Comments on: Now We’re All Type O http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:57:34 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: An Anonymous Anarchist http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/comment-page-1/#comment-378990 An Anonymous Anarchist Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:22:56 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/#comment-378990 I think it's moronic to complain about bacteria being named after people. Chances are, you don't understand enough Latin for it to matter whether it describes the organism or not. You can only base so much off characteristics before you wind up with mile-long names like <i>Brevis puniceus orbis cumcuspis</i>, in which case I'd much rather say <i>Elizabethkingia</i>. People don't care what the names mean - they care what the organism is and how it affects us. And the fact that you've never seen this done with a Genus before is proof you shouldn't be complaining - the Genus <i>Yersinia</i> was named after Alexandre Yersin. It boasts a well-known bacterium, <i>Yersinia pestis</i>, better known as the bubonic plague. And I assure you no one cares what it's name means. I think it’s moronic to complain about bacteria being named after people. Chances are, you don’t understand enough Latin for it to matter whether it describes the organism or not. You can only base so much off characteristics before you wind up with mile-long names like Brevis puniceus orbis cumcuspis, in which case I’d much rather say Elizabethkingia. People don’t care what the names mean – they care what the organism is and how it affects us.

And the fact that you’ve never seen this done with a Genus before is proof you shouldn’t be complaining – the Genus Yersinia was named after Alexandre Yersin. It boasts a well-known bacterium, Yersinia pestis, better known as the bubonic plague. And I assure you no one cares what it’s name means.

]]> By: wj http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/comment-page-1/#comment-295134 wj Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:10:10 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/#comment-295134 Jimmy, before you get too worked up, you might want to at least confirm that Elizabeth King (whoever she might be) was actually the one who named that particular Genus. It is, after all, at least possible that it was named by one of her students or admiring colleagues. That said, there is a lot to be said for your point that naming species after people is a lot less useful than naming them after characteristics. At least for the declining number of us who are able to decipher the meaning of the Latin. For the rest, the only difference would seem to be how easy the name will be to pronounce. Jimmy, before you get too worked up, you might want to at least confirm that Elizabeth King (whoever she might be) was actually the one who named that particular Genus. It is, after all, at least possible that it was named by one of her students or admiring colleagues.

That said, there is a lot to be said for your point that naming species after people is a lot less useful than naming them after characteristics. At least for the declining number of us who are able to decipher the meaning of the Latin. For the rest, the only difference would seem to be how easy the name will be to pronounce.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/comment-page-1/#comment-294365 Jimmy the Dhimmi Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:02:38 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/#comment-294365 I hate it when scientists name the species they've discovered after themselves. Especially when scientists have common last names, like <em>Phidippus johnsoni, Ornithoctonus andersoni</em> or <em>Brachypelma smithi </em>. I have to admit, I've never seen it done with a Genus before. Elizabeth King, whoever you are, you are lame! Use a Latin word or phrase that describes the features of the organism, dammit! I hate it when scientists name the species they’ve discovered after themselves. Especially when scientists have common last names, like Phidippus johnsoni, Ornithoctonus andersoni or Brachypelma smithi . I have to admit, I’ve never seen it done with a Genus before. Elizabeth King, whoever you are, you are lame! Use a Latin word or phrase that describes the features of the organism, dammit!

]]> By: Mark http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/comment-page-1/#comment-294281 Mark Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:03:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/04/02/now-were-all-type-o/#comment-294281 A researcher named Witebsky was doing similiar things in the 1920-1940. He was using bacterial and plant polysaccharides to duplicate human blood group antigens to try to overcome some of the problems with transfusions. He had some success, but transfusions are very complex and changing the surface antigens of the red cells is only part of the story. A researcher named Witebsky was doing similiar things in the 1920-1940. He was using bacterial and plant polysaccharides to duplicate human blood group antigens to try to overcome some of the problems with transfusions. He had some success, but transfusions are very complex and changing the surface antigens of the red cells is only part of the story.

]]>