A few months ago, the Judiciary Report wrote of the dangers of scientific lab work and contaminants that can kill researchers/scientists.
A few days ago, Professor Malcolm Casadaban, died while experimenting on a CDC approved sample of the Bubonic plague. Talk about taking your work home with you. One of four things happened:
1.) A contaminant got into his system via an unavoidable accident.
2.) A contaminant got into his system via not observing proper lab procedures and protocols.
3.)
4.) Hypotheses 1-3 are wrong.
Bacteria that causes the plague
September 19, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- There was word Saturday that the death of a University of Chicago scientist may be linked to a bacteria that causes the plague.
The researcher, who died Sunday, studied the genetics of harmful bacteria, including a weakened strain of yersinia pestis.
The weakened strain does not require the safety precautions associated with working on virulent strains. The modified strain of "y-pestis" has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control for routine laboratory studies, and it is not known to cause illness in healthy adults.
http://abclocal.go.com
