Re: People of the British Isles project

In article <13017$4816d6d6$83b4502b$16417@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Lesley Robertson
<l.a.robertson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"John Cartmell" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4f972aff4djohn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <upednTpcS7HrR4jVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@plusnet>, CWatters
<colin.watters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"John Cartmell" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4f971fb0adjohn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd worry about their professionalism. Why are they collecting blood
samples?

Perhaps...

Quote: These blood samples will be used as a source of DNA and RNA (the
translation of DNA that the body uses to make proteins) for genetic
studies. We may also eventually make cell lines from the blood cells.
These cell lines can be frozen and then grown up at a later date to be
used as a continuing source of DNA. This is particularly useful when the
DNA/RNA that was initially made from the blood sample has been used up.

But what's wrong with samples of cheek cells with what Oxford and other
sampling and analysis centers find it possible to do similar? Everyone
needed blood samples 5-10 years ago but haven't since.


Science isn't a 1-size-fits-all game. Everything depends on the aim of the
experiment and the methods to be used.

For a start, since they're going to be storing the samples, and possibly
making cell lines, they're going to be more concerned about contamination.
For example, the mouth is a major habitat for microbial communities and
any sample of cheek cells is going to be full of oral bacteria. This
doesn't matter for the sort of instant analysis done by the DNA matching
companies (when I assume that they destroy samples, and don't hold them on
file), but would be important in long term storage or cultivation.

Samples can be weeks in the post with no problems. You can ask them to do
another test years later and they can do it without a new sample.

Blood samples are much more aseptic - if done properly there should be
little or no microbial contamination (unless the subject is ill, of
course). Also, the instant analysis people do one test and that's it.

No.

These folk say that they're going to be doing a number of experiments,
which means they need a greater concentration of cells, and the easiest way
to get that is a blood sample. To get a similar amount of cells, they'd
need a collection of oral swabs from the same subject.

No. Techniques have moved on in the past 10 years.

I can't see that it matters to the subject whether they take blood or oral
swabs.

Try it. Compare the take-up.

--
John
.

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