Emmie Johnson > Recent Status Updates

IRA liked explosives. Mountbattens boat (killers coincidently caught for driving an uninsured car), and paratroopers in 1979 (causing biggest loss in parachute regiment since ww2, no one charged).

The use of HEK293 cells, derived from an aborted foetus in 1970s, during the manufacture of monoclonal antibody treatment used in trumps recovery was only accepted by the religious far right once the president received them. Fickle bastards had once criticised the use of this cell line because of their stance on women’s rights

‘Rapid method’, a way to prep a vaccine without knowing the genetic sequence of the target. New technology - personalised cancer treatment. Tumours contain cells with mutations, identify the mutations, target the cell, kill the tumour. Useful during pandemic outbreak

How was the vaccine developed so quickly? Funding. Generally speaking, vaccine development can take several years before clinical trials begin. Applications can take a year to be approved and each stage must be complete before the next can begin

The real cause of contemporary TB is us, not the bacteria we know how to kill. We are responsible for allocation of resources. Everyone deserves access to healthcare and yet pharmaceutical companies patent medication and increase profit margins beyond affordability. Bastards

We live in between what we choose and what is chosen for us. How lucky I am to have choices

Gut-brain information axis. “Some of my thoughts may belong not to me, but to the microorganisms in my digestive tract”. Do I find this interesting or does my microbiome

TB was largely undetected in colonised communities as it was perceived as a disease of the superior and civilised (read: white). I wonder how many other diseases are shaped by social forces.

Women with TB were believed to become more beautiful, ethereal and pure. Characteristics of pale, thin, wide sunken eyes. Beauty standards for women have always been fucked

Death is only natural if deemed “acceptably” or “well”. For other species death occurs at any time and is considered natural. Interesting

Nothing is so privileged as thinking history belongs to the past

I enjoy reading the comments and seeing how polarising this book is. Personally enjoyed the imagery, as someone who doesn’t have to best imagination with sci-fi. I feel a lot and nothing at the same time, which is definitely something