looking for dirtbags
Nawilla has turned to the internet to beg a favor from her far-flung friends.
The summer project this year is a study of bacterial diversity in soil samples. As such, both myself and DQ are trying to obtain samples of dirt from different areas. (DQ is trying to isolate phage, my group is trying to study variation at the genetic level of soil bacteria).
If any are so inclined and it would not be much trouble, I would really appreciate if my wonderful friends could mail me a ziplock bag of dirt. A handful or two would be more than sufficient for our needs. Lawn dirt, garden dirt, compost, road dirt with nothing growing in it, dirt from an unusual environment, heck just dirt that isn't dirt from HERE would be terrific. (Nawilla doesn't have a yard, and doesn't have a car, so it's making sample collection interesting.)
So, if a) it's not too much trouble, and b) you are willing to send me some dirt, please do. Dirtbags will happily be exchanged for baked goods or small hand-crafted items. (Obviously nawilla will send items back in CLEAN ziploc bags). If you do send along a sample, please provide some information as to where the sample was obtained (city, urban versus rural, unusual conditions, items growing in it.)
I have no guarantees that we will use your sample (last year's group proved particularly craptastic at obtaining DNA from chocolate), but I will post information as it develops.
If you are interested and do not have my address, drop me an IM or email and I will provide it. (Nawilla objects to putting her mailing address on the web.) Also be sure to note what sort of barter you would like in exchange.
Thank you for your time. I'm sure my future students will thank you as well, but I don't know who they are yet.
The summer project this year is a study of bacterial diversity in soil samples. As such, both myself and DQ are trying to obtain samples of dirt from different areas. (DQ is trying to isolate phage, my group is trying to study variation at the genetic level of soil bacteria).
If any are so inclined and it would not be much trouble, I would really appreciate if my wonderful friends could mail me a ziplock bag of dirt. A handful or two would be more than sufficient for our needs. Lawn dirt, garden dirt, compost, road dirt with nothing growing in it, dirt from an unusual environment, heck just dirt that isn't dirt from HERE would be terrific. (Nawilla doesn't have a yard, and doesn't have a car, so it's making sample collection interesting.)
So, if a) it's not too much trouble, and b) you are willing to send me some dirt, please do. Dirtbags will happily be exchanged for baked goods or small hand-crafted items. (Obviously nawilla will send items back in CLEAN ziploc bags). If you do send along a sample, please provide some information as to where the sample was obtained (city, urban versus rural, unusual conditions, items growing in it.)
I have no guarantees that we will use your sample (last year's group proved particularly craptastic at obtaining DNA from chocolate), but I will post information as it develops.
If you are interested and do not have my address, drop me an IM or email and I will provide it. (Nawilla objects to putting her mailing address on the web.) Also be sure to note what sort of barter you would like in exchange.
Thank you for your time. I'm sure my future students will thank you as well, but I don't know who they are yet.