Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxi!okie From: okie@ihuxi.UUCP (Cobb) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Andromeda Strain question Message-ID: <1246@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 09:39:32 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxi.1246 Posted: Wed Aug 14 09:39:32 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 22:10:51 EDT References: <207@proper.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 22 > I haven't seen _The_Andromeda_Strain_ in a few years, but I began to wonder > about this recently. As the scientists who are to investigate the bug are > taken deeper and deeper into the lab complex, they are progressively cleaned, > shaven, disinfected, weaned from real food, etc. etc. etc., so they will be > REALLY clean when they get to the lowest level. > > What for? > > They never interact with anything important except through waldos and other > interfaces built to eliminate contact, so what's the difference? The idea is to prevent any *possibility* of contaminating the organism to be studied/developed. People still have to handle equipment; gaskets break; even the best isolation systems can break down from time to time. If that happens, there's much less chance of contaminating the organism from a clean body than a (relatively speaking) dirty one. Also, the defense barriers between organisms being studied and the people studying them don't have to be as elaborate when the body is cleaner (although the Andromeda Strain seems to belie that principle). B.K.Cobb ihnp4!ihuxi!okie