h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No matter where I turn these days, in TV, newpapers, magazines, I see constant references to the Human Gnome Project and how its completion is of great importance in the field of medical research.

Now I don't know if I'm missing something here, but nowhere have I seen anything to explain how a bunch of little bearded chaps with funny hats who sit around on toadstools or fishing can have anything to with curing disease, increasing lifespan etc.

Does anyone know how all this works? Have these guys been contemplating the mystery of life, the universe and everything for all these years while I just assumed that they were sitting there doing nothing.

"They also serve - those who sit and wait"

the human genome progect is a buch of old chaps trying to map out every gene on each of the 46 chromosomes in the human body....through this they hope to cure genetic dissorders....though that is very far in the future considering every cell affecting the dissorder would have to have the chromosomes changed.

The only problem is keeping all the genetic information in the public domain. A similiar example, an American company have copyrighted the genetic code for basmati rice and are now sueing the Indian government on behalf of the Indian nation for copyright infringement.

Quite a few of the American scientists are trying to patent human genes which is worrying to say the least.

I always thought the guys who patented basmati rice were a bunch of nuts, to say the least. I mean I've tasted the American version of basmati rice, and it isn't anywhere near the real thing...

P.S - Yes, I'm Indian...

I agree with you on the rice front - proper basmati rice is the most heavenly thing on earth.

Ermmmm...

Two points -

Firstly, I only posted this as a joke which occurred to me the first time I saw the project mentioned.

Secondly, personally I too love basmati rice, but I beg to disagree about it being the most heavenly thing on earth, and point you in the direction of Saint Galaxy Babe's entry http://www.h2g2.com/A383357

Gee, pardon me Shellers, but I love Basmatti rice and just discovered there's a possibility I've missed out on the real deal. *yes, I'm a Yank*

Yeah I thought the original posting was very funny - but it raised important points that a lot of people are interested in. No one can afford to ignore what is going on - even if they do not wish to comment on it.

and 2) We all have different ideas on what constitutes heaven on earth and all our ideas are valid! Ask me again tomorrow and I would probably choose soemthing different.

Right who wants a cup of tea?

Ah, heaven indeed in a good cup of tea!

Now I'll drink to that

Sorry if I offended anyone - it wasn't intentional (honest), but from the first few postings it just seemed that people thought my original posting was serious. Even though I'm only a northerner (flat cap, whippet etc) I understand the important issues here but the first time I saw the name of this project in print it immediately conjured up the image of the little guy on the toadstool pondering these things.

As for the basmati rice question, I'm a great believer in the 'each to his/her own' principle and wasn't arguing with anyone but merely pointing out that there's now a forum on the subject (what's heavenly, not basmati rice).

The role of Gnomes and Elves in modern society is very undervalued

Don't doscriminate against the Pixies and Sprites

And please don't genetically alter, abuse, or clone them.

This is supposed to be a gnome forum, but I do know a good goblin joke and as this is a family site...

can i get a patent on your goblin joke?

Come on with the joke, come on with the joke...

A little chap - you know, funny trousers, pointed hat & beard - is sitting in a little glade in the woods rocking backwards and forwards on a toadstool, bent over with his head in his lap and his hands holding his head, when an elf comes along and says, 'Are you a goblin?'

He replies, 'No, I've got a headache'

????????????????????????




!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have broken the genetic code of the preceding joke, cloned it, and claim full patent rights. This will aid medical research in many obvious ways. As evidence of this, I present the cloned joke:

A little chap - you know, funny trousers, pointed hat & beard - is sitting in a little glade in the woods rocking backwards and forwards on a toadstool, bent over with his head in his lap and his hands holding his head, when an elf comes along and says, 'Are you a goblin?'

He replies, 'No, I've got a '

The cloning process is not yet perfected, and there may be slight, inconsequential differences from the original.