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>Another question is the composition of their faeces. If these turn out to be toxic, then there will be little point in pursuing the matter. In other words, we
by voiper1 9y ago
>Another question is the composition of their faeces. If these turn out to be toxic, then there will be little point in pursuing the matter.
In other words, we don't even know if they _digest_ the plastic, or just eat it. If they don't digest it, there's no utility....
- astura 9y agoNo, they digest them. Here's another article with more information. https://phys.org/news/2017-04-caterpillar-bags-biodegradable-solution-plastic.html https://phys.org/news/2017-04-caterpillar-bags-biodegradable... >To confirm it wasn't just the chewing mechanism of the caterpillars degrading the plastic, the team mashed up some of the worms and smeared them on polyethylene bags, with similar results
- setr 9y agoThats one hell of a test..
- pbhjpbhj 9y agoScientist 1: it may be an enzyme in the caterpillars, how we can we test for that Scientist 2: well how about we anaestetise the caterpillar and use a microfilament to extract the gut contents, then we can ... Scientist 1: <splat>
- logfromblammo 9y agoI'd just put them in the centrifuge that they use to liquefy mice.
- codeisawesome 9y agoOh God. There is a centrifuge to liquify mice?!
- logfromblammo 9y agoYep. The animals are euthanized with CO2, placed in the device, and reduced to liquid in seconds. Obviously, this is not done when specific organs need to remain intact, but if you can do your measurements from homogenized whole animal, it saves a lot of time on rapid perfusion and dissection. Specialty devices exist, but a standard high-speed desktop centrifuge can also be used, as a mouse will generally fit into a 50 mL centrifuge tube. Generally best not to think about it too much if you like animals, but also like biochemical sciences. But if you're after a specific enzyme that would not be destroyed by rupture of the cell wall, whole-animal sacrifice by centrifuge is the cheap and easy way to get at it.
- mrguyorama 9y agoHow is... "homogenization" by centrifuge different than just using a blender or food processor?
- codeisawesome 9y agoI like the humorous way in which you put it, but oh, can’t help but imagine some higher creature talking about experimenting on us in a similar way /shudder
- claytonius 9y agoI'm currently sitting next to Paolo Bombelli... He laughed and said that your version of events is fairly accurate, although they used liquid nitrogen as an "anesthetic".
- jwilk 9y agoI don't understand what this means. Results similar to what?
- astura 9y agoSimilar to letting them eat the bags.