SCENE 1: The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 11th Annual Meeting on Genome Mapping,
Sequencing & Biology. Attendees are warming themselves up by the fire of the burning effigies of two scientists who are going to sequence the human genome all by themselves. On the side, a conversation takes place between an ABRF member (from the NYC area) and an ABD scientist.
ABD: So, we came up with a new big dye cocktail that will sequence difficult templates.
ABRF: Really? What did you change?
ABD: Swapped out the dITP and replaced it with dGTP.
ABRF: And it gets through problem templates?
ABD: Like a hot knife through butter. I wouldn't use it for everything because you get some weird compressions showing up.
ABRF: Sounds like I need some in my freezer for the pesky templates. When can I buy some?
ABD: We ran it by marketing and they said no way, not one more part to keep track of.
ABRF: But, but..
ABD: They said if a lot of people whine to their ABD reps that they want it then they might think about it.
ABRF: But no one knows about it.
ABD: Why don't you tell them.
ABRF: I will.
ABD: Nice fire, got any marshmallows?