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Cocktails & Chromosomes: Barcoding, bugs, and brews

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Anyone can be a scientist. You鈥檝e probably heard that before. We鈥檝e certainly said it. Last month, we made it happen. During the latest installment of Cocktails & Chromosomes, Cold Spring Spring Harbor Laboratory鈥檚 (麻豆传媒社区鈥檚) (DNALC) went beyond hands-on demonstration and turned a crowd of locals at Industry bar in Huntington, NY, into active investigators in ongoing research.

The subject of that research: insects. Why bugs? For one, though small and easy to handle, their DNA contains rich troves of genetic information. That data can provide scientists with a better understanding of their area鈥檚 biodiversity. But perhaps more pressingly, bugs also spread contagious diseases. So, fresh data on insect biology could keep that 鈥渂ug that鈥檚 been going around鈥 from becoming a serious public health concern. 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 empowers science and nature enthusiasts of all ages to participate in such vital projects.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had over 5,000 interact with us over the years,鈥 said Jeffry Petracca, DNALC manager of student and public research. He can now add a few dozen more local community members to the list. And to be clear, this isn鈥檛 some rhetorical list. Anyone who provides their name and email gets included as an author in a National Institutes of Health database!

Want to engage with more breakthrough bioscience happening right in your backyard? Your next chance comes on Halloween night. On October 31 at 7 p.m., LaboratoryProfessor Dick McCombie will present his research on 鈥渓ong-lived creatures of the night鈥 and host an interactive Halloween murder mystery-themed Q&A. Register now to participate.