Comments on RRResearch: The CsCl/mass spectrometry data

This is great! The old-timers in my lab (HOS, CHI...

2012-01-23T18:35:55.110-08:00

This is great! The old-timers in my lab (HOS, CHIII) appreciated when I remarked that a CsCl gradient would solve this problem. I know you're not interested in doing more experiments, but I think it would be really strong result if you ran sequencing on the samples, did random priming, measured read lengths, and put an upper limit on the Arsenic content, assuming a nicked DNA strand would halt a read.

Hi Ewen, I've been describing my research ope...

2012-01-19T15:31:36.487-08:00

Hi Ewen,

I've been describing my research openly on this blog for about 6 years and haven't had any problems getting the papers published.

hey rosie i might be confused but how is a standar...

2012-01-19T14:13:20.151-08:00

hey rosie i might be confused but how is a standard of inorganic arsenate supposed to be help you quantify arsenate that might be tied up in esters in the DNA (which would obviously have a different mass). Does your mass spec approach fragment the DNA as it flies so that you would see any incorporated As atoms appear at the same mass as in free arsenate? If not (that is, arsenate would be expected to be tied up in the DNA in the unlikely scenario that As-DNA is real), then its hard for me to understand how your 4% incorporation threshold, based on free arsenate, would make sense. Just looking for a little bit more detail on the type of mass spec you performed and how those experiments were performed (perhaps your colleagues [aka 'the graduate student' ;) ] could help fill us in if you aren't sure on all the details).

Good luck getting this ready for publication! We are all so excited for you :) :)

Duh, it's the second graph. Apologies.

2012-01-18T23:43:37.503-08:00

Duh, it's the second graph. Apologies.

Fantastic Rosie! Naturally, I was very skeptical o...

2012-01-18T22:09:06.989-08:00

Fantastic Rosie!
Naturally, I was very skeptical of the initial claims, but it is nice to see this evidence clearly refutes the claims in the paper and press conference.

It looks like the 4% line is theoretical and doesn't represent an actual positive control (given there are no points)? Was a blank AsO4(3-) run as a positive control? Though the intent is clear, might want to relabel that y-axis with either AsO4 or AsO4(3-), as it is a single negative charge doesn't make sense...

Completely off topic so I apologise. But I thought...

2012-01-18T14:25:16.032-08:00

Completely off topic so I apologise. But I thought you might know. Have you had any trouble from journals on submitting a paper if included data has already been published on your blog. Or do they see it as something akin to a conference presentation. Would like to get started but it is a concern. A blog that is. Well, more journal articles would also be of benefit.

Thank you. Sorry again!

Ewen