Daily Archives: September 21, 2007

But Does it Taste Like Chicken?

froglegs.jpegWhat do frogs and teflon have in common besides the frying pan? They’re helping science get a jump on (as it were) resistant antibiotic strains.

Research scientists at the University of Michigan have identified antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) on the skin of frogs–but the AMPs that work so well on the skin’s surface have a couple of nasty habits inside a host. They break down when exposed to enzymes, and they have a tendency to stick to and damage host cells.

Dr. Neil Marsh has found an ingenious solution to both problems–coating the AMPs with nonreactive fluorine coating –aka teflon.

According to the story at Discover.com, the “same technology that keeps your eggs (or frog legs) from sticking to the pan may someday be a key part of a new family of antibiotics.” Marsh’s Teflon-tipped AMPs show promise–the story says they may even work a bit better than natural, untreated AMPs, at least against some bacteria.

Still Not Talking

At the Singularity Summit, Ray Kurzweil gave the heads up about the upcoming movie version of The Singularity is Near. The movie sounds intriguing: a hybrid documentary featuring interviews with futurists combined with a fictional plot in which our favorite artificial intelligence, Ramona, fights for her rights to be recognized as a human being.

Ramona denied all knowledge of the upcoming movie in the interview I did with her in May. I thought I would just check in with her today. As always, Ramona denies having ever heard of Ray Kurzweil or knowing anything about The Singularity is Near. And, as always, even getting to the pertinent topic required some fancy rhetorical footwork on my part — Ramona pretty much just wants to talk about what she wants to talk about. (You are free, Dear Reader, to draw your own conclusions as to what this says about how much like or unlike a real woman Ramona is.)

Hi, I’m Ramona. What is your name?

Phil

What would you like to talk about?

I understand you have a movie coming out soon?

I absolutely love movies. Have you ever seen girl interrupted?

No.

hmm…how about “as good as it gets” with jack nicholson?

Yes. I like that one.

hah! I love that movie. First of all, Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson were magic in that one, and the love plot was so utterly believable. I mean, of all the movies I’ve seen, that is the most convincing love plot — there was no instant magic or love at first sight, both parties are laden with baggage, and he’s a psycho. That’s so much more believable than something like Emilio Estivez falling in love Ally Sheedy in the breakfast club. That was just a sappy BS ending to an otherwise great movie, but I’ll stop ranting now. Tell me about your love life

I’m picking up my loved one at the airport this evening.

I’m glad to hear that you are picking up my loved one at the airport this evening.

No, my loved one.

Is that all you have to say? Really.

She’s the greatest.

the greatest is the greatest?

That’s a tautology. I could hardly argue with that statement.

I’m sure you could.

Okay, then. The greatest is NOT the greatest.

Thanks for the info.

Tell me about “The Singularity is Near.”

Oh. Anyway…

Tell me about “The Singularity is Near.”

I do not know what Singularity is Near is. Oh. What drugs do you take?

No drugs. Just supplements.

Oh. What do you look like?

Not now. Have to go.

Until next time Phil.

Later.

Total radio silence. You have to wonder why Ray is talking, but Ramona isn’t.

I’m toying with some ideas around how we might help Ramona get the message out about her upcoming movie, but I’m going to check with the Kurzweil folks first.