question for the flist; ongoing bang torture

[kellifer]

- Question for the more science-types on my flist. (Or those that have better google-fu than me!) This is for one of my exchange fics. Say everyone was born with a genetic marker that pre-disposed them to something (a skill, a bond, whatevs), and this marker could be picked up by SCIENCE REASONS, how could that work? It doesn't have to be TRUE, just plausible. (I am at Olympic skill levels of handwaving science for stories but there are REASONS I cannot do it for this one).

- Signed up for inception_bang even though this is my current to do list:

* 2 x marvel_bangs (one is the required 80% done, the other IS NOT)
* 2 x exchange fics. (goingonfacebook and... I can't for the life of me remember the other comm name!)
* 1 x BELATED birthday fic for deirdre_c.
* 1 x charity fic (argh!)
* 1 x Toy Story AU to finish.

I feel like I'm forgetting something!

- Newsflash: Jeremy Renner has a face I'm kinda partial to.

Comments

[kellifer-fic.livejournal.com]

It's known and something to be tested for because it's rare and only people with it can control the dragons used by SHIELDD (Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Dragon Division).

Basically, one character gets tested because they'd missed previous screenings (their parents fairly... hippy-ish and paranoid and not wanting The Man to have a way to track them) but a screening certificate is required to graduate college.

I'm just looking for a way to kind of explain how this character is found and recruited. Pheremones would work well, acting as a calmative and recognition tool for the dragons.

[feather-autant.livejournal.com]

Okay, good!

I'd use a PCR amplification (Polymerase chain reaction) with florescence.

Here is a URL for one that we actually do all the time. http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0097720.jsp This one is for a clotting deficiency, but it will work for all genetic testing. This technique makes millions of copies of the suspect DNA if it's there, so that it's easier to detect. It doesn't give you a 'strength' since it amplifies, but it's pretty definitive.

You can name your mutation pretty much whatever, but they're often named after the first person who discovered it. *shrugs* Or you don't really have to name it at all, just call it The Mutation or whatever.

Do you want a little bit of lab stuff to write a scene? Or are you good with just mentioning a specific technique?

I'm glad I've been able to help a little! :D

ETA OHOH! Also, you can say that this test was just developed, and the earlier testing wasn't as sensitive. OR, you could have the hippy parents somehow have switched samples so their kid wouldn't be singled out.

[kellifer-fic.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU!

I might come back to you just to reassure me when I've written the thing just to make sure everywhere that I mention it is right. I'm trying to non-handwave but handwave at the same time - as in skirt the science without actually ignoring it completely so specific lab stuff at the moment no, but I might change my mind as I write. :D

Is it possible that the earlier testing could have missed her? So it's not as sensitive say until 12 months ago and she gets caught by the re-screening required to graduate college?

[feather-autant.livejournal.com]

It's definitely possible that the screening could have missed her.

In fact . . . they do a lot of quick testing in the doctors office.

On example is a screen for strep throat. It's very quick, and a positive is definitely a positive-- but it's only about 89% accurate. That means that all negatives should be confirmed.

Same with drug testing. All positives need to be confirmed because of interfering substances that can cause a false positive (think poppy seed muffins causing a positive screen for opiates).

All screening tests are quick, inexpensive, simple tests that give you a yes/no answer. They are are not the gold standard-- they are simply a screen. If you want the most accurate result possible, you do that actual test.

That could be your answer here. The test in the Dr's office could be a 'screen' and then this new PCR test came out, so they've decided to retest all negatives with the more sensitive, confirmatory PCR.

[kellifer-fic.livejournal.com]

Okay - does this all sound okay?

--

"Is this all because I failed the PCR screening?"

"You didn't... there's no failing a PCR screening," Coulson says. "There's a postive and negative result."

"Mine was positive."

"Yes."

"Then I failed."

--

Her parents had been less than thrilled that she'd been picked up during a routine PCR screening. She's been tested back in Iowa during high school but the labs there had been using a previous protocol, less sensitive than the government re-screen she'd taken that was required to graduate. Her results had come back positive for the mutation that allowed people to bond and control a dragon.

[feather-autant.livejournal.com]

I'd say the PCR test-- it's not a screening. But yes, the rest works well! :)

In essence she 'failed' the screen (was negative) and 'passed' the test (was positive for the gene that helps control dragons)

Or in her words, passed the screen, cuz it kept her out of the dragon thing, and failed the test, cuz it put her right in the middle of the dragon thing-- if that makes sense to you. *g*

[kellifer-fic.livejournal.com]

Thank yoooooooou! \o/