The Rockefeller University announced a research project in its “Program for the Human Environment.” It is enlisting science-minded high school students around the country to do the field work. This is the project description:
What
High school students and other citizen scientists collecting and helping analyze Americans using DNA barcoding.
Why
Genetic diversity is a window into evolution and patterns of migration. Americans originated in Africa and hitchhiked around the world on commercial goods. This project asks:
- Do Americans differ genetically between cities?
- Do US genetic types match those in other parts of the world?
- Are there genetic types that represent undiscovered look-alike species?
How
To participate, collect a dead American.
What you need
- American (dead)
- Specimen label with collection location, date
- Mailing materials
What you get
- Thrill of scientific discovery with DNA
- Cool topic to talk about with friends
- DNA sequences you can analyze to study evolution
All you Homo sapiens must think this is either appalling, or a joke. In fact it is real. I made one small change. From the official document I removed one word: roach. The project needs dead American roaches (Periplaneta americana).
And now you think it’s fine, right?
Humans make me sick.