A post-doctoral researcher from China -- who was in the U.S. on a visa -- was charged with smuggling E. coli into America and making false statements about it.
  • AmidFuror@fedia.io
    261·
    14 hours ago

    The article (and possibly the FBI) didn’t explain what was special about these strains. Everyone already has E. coli in their guts. There are particularly nasty strains that can cause sickness, but this bacterium is also extensively used in biotech to propagate and express plasmid DNAs and study as a model organism.

    A researcher moving to the US could be bringing strains of interest which would actually benefit US lab research. That’s actually the most likely thing one would do. Yes, you should declare what you’re bringing in and have it scrutinized. But most likely this would help US research advance, and Patel is just grandstanding against what was a blunder made while trying to circumvent bureaucratic red tape (i.e. the import would have been eventually approved if done properly).

  • ravenaspiring@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    51·
    9 hours ago

    This Fucktard has no concept of real life challenges. I’m not condoning what the researcher did if it was intentionally, but having worked on research ships where biological samples need movement I am well aware of how hard it is for a PhD student to navigate the procedures to get samples into and out of the US and other countries. It’s an ever loving pain in the ass. Unintentional missteps are possible all over the place.

    We need researchers, we need PhD students, and scaring them further with this shit is only going to make our futures more dominated by the likes of China. This isn’t a deterrent that is useful, it’s a diverting of brain power to China.

    Also, Patel can kiss the abuse of power acts as he’s useless tard who is only droving agents away. Ferrying his girlfriend around on a private jet, being a premadonna demanding jackets with logos before he’ll get off a damn plane. It’s all show with him and no value.

    Fuck off and due something useless… Like arrested the president for being a Pedophile.

  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    252·
    14 hours ago

    Oh shit, this means some kind of plague is coming, doesn’t it? They only start blaming others when something is about to hit the fan.

    • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      171·
      13 hours ago

      I’m pretty sure they just targeted this guy (who was most likely bringing in research material, given he is a research scientist) as an easy way to make headline news and prove they’re “busy keeping America safe,” while actual threats slip through unnoticed.

      Kinda like the person busted by ice earlier this year for slipping in research materials.

    • AmidFuror@fedia.io
      6·
      14 hours ago

      Plasmids are still the most economical way to propagate DNA and express proteins at scale. Obviously, just to try new sequences out it is faster to assemble DNA synthetically and with PCR.

      • lolola@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        4·
        13 hours ago

        Ok phew. Real talk, I’ve been out the game for years and am considering going back, but am also concerned about my skills being too out of date. Maybe I’ll be okay.