This one came while I was listening to a BBC radio broadcast about a scientist who extracted some DNA from Neanderthal fossils, and after combining it with human cells, was able to say that roughly one in two hundred Neanderthals had fair skin and red hair. Of course they have no way of telling that the human cells react to the DNA in the same way that Neanderthal cells would have done, so the whole thing seemed pointless to me.
I also found it a bit scary, with visions of Neanderthal-Human hybrids escaping from a research lab, or some "new" disease being created that humans have no defence against. Researchers couldn't contain the Foot And Mouth gunk they were doing tests on in England earlier this year, so I'm not sure if they are fit to play around with this kind of thing.
But what can I do? Nothing much except write a song about it.
We're mapping out the genome of Neanderthal Man
We're mapping out the genome of Neanderthal Man
Why are we doing it?
To see if we can.
We're digging up the fossils and extracting the clues
We're digging up the fossils and extracting the clues
What you've heard before today
That's yesterday's news.
We're taking out the DNA, injecting a cell
We're taking out the DNA, injecting a cell
It's got fair skin and red hair
But what it is, who can tell?
Genetic Engineering is a name so neat
Genetic Engineering is a name so neat
Playing God in the laboratory
Doesn't smell so sweet
Jurassic Park was just a silly story.
Now we're taking it much further just to get a bit of glory.
Write a paper or two, file a patent, make some cash,
Get some serious research funding as we do the Monster Mash.
But who will make it safe? Well, that's up to someone else to do.
I'm off to the Bahamas, wham bam, thank you!
We don't know what will happen, isn't it divine?
We don't know what will happen, isn't it divine?
Permutations are endless,
But it'll work out fine.
We're mapping out the genome of Neanderthal Man
We're mapping out the genome of Neanderthal Man
Why are we doing it?
To see if we can.
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