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Scientists invent microscopic operating table for 1mm worm

telegraph.co.uk — A decade ago the worm wriggled into the history books when scientists announce they have decoded its entire genetic blueprint, marking the first time that the genetic instructions have been spelt out for an animal that, like humans, has a nervous system, digests food, and has sex.

Who dugg this? Made popular Apr 13, 2008

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  • Dankoozy, on 04/13/2008, -9/+16"has a nervous system, digests food, and has sex"

    it does more than me :)
  • Lazydriver, on 04/13/2008, -2/+5*****' bury brigade...
  • mecharabbit, on 04/13/2008, -4/+7With apologies to Seinfeld:
    MIRANDA: Doctor, how's the worm?
    GEORGE: Is he dead?
    DOCTOR: No. Fortunately, the special tiny instruments arrived just in time. Would you like to visit him?
  • smurfsahoy, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1I am highly skeptical about whether this is indeed a priority issue over nerve regeneration research until and unless you provide some impressive statistics about how prevalent this problem is.
  • InferiorWang, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1It would fix the problem permanently, that's for sure.
  • inactive, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1Buried for "spelt"
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelt
  • WallnutBoy, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1They've been pissing me off so much more lately.. You'd think there'd be some kind of algorithm which follows digger's comment digging habits so that if they constantly bury/digg up certain users/comments/entire threads etc they get a warning or something.. Or a 'probation' type thing where you are removed of your ability to digg up/bury comments for a period of time..

    {shrugs} That's probably a bit too far.. meh.. Same kind of algorithm could be applied to people who spam comments? Meh, not like anyone will read this..
  • nothugo, on 04/14/2008, -0/+0No, they won't.


    Wait...
  • Brainmodder, on 04/13/2008, -3/+3The point of this is not to heal the worms, its to hurt them so scientist can study how they regenerate broken nerves. Understanding this might be useful in giving paralyzed people the ability to walk. Like Christopher Reeves.
  • cap11235, on 04/13/2008, -2/+2Would huffing some Raid work?
  • deadlift, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1lmfao
  • Brainmodder, on 04/13/2008, -2/+2Genes, a lot of genes.
  • groone, on 04/13/2008, -2/+1Well...I'm pretty certain that most male scientists have a worm of their own.
  • cnot3, on 04/13/2008, -7/+5digg me down
  • moonym, on 04/13/2008, -3/+1That video from "Fire in the Sky" actually reminds of this "Butterfly in the Sky" sequence
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGSVMz70uN8
    (no, it's not a rick roll)
  • moonym, on 04/13/2008, -8/+5Which worm hater is burying all of the comments?
  • eemo, on 04/13/2008, -15/+12I would only consider this a great breakthrough if this research really was put to good use.I have a worm infection in my lungs and gut of a nematode worm known as Cryptostrongylus Pulmoni, yet the healthcare professionals in this country dont even care to acknowledge the possibilities of infection in my body let alone the dire consequences. WIth a technique such as this, they could actually learn extremely well how to starve such parasites and cleanly and effectively rid infected humans of these parasites in a matter of days as opposed to months or years. These worms are some of the major causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, M.E and IBS around the world.
    Sorry for ranting, but its important to raise awareness of these issues.
  • Lkxd88, on 04/13/2008, -6/+2when you say 1000 micrometers it is lolol
  • sloobydooby, on 04/13/2008, -11/+6But do they get free health care?
  • xpose, on 04/13/2008, -8/+3Judging by the lack of comments. No one cares. :(
  • moonym, on 04/13/2008, -9/+4"since the worms have many things in common with the scientists who study it"
    What do the worms have in common with the scientists? Pop culture? Literature?
  • fkr3, on 04/13/2008, -16/+11*like most digg users, has sex with itself.

    Fixed the description.
  • greevar, on 04/13/2008, -12/+6Inaccurate. 1mm is not microscopic.
  • willjc, on 04/13/2008, -11/+5Cheaper Solution: Get a New Worm
  • Lkxd88, on 04/13/2008, -10/+3Worms do it better
  • crapmatic, on 04/13/2008, -8/+1Even though it's just a worm, I'm reminded of that "alien probe" sequence from Fire In The Sky. For those that don't remember:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FEHP7JGego
    (no, it's not a rick roll)
  • ModernChem, on 04/13/2008, -10/+3Major breakthrough!
  • inactive, on 04/13/2008, -8/+1in other news worms are reporting alien abductions
  • searcade, on 04/13/2008, -8/+1Please im not or worm don't bury me!
  • bfrank72, on 04/13/2008, -10/+3Now that's a multi-tasker.

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