt to write about all three, I have created this post. First off, I'm writing this blog propped up against a pillow enduring a 24-hour ooey gut.  Yesterday I went with Melanie to a Mosquito Fest on Cannibal road (I know, that explains the stomach ache.)  Anyway, I'm attributing my slight illness to a tomato noodle salad.  Yes you read that right - tomato.  During this FDA deemed tomato contamination I braved the buffet line and delved into a delicious vat of salmonella poisoning.  Now, Mel tends to think I'm a hypochondriac, but I can't figure why?  I mean, I really do think I was inoculated with the Bluetongue  virus when I started working in Dr. Li's laboratory and when I learned that bacteria causes stomach ulcers I came down with them as well. Before you call my mom about my salmonella be warned that whatever stage I am in, I don't think it will progress.  Usually stuff like this just ends up being gas anyway.  But it is tragic about those people that really did contract the disease from tomatoes.  If you haven't seen the news please be forewarned that Red Plum, Red Ramano, and Round Red Tomatoes have been traced by FDA officials to the salmoella outbreaks.  It also sounds like that the FDA needs to investigate the naming of tomatoes.  I think the red on the tomato speaks for  itself.

Secondly, on the subject of bacteria, I thought it would be cool to note that in Dr. Li's lab I have also been playing with e. coli. (Just now it occurred to me that this could also be the origin of my stomach pain.) When I say play, what I mean is facilitate the abduction of round segments of DNA into e. coli.  Afterwards, the e. coli harvests the DNA I send in.  I guess in stead of using 'play' I should say "Farm."  It's pretty much what I'm doing these days. 

Last of all, if you made it down here on the post I congratulate you cause you're in for a treat.  I want to tell you a story that happened to me yesterday while teaching an ATV class.  One of my students, a more aggressive and stout ten year old attempted to show off his general farm knowledge.  Pointing to the ground, he said, "Ah, look! Oats..." 

I watched him reach down gingerly to scoop the oats up with his pudgy hand. "Yep they're oats alright," He repeated defiantly, "But who threw these oats out in this arena?" 

I looked closer at the ground where he stood. His little shoes sifted through sandy green oats.  Wait I thought Oh SNAP! Those oats were remnants of horse poop! I explained quickly that the origins of the oats came from the back side of a horse.  I've never seen such a "tuff" guy so embarrassed.  Man I'd be too if I just scooped up some horse dung.  

Moral of the stories - There's a lot of bacteria out there.  Wash your hands, tomatoes, and oats.